BEUC NEWS - 26.11.2021

Yesterday, experts from the High-Level Roundtable on Chemicals adopted a common stance on how to improve enforcement and compliance of EU chemicals legislation. With consumers being widely exposed to unwanted chemicals in their daily lives, this is encouraging news.

BEUC played an active role in shaping the report adopted yesterday. Although not binding, the recommendations give important direction to the EU Commission on how to roll out its Chemicals Strategy, which is about promoting safe and sustainable chemicals and a toxic-free environment for us all.

Experts from industry, science, civil society, international organisations, and national authorities agreed on the way forward. Here are five recommendations which BEUC considers as most important for consumers:

• Zero-tolerance for non-compliance: non-compliant companies should be sanctioned, while non-compliant chemicals or products should be recalled from the market and be brought into compliance.
• Creating strong incentives for compliance: Authorities must move away from ‘soft’ and non-dissuasive sanctions and toughen their stance, for example by applying the ‘polluter pays principle’. Authorities should also publicise transgressors and enforcement actions and share details of non-compliant companies, products, and chemicals with consumer organisations, who in turn could alert consumers.
• Boost resources for enforcement: Member States must significantly step up their enforcement capacities to ensure that the Chemicals Strategy delivers real change for consumers on the ground. The Commission should also promote harmonised enforcement by establishing uniform conditions and frequency of checks, facilitating joint market surveillance actions and joint analytical testing.
• Empowering consumer organisations: Consumer organisations act as market watchdogs and inform consumers about their rights. Strengthening cooperation between Member States and consumer organisations is therefore key to improve compliance with EU chemicals legislation
• Stronger controls of imports and holding online marketplaces accountable: Online platforms must become liable for the safety of goods they sell or facilitate selling on their apps and websites. Clear obligations are also needed to, for example, be more transparent on trader and product information, regardless of where they are located.

About the High-Level Roundtable:
On 14 October 2020, the European Commission published its Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, as foreseen in its flagship Green Deal, to support the transition to safe and sustainable chemicals and to a toxic-free environment.
In May 2021 the Commission set up the ‘High-Level Roundtable’ to support the roll out of its Chemicals Strategy. The 32 members of the group represent industry, science, civil society, international organisations and the Member State holding the rotating EU Presidency. BEUC is an active member in the Roundtable, represented by its Director General Monique Goyens.