HEAL’s key demands for health-protective upgrades to REACH

HEAL has published its key demands for health-protective upgrades to REACH.

REACH is at the core of the regulatory management of industrial chemicals in the EU. It sets down rules on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (more details on the regulatory steps in the info box below). While REACH has in theory many of the right tools to protect health and the environment against hazardous chemicals, in practice its implementation suffers from many deficiencies and a lack of industry accountability.

HEAL supports the revision of REACH in line with promises made under the EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability (CSS), to significantly increase the protection of human health and the environment from harmful chemicals, paying particular attention to vulnerable population groups. We also welcome the attention to simplify the implementation of the legislation, provided that it doesn’t result in a weakening of the ambition to avoid harm to the planet and to current and future generations. We also welcome the attention to simplify the implementation of the legislation, provided that it doesn’t result in a weakening of the ambition to avoid harm to the planet and to current and future generations.

The long-awaited reform should be driven by REACH’s founding principles; namely implementing the ‘no data, no market’ principle, putting the burden of proof regarding the safe use of chemicals on the registrants, and ensuring a high level of protection of human health and the environment against harmful substances.

Simultaneously, the revision provides a chance for the uptake of the latest scientific evidence and to align REACH with recent changes in related EU regulatory files, especially the introduction of four new hazard classes in the Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) regulation in 2022.

An updated REACH can contribute to increasing European autonomy in the chemicals sector by promoting the circular economy through the smart use of chemicals and clean material cycles, which don’t contain harmful chemicals or substances that hamper recycling.

HEAL’s key demands are:

• No data, no market
• Ensure the burden of proof regarding the safe use of chemicals is on the registrants
• Assess and regulate entire groups of chemicals (instead of one at the time)
• Assess combinations of chemicals representing real-life exposures
• Apply clear criteria for what constitutes an ‘essential use’ of a harmful chemical
• Legal provisions to allow sanctions for non-compliance

Read the full paper REACH revision: HEAL’s key demands for health-protective upgrades

Find out more about a health-focused REACH reform