Competitiveness and innovation are crucial for the ongoing development of the chemicals industry, and EU industry at large. The chemicals industry is very energy intensive and is dependent on favourable climate change policies. The European Commission is working to support the sector in a number of ways. It implements policies to facilitate structural change within the sector itself. These include policies that support the ‘clustering’ of related aspects within the sector and the implementation of ‘smart specialisation’ regional strategies to stimulate large scale investments.
Regulation
Regulation has a significant impact on the industry. The quality of legislation, along with its correct implementation and proper enforcement are highly significant, not only for the achievement of health and environmental objectives, but also to create a fair level playing field for the chemicals industry. Together with the removal of trade barriers, this can boost the international competitiveness of the EU chemicals industry. The following steps were taken as a result of the findings of the high level group on the competitiveness of the European chemicals industry:
Fitness check on chemicals legislation (excluding REACH)
The findings of the fitness check of the most relevant chemicals legislation (excluding REACH) were adopted on 25 June 2019. They are presented in a Commission report accompanied by a staff working document. The fitness check, the findings of the REACH review and the chemicals-products-waste interface communication provided the basis for discussion at the high-level conference on 'EU chemicals policy 2030' (27-28 June 2019) organised by the Commission together with the Ministry for Environment and Food of Denmark. See a detailed overview of the discussions and their outcomes.
In December 2012, the European Commission announced the launch of the Regulatory Fitness and Performance Programme (REFIT). According to the related Communication, this programme will “identify, assess, adopt, and monitor the implementation of initiatives, which will result in significant regulatory cost reduction or simplification”.
Among the tools used under REFIT are fitness checks. These are comprehensive policy evaluations designed to ascertain whether the regulatory framework for a policy sector is fit for purpose.
Links to further information on REFIT
The European Commission Communication COM(2013) 685 final ('REFIT: Results and next steps') identified a number of policy areas, in which a regulatory fitness check should be conducted. One of those areas identified is the most relevant legislation relating to chemicals (excluding REACH) as well as related aspects of legislation applied to downstream industries.
The EU legislative framework for the risk management of chemicals comprises a complex interplay of legal acts. These range from horizontal chemicals legislation (e.g. the CLP Regulation) to product-specific and sectoral legislation, related to particular uses of chemicals in downstream industries.
These intricacies, in particular the many cross-links between the different legal acts, warrant a broader evaluation of the legal framework in the form of a fitness check.
The goal of the fitness check is to assess the relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency and added value of the legislative framework for the risk management of chemicals. It will also identify excessive administrative burdens, overlaps, gaps, inconsistencies and/or obsolete measures. This will promote better legislation, making it more responsive to current and future challenges and help improve implementation.
The Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs and the Directorate-General for the Environment share responsibility for this fitness check.
Fitness check roadmap
The fitness check roadmap (318 KB), outlining the aim of the exercise, its exact legal scope and the related evaluation questions, is now available. In case of comments, please use the dedicated feedback form on the Commission's roadmap web pages (type 'chemicals' in the field 'Name').
The Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW) launched a study in support of the fitness check on chemicals legislation (excluding REACH) (see Call for tender).
The study was conducted between July 2015 and December 2016 by RPA (Risk & Policy Analysts Limited), together with Milieu Ltd, Ökopol (Institut für Ökologie und Politik) and NCEC (National Chemical Emergency Centre, a division of Ricardo-AEA). It includes an evaluation of CLP and the interplay between CLP and related legislation, in particular, other legislation governing hazard identification, classification and communication ('horizontal links') and downstream legislation that establishes risk management measures directly or indirectly triggered by a CLP hazard class ('vertical links').
Stakeholder consultation is an important element of the fitness check. The consultation strategy (401 KB) comprises the following actions:
- A public consultation ran from 4 March to 27 May 2016; an SME panel was conducted through the Enterprise Europe Network between 30 May and 18 July 2016.
- A workshop was organised on 19 April 2016 in Brussels.
- 'Thought-starter' document (753 KB) for the workshop
- Introductory presentation (876 KB) by Risk & Policy Analysts
- Workshop report (2 MB) by Risk & Policy Analysts
- Targeted interviews with stakeholder associations are being conducted between December 2015 and May 2016.
Targeted case studies were conducted on the following topics: (1) GHS implementation, (2) metal classification, (3) parallel hazard assessments, (4) new test methods, (5) classification and labelling of detergents, (6) PBT/vPvB, (7) SME awareness, (8) toy safety, (9) consumer comprehension of labels, (10) CLP and OSH legislation, (11) risk management triggered by CMR classification, (12) CLP and waste management, and (13) CLP and Seveso III.
The study report can be downloaded in 3 parts:
- Evaluation report (2 MB)
- Annexes I-V (11 MB) contains methodology, study tasks and consultation summary
- Annex VI (8 MB) contains case studies
Disclaimer: This is the report of an external study. The information and views set out in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the Commission. The study is one of multiple studies supporting the Commission's fitness check on chemicals legislation (excluding REACH). On the basis of the supporting studies and consultations, the Commission will draft the Fitness Check Report (Staff Working Document), which is expected to be published by April 2018.
For further information, please contact GROW-D2
ec [dot] europa [dot] eu (DG GROW).
Assessing cumulative costs
In 2014, the Commission launched a study analysing cumulative costs of the most relevant EU legislation for the EU chemical industry. The EU legislation subject to analysis includes
- chemicals legislation
- energy
- emissions and industrial processes
- workers' safety and health
- product-specific legislation
This study was followed up by another study, launched in 2016, which compares costs with international competitors and draws conclusions about their impact on the competitiveness of the chemicals sector.
