The document discusses introducing an ‘Essential Use’ concept under REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals) to limit the use of the most harmful chemicals to essential purposes only, aligning with the EU’s Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability. Essential Use is currently not included in the REACH legal framework, and the revision of REACH provides an opportunity to implement this concept. The Commission proposes a model for integrating Essential Use into REACH, involving scientific assessment, a transparent decision-making process, and political accountability to ensure that only indispensable uses of harmful chemicals are allowed.
Takeaways:
- Essential Use must be based on rigorous scientific assessment and only applied where risks cannot be controlled.
- A politically accountable Essential Use Committee is proposed to ensure legitimacy and inclusivity in decision-making.
- The concept aims to streamline REACH procedures, promoting innovation and supporting key EU priorities like climate neutrality and sustainable development.