Commission told to speed up on chemicals strategy

EU ministers expect the European Commission to urgently deliver a strategy on chemicals in the environment, highlighting the importance of research in this area.

Ministers in the Council of the EU asked the Commission in 2016 to develop an EU “strategy for a non-toxic environment” by 2018. But the Commission still has not done so, the Council complained in a set of conclusions it adopted on 26 June.

The Council therefore urged the Commission to develop the strategy “without further delay”. The strategy should aim to minimise exposure to substances of concern and be based on sustainability, the Council said.