This study assesses the cumulative costs for the EU chemical industry as a result of the EU legislation over the period 2004-2014.
The chemical industry is regulated by more than 70 important pieces of EU legislation, many of them applying to all sectors, chemicals included, to effectively protect citizens and the environment against risks related to hazardous substances.
The most relevant legislation for the chemical industry is chemicals legislation, energy, emissions and industrial processes, workers' safety and health, and product-specific legislation. It is the cumulative cost effect of this legislation that has been shown in this study launched by the European Commission as part of the REFIT Programme.
The study shows that the 3 main drivers of regulatory costs are:
- legislation on emissions and industrial processes, representing 33% of the regulatory costs
- chemicals legislation including REACH and CLP with 30%
- workers' safety legislation with 24%.
This provides useful insights into the nature of such costs and their development over time. As the study focused on the direct costs of legislation without assessing neither indirect costs nor economic or broader societal benefits of the legislation, no policy conclusions can be drawn at this stage.
There is a need for a more detailed understanding of the drivers of administrative burdens for chemical companies. As a next step, the results of this study will be compared, to the extent possible, with the regulatory costs for chemical companies in other regions, such as the United States, China and India. They will also be used in the ongoing fitness check on chemicals legislation (other than REACH).
Specific efforts will be dedicated to understanding better the drivers of administrative burdens for chemical companies, and notably SMEs, with a view to reducing them wherever possible without compromising on the level of protection for citizens and environment.
Assessing the implementation of REACH legislation - REACH REFIT evaluation (REACH review 2017)
- The REACH Regulation includes the obligation for a review every 5 years to monitor the progress in the achievement of its objectives. In 2013, the Commission published the first general report on the implementation of its regulation on the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals (REACH). The second REACH review, due in 2017, is being carried out as part of the REFIT programme of the Commission. It runs in parallel with the fitness check on the most relevant chemicals legislation excluding REACH.
- The REACH REFIT evaluation (REACH review 2017) will build on the findings of the first REACH review (2013) and examine key developments that have taken place since then.
- More on REACH
- More on EU Chemicals Regulation
Competitiveness
Most of the industries linked to EU manufacturing and services are using products from the chemicals sector. New materials and processes, which originate in the chemicals industry, help other sectors to innovate. A competitive chemicals industry is not only important for creating growth and jobs in the chemicals sector, but also for the entire EU manufacturing industry. This improves living standards and generates employment and wealth throughout the EU.
In addition to improvements to the regulatory framework, the Commission also provides regulation guidance and support for SMEs, as well as actively supporting innovation in key areas.
Innovation
The chemicals sector is at the forefront of innovation as a solution provider for many societal challenges, as well as for many other economic sectors. New forms of industrial cooperation between the chemicals industries and other industries are emerging that shape new industrial structures and help keep manufacturing jobs in Europe.
Policies that facilitate structural change, such as cluster policies and the implementation of smart specialisation regional strategies are crucial to stimulate large-scale investments in the chemicals sector. These include bio-refineries and recycling industries, as well as import terminals for gas.
Nanotechnologies and materials present many opportunities for the chemicals industry, with a number of new applications developed. Those include a high number of consumer products such as consumer electronics, UV-filters in paints, renewable energy applications, many medical applications, and lithium-ion batteries for electric cars.
Those applications have the potential to create major technological breakthroughs, and nanotechnologies have been identified as a key enabling technology. In order to ensure the safety of nanomaterials, the Commission is reviewing the regulatory framework, most prominently the annexes of the REACH Regulation. There is also significant research on nanomaterial safety as part of the 7th research framework programme and horizon 2020.
The bio-based procurement publication page offers guidance to aid innovation in the field. The bio-based procurement website is more extensive. They both target procurers and others interested in procurement involving bio-based products. Bio-economy adds to economic growth, sustainability of industries and reduces fossil fuel dependence.
Resource and energy efficiency
The chemicals industry is a strong driver of resource and energy efficiency, and has high potential to provide decisive innovative 'game changers'. The Commission supports initiatives in key areas, e.g. through the spire programme for innovative materials and processes, and the bio-based industry joint undertaking under horizon 2020. These initiatives can contribute to decarbonisation by promoting higher resource efficiency including through the bio-economy or the reuse of CO2 as a chemical feedstock. The new alliance between chemicals, agriculture, and waste converters in the bio-based joint undertaking offers new business opportunities and helps make the concept of the 'circular economy' a reality.
What the Directorate General (DG) Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs does
DG Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs oversees the implementation of EU legislation relating to REACH, CLP, the principles of good laboratory practice (GLP) and sector-specific legislation on chemicals such as fertilisers, detergents, explosives, pyrotechnics, and drug precursors.
It also holds meetings and conferences related to key issues including the follow-up to a high level group on the competitiveness of the European chemicals industry.
Events
Read more about our events related to chemicals.
Links
- European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)
- National helpdesks
- Guidance
- Links to other DGs
- Other Directorate Generals working with the chemicals industry include: Environment, Joint Research Centre, Health & Consumer Protection, Employment, Social Affairs & Equal Opportunities and Transport.
Contact
- Unit REACH: GROW-D1ec [dot] europa [dot] eu (GROW-D1[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)
- Unit Chemicals: GROW-D2ec [dot] europa [dot] eu (GROW-D2[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)