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REPORT (COM(2023)0783 – C90447/2023 – 2023/0455(COD))

On the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulations (EC) No 178/2002, (EC) No 401/2009, (EU) 2017/745 and (EU) No 2019/1021 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the re-attribution of scientific and technical tasks and improving cooperation among Union agencies in the area of chemicals

A-10-2025-0020

Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety · Rapporteur: Dimitris Tsiodras

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Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.

Parliament's amended version of the proposed regulation re-attributes scientific and technical tasks and improves cooperation among EU agencies on chemicals. It reinforces procedures to resolve divergent scientific opinions, prioritising the most protective opinion for vulnerable groups, and allows the Commission to request ECHA to prepare harmonised classification proposals. It ensures resources for ECHA's scientific committees, extends deadlines for information requests, and adjusts rules on endocrine disruptors and POPs waste reporting.

Committee position. The Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety proposes to amend the Commission proposal to reinforce divergence resolution, ensure resources for ECHA, and adjust provisions on endocrine disruptors and POPs.

Key points

  1. Differences in assessment methodologies leading to divergent opinions must be justified, especially regarding protection of vulnerable groups; priority goes to the most protective opinion.
  2. If the Authority and another body cannot resolve a divergence, they must produce a public joint report outlining contentious issues, uncertainties, and possible causes including methodological differences.
  3. When divergence involves a Member State body, the Authority and national body must cooperate to resolve it or prepare a public joint document.
  4. The Authority may extend the period for adopting outputs if it requests additional information from another authority, informing the Commission, business operators, and Member States.
  5. Substances classified as endocrine disruptors for human health (Category 1) are included in the list for medical devices; references to Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 are corrected.
  6. For POPs waste reports, the Agency must publish a notice inviting comments within 8 weeks, and the Committee for Socio-economic Analysis must adopt an opinion within 9 months.
  7. Delegated acts amending Annexes IV and V of the POPs Regulation may also adapt to changes in Annexes I, II, or III of that Regulation.
  8. The Commission must monitor ECHA's resources and scientific committees' workload and, if necessary, propose legislation to address needs and improve governance.
  9. The period for objecting to delegated acts may be extended by two months at the initiative of Parliament or the Council.

Who is affected

  • EU agencies (EFSA, ECHA) and national bodies dealing with chemicals: must cooperate to resolve scientific divergences and share information.
  • Manufacturers of medical devices: substances classified as endocrine disruptors are restricted.
  • Waste operators and users of recycled materials: may comment on reports on possible amendments to POPs annexes.

Figures and deadlines

  • 8 weeks for submitting comments on a possible amendment of Annex IV or V of the POPs Regulation.
  • 9 months following submission of the report for the Committee for Socio-economic Analysis to adopt an opinion.
  • Two months for objection to delegated acts, extendable by two months.

Legal basis: Article 294(2) and Article 114 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union