EU unveils plan for ‘largest ever ban’ on dangerous chemicals

Thousands of potentially harmful chemicals could soon be banned in Europe under new restrictions, which have been hailed as the strongest yet.

Scientists said chemical pollution had crossed a planetary boundary and was beyond the breakdown of global ecosystems.

2 million deaths a year are blamed on the decline in human fertility due to the synthetic blight, which is thought to be pushing whale species to the brink of extinction.

The EU'srestrictions roadmap was published on Monday and was intended to be the first step in changing the picture by outlawing toxic substances.

According to the European Environmental Bureau (EEB), up to 12,000 substances could fall within the scope of the new proposal.

EU chemical controls are usually slow, but the EU is planning the boldest detox we have ever seen. Lobbyists are shocked by what is on the table. It promises to improve the safety of almost all manufactured products and rapidly lower the chemical intensity of our schools, homes and workplace.

The plan focuses on all classes of chemical substances for the first time as a rule, including flame retardants and toxic chemicals in single-use nappies and PFCs, which are also known as forever chemicals.

The European Chemicals Agency will consider these substances for restriction. A revision to the EU's cornerstone Reach regulation for chemicals is slated for 2027.

There are substances in food contact materials, single-use nappies, and PAHs in granules for children's playground identified in the new paper.

Industry groups argue that the scheme's focus on groups of chemicals could affect high street products such as sun creams and perfumes, which may use a host of synthetic substances.

A lot of different ingredients fall under the skin sensitiser group so a wide range of cosmetic products could potentially be affected.

Products that could be affected include paints, cleaning products, and pesticides.

Europe's Reach system is already the world's most extensive chemical register, and new bans could hit more than a quarter of the industry's annual turnover.

Some of the restrictions may have a significant impact on the industry and value chains.

Incentives and import controls should be used to help develop safer alternative products, according to the industry.

The European Chemicals Agency favors dealing with chemicals in groups because chemical firms have previously avoided bans on individual chemicals by tweaking their chemical composition to create sister substances that may also be dangerous.

The industry tactic of regrettable substitution has been criticized by environmental groups for allowing the replacement of substances with other substances.

It is a cynical and irresponsible tactic by the chemical industry to replace the most harmful banned chemicals with similar harmful ones not yet on the regulatory radar. We have seen a long pattern of substitution to avoid regulation.

A new industrial chemical is created every 1.4 seconds on average, and 190m synthetic chemicals are registered globally.

The UN expects the industry's global value to double by 2030.

The EU's environment commissioner, Virginijus Sinkevi, said the new restrictions aim to reduce exposure of people and the environment to some of the most harmful chemicals.

The EU's internal markets commissioner said that achieving a toxic-free environment would require transparency and visibility from the commission.

According to research by German environmentalists, millions of tonnes of chemical substances were used by industrial giants without completing safety checks.