Europe Regulatory News

On the 11th of January 2022, the European Commission granted a temporary exemption for the use of lead in the following electronic materials: bismuth strontium calcium copper oxide superconducto...

On the 11th of January 2022, the European Commission granted a temporary exemption for the use of lead in the following electronic materials:

• bismuth strontium calcium copper oxide superconductor cables
• wires
• and lead in their electrical connections

The commission also renewed Annex IV on the use of lead in solders, termination coatings of electrical and electronic components and printed circuit boards, connections of electrical wires, shields and enclosed connectors for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) devices.

Comments on these notifications are opened from 11th of January to 11th of March 2022. The notification drafts are expected to be adopted in March 2022 and will enter into force three months after adoption.

Last Update: 2022-01-12

On the 16th of December 2021, the commission confirmed that the exemption for mercury in linear fluorescent (LFL) lamps and single capped (compact) fluorescent lamps will be revoked. This is beca...

On the 16th of December 2021, the commission confirmed that the exemption for mercury in linear fluorescent (LFL) lamps and single capped (compact) fluorescent lamps will be revoked. This is because the uses of mercury can be sufficiently substituted in these lamps.

The commission also decided that this substitution will generate energy savings and stimulate innovation. The proposals have been submitted to the European Parliament and Council for a two-month scrutiny, during which the Parliament will either accept or reject the proposed drafts. If accepted, lamps containing mercury will have to phase out within 18 months from the implementation date. For the compact lamps, the earliest phasing-out period will be 12 months.

Last Update: 2022-01-12

A study and ingredients’ comparison done for 20 perfumes in Belgium, Denmark, and the Netherlands revealed that these perfumes contain substances of concern that have been listed by authoritative bo...

A study and ingredients’ comparison done for 20 perfumes in Belgium, Denmark, and the Netherlands revealed that these perfumes contain substances of concern that have been listed by authoritative bodies. The study shows the presence of 26 problematic substances in 20 perfumes, and they can be categorised into the following groups:

• Suspected Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs)
• Reprotoxic Substances
• Allergens
• Substances that are harmful to the environment

The dangerous substances and their functions include:

This study was conducted by the Danish Consumer Council, Dutch NGO Erase All Toxins and Flemish NGO Stand up to Cancer. They suggest that an alternative is to use perfumes that have been awarded the EU or Nordic Swan Ecolabels. A full document on the study can be accessed here.

Last Update: 2022-01-04

The European Commission published a Regulation amending several annexes of the cosmetics regulation, prohibiting certain substances from use in cosmetics. This regulation was published on the 3rd of N...

The European Commission published a Regulation amending several annexes of the cosmetics regulation, prohibiting certain substances from use in cosmetics. This regulation was published on the 3rd of November and came into effect on November 23, 20 days after its publication.

According to the new regulation, 23 Carcinogenic, Mutagenic or Reprotoxic (CMR) substances are banned from use in cosmetics production, effective from March 1st, 2022. The amended annexes are Annexes II, III, and V and some of the substances subjected to the ban include the following:

• Zinc pyrithione
• dioctyltin dilaurate, stannane, dioctyl-,bis(coco acyloxy) derivatives;
• 2-methoxyethyl acrylate;
• diisooctyl phthalate;
• bis(α,α-dimethylbenzyl) peroxide; and
• dichlorodioctylstannane. 

More detailed information about the list of substances can be accessed here.

Last update: 2021-12-17

The European Commission adopted its new Circular Economy Action Plan (COM/2020/98 final) in March 2020.  The plan – which is one of the first deliverables under the European Green De...

The European Commission adopted its new Circular Economy Action Plan (COM/2020/98 final) in March 2020.  The plan – which is one of the first deliverables under the European Green Deal (COM/2019/640 final) – lays out more in detail the specific policy measures to be taken by the European Union in the transition towards circular economic systems, including their indicative timelines.   

It identifies seven "Key Product Value Chains" that will be central to European regulation, namely:   

• Electronics and ICT  
• Batteries and vehicles  
• Packaging   
• Plastics  
• Textiles  
• Construction and buildings   
• Food, water and nutrients   

Textiles, footwear and clothing pose intensive environmental challenges in terms of resource use, land use, greenhouse gas emissions, and water pollution. As the Ellen MacArthur foundation shows, less than 1% of clothing fibers are fully recycled,  while a further 12% are downcycled in some way. This means that the bulk of the production is going to landfill or incineration. Additionally, 12% of the fibers for clothing production are lost during the production process.  

While demand in the sector is projected to continue growing, recycling technologies and their industrial uptake are lagging behind.   

 As most of the value chains for textiles marketed in Europe (and their associated environmental impacts) are to be found outside the EU, European regulations are of great interest for producers in exporting countries.    

The first quarter of 2022 will see the announcement by the Commission of two key files in this respect:   

The EU Strategy for Textiles will detail the Union's approach to the textile sector, and set out further specific legislation to be adopted or amended. It is possible that some of the legislation proposals will not be published at this stage, but the Strategy will indicate what direction the Commission will be going towards.  

 The Sustainable Products Initiative will propose several legislative changes seeking to bring the EU product policy framework in line with the EU's environmental ambitions. The main change will be the amendment of the existing Ecodesign Directive (Directive 2009/125/EC). While the current Ecodesign Directive only applies to energy-related products (domestic appliances, for instance), its scope will be extended to other product categories, including textiles.  

Final adoption of new or amending legislation will still require the agreement of both the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union, which will have the opportunity to propose their own changes to the Commission's draft acts. As the European Union rolls out its Circular Economy Action Plan, it is becoming one of the international actors seeking to enhance circularity in textiles through changes in legislation. Given that Europe is the main importer of textiles in the world, this bears substantial implications for producers in other countries.  

Source: Textiles in Europe's Circular Economy 

Last update: 2021-12-14

On the 28th of October 2021, the European Commission adopted the proposal on protecting human health and the environment by tightening the limits for POPs. Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are the...

On the 28th of October 2021, the European Commission adopted the proposal on protecting human health and the environment by tightening the limits for POPs. Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are the most harmful chemicals in waste, and the proposal is targeted at preventing these chemicals from entering the economy.

The European Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans, and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevičius, acknowledges that this is one more step to fulfill their promise to remove the most harmful pollutants from our daily lives.

POPs are no longer used in new products. However, they are still found in the waste from consumer products like waterproof textiles, plastics, electronic equipment, and furniture.

The Commission then proposes strict limits for the following POPs:

• perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and its salts and related compounds – found in waterproof textiles and fire-fighting foams;
• dicofol – a pesticide, previously used in agriculture;
• pentachlorophenol, its salts and esters – found in treated wood and textiles.

Furthermore, the Commission wants to tighten the maximum limits in waste for another five substances.

This is a vital step towards achieving a more circular economy, contributing to the European Green Deal's Zero Pollution Action Plan and the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability.

Latest Update: 2021-11-02

During the Biocidal Products Committee (BPC) meeting between October 5-14, 2021, it was decided not to allow the use of d-allethrin for product-type 18, that is, insecticides, acaricides, and products...

During the Biocidal Products Committee (BPC) meeting between October 5-14, 2021, it was decided not to allow the use of d-allethrin for product-type 18, that is, insecticides, acaricides, and products used in controlling other arthropods.

The committee regarded the toxicological test data presented in the submitted dossier and it does not appropriately match the profile of what is currently in the market. There are also unacceptable risks to human health and the environment from using d-allethrin.

Last Update: 2021-11-01