The EU Ombudsman has found that the European Commission is ignoring legal deadlines on authorisation decisions for dangerous chemicals, leading to serious risks to health and the environment. The Commission is taking an average of over 14 months to make decisions, sometimes even years. Environmental campaigners have long been criticizing the slow pace of the EU chemicals restriction process.
The Ombudsman’s investigation revealed that delays in decision-making allow companies to continue using potentially harmful chemicals during the authorisation process, endangering human health and ecosystems. The Commission has blamed the delays on the complex process outlined in the main chemicals regulation, known as REACH.
Environmentalists and legal experts have called the Commission’s behavior “reckless” and “unacceptable,” with concerns that the focus on industrial competitiveness may compromise environmental standards. The Commission has three months to respond to the Ombudsman’s findings and has indicated a willingness to improve internal procedures.
Environmental groups are urging the EU to prioritize public interest over the profits of toxic companies and to accelerate the regulation of hazardous substances. The upcoming parliamentary hearing for the Commissioner designated for environment will be crucial in demonstrating a commitment to maintaining health and environmental standards under the Green Deal agenda.
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