Green groups say European Commission is ‘chief roadblock’ to its own plans, as report finds poor progress four years on
Harmful compounds in children’s nappies and toxic “forever chemicals” in everyday products are among 14 hazardous substance groups hit by lengthy delays to EU pollution controls, according to report findings described by scientists as “extremely frustrating”.
The European Commission sought to push broad categories of dangerous substances off the market with a “restrictions roadmap” in April 2022 that was hailed at the time as the largest-ever ban of toxic chemicals.
But four years later it has failed to start the process of regulating seven of the 22 hazardous chemical groups and has “effectively frozen” progress in regulating seven more, according to a progress check by ClientEarth and the European Environmental Bureau.
Green groups say the European Commission is the “chief roadblock” to its own roadmap and allege “unlawful delays” have resulted in nearly 100,000 tonnes of extra chemical pollution from six of the groups.
