Overview
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Chemicals are essential for the well-being, high living standards and comfort of modern society. They are used in various sectors, including healthcare, energy, transportation, and housing.
However, most chemicals have hazardous properties which can harm the environment and human health.
The EU already has sophisticated chemical laws in place, but global chemicals production is expected to double by 2030. The already widespread use of chemicals is also expected to increase, including in consumer products.
The Commission published a Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability on 14 October 2020. It is part of the EU’s zero pollution ambition, which is a key commitment of the European Green Deal.
Objectives
The EU’s chemicals strategy aims to:
- Better protect citizens and the environment
- Boost innovation for safe and sustainable chemicals
Actions
- Banning the most harmful chemicals in consumer products - allowing their use only where essential
- Phasing out the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the EU, unless their use is essential
- Boosting the investment and innovative capacity for production and use of chemicals that are safe and sustainable by design, and throughout their life cycle
- Promoting the EU’s resilience of supply and sustainability of critical chemicals
- Establishing a simpler “one substance one assessment” process for the risk and hazard assessment of chemicals
See our Chemicals and Circular Economy pages for related policies.
Implementation
Learn more about the implementation of the strategy.
- 1 January 2026The ‘one substance, one assessment’ legislative package enters into force
- 22 April 2024Commission proposes criteria to define the essential use of most harmful chemicals
Communication can be found here.
- 7 December 2023Commission proposes ‘one substance, one assessment' chemicals assessment reform for faster, simplified and transparent processes
- 14 July 2023Proposal to ban all remaining intentional uses of mercury in the EU
Proposal, Delegated act and News
- 19 December 2022Commission proposes revised Regulation on classification, labelling and packaging of chemicals (CLP) and introduces new hazard classes
- 8 December 2022Recommendation on framework for safe and sustainable by design chemicals
- 20 January 2022Commission launches public consultation on REACH revision - available in all EU languages
- 9 August 2021Commission launches public consultation on revision of Regulation on classification, labelling and packaging of chemicals (CLP)
- 14 October 2020Publication of Chemicals Strategy
- 9 May 2020Publication of Chemicals Strategy roadmap
For more information on the roadmap and feedback, visit here.
- 11 December 2019Publication of European Green Deal
- Communication: Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability. Towards a toxic-free environment
- Annex to the Communication (Action Plan)
- Factsheet: Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability
- Staff Working Document on the review of a number of provisions under article 138 of REACH
- Staff Working Document synopsis report, summarising contributions received by external stakeholders
- Staff Working Document on Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
- Staff Working Document on progress report on the assessment and management of combined exposures to multiple chemicals and associated risks
- Staff Working Document on the Fitness Check on endocrine disruptors
- Executive Summary of the Staff Working Document on the Fitness Check on endocrine disruptors
- 21-22 September 2022: The Fourth Annual Forum on Endocrine Disruptors
- 1 June 2022: Information session on ‘one substance, one assessment’ for stakeholders and citizens
- 22 March 2022:Second stakeholders workshop on safe and sustainable by design criteria for chemicals and materials
- 3 March 2022: Stakeholder workshop on the concept of ‘Essential uses’
- 19 March 2021: Safe and sustainable by design criteria for chemicals, materials and products - first Stakeholders workshop
- 22 April 2024: Commission proposes criteria to define the essential use of most harmful chemicals
- 22 April 2024: Questions and Answers on essential use chemicals
- 19 December 2022: Commission sets up rules to identify endocrine disruptors and long-lasting chemicals and to improve labelling
- 8 December 2022: Recommendation for safe and sustainable chemicals published
- 10 June 2022: Commission revises the definition of nanomaterials
- 20 January 2022: Commission launches public consultation on REACH revision
- 20 January 2022:Register for the stakeholder workshop on the concept of 'essential uses'
- 11 January 2022: Register for the second stakeholders workshop on safe and sustainable by design criteria for chemicals and materials
- 26 November 2021: Chemicals strategy: high-level roundtable adopts joint report on enforcement and compliance
- 25 November 2021: Chemicals strategy: high-level roundtable discusses progress and joint report on enforcement and compliance
- 9 August 2021: Commission launches public consultation on CLP revision
- 7 May 2021: Chemicals strategy: Commission publishes roadmaps on the revision of REACH and CLP
- 16 March 2021: Chemicals strategy: Commission publishes members of high-level roundtable
- 4 March 2021: Chemicals strategy: call for applications for high-level roundtable
- 14 October 2020: Press