European Commission halts revision of the REACH Regulation

The European Commission's decision to stop the REACH revision is of considerable importance for surface technology and the entire industrial value chain. The proposals for the REACH revision discussed so far would have had a far-reaching impact on the use of established substances and processes - with potentially far-reaching consequences for innovation, competitiveness and industrial production in Europe. From the ZVO's point of view, the Commission's decision is therefore an important signal. It opens up the necessary opportunity to fundamentally rethink previous approaches and align them more closely with the real requirements of industrial practice.

Criticism of the REACH revision

The discussions of recent months have made it clear that central elements of the planned revision must be critically assessed. The concept of "essential use" harbors considerable legal uncertainties and is hardly practicable for many industrial applications - especially in surface technology. Generalized substance group approaches ("generic approach") threaten to replace differentiated risk assessments and restrict proven applications without sufficient scientific basis. Increasing regulatory complexity places a disproportionate burden on small and medium-sized companies in particular and ties up resources that are needed for innovation and transformation. Against this backdrop, there was a real risk that a hasty revision would have led to a further relocation of industrial value creation out of Europe - without achieving any corresponding added value for environmental or health protection.

Taking advantage of the pause in the REACH revision

The German Surface Technology Association (ZVO) therefore continues to advocate a targeted, science-based and practicable further development of REACH. In particular, this includes maintaining the proven risk-based approach, a clear differentiation between critical and essential applications and a noticeable reduction in the burden on small and medium-sized enterprises. The pause in the REACH revision should now be used to develop a viable basis for the future design of European chemicals policy together with industry, authorities and science. For the ZVO, one thing is clear: Europe needs chemicals regulation that combines high standards of protection with industrial efficiency - and thus secures the basis for innovation, sustainability and value creation in Europe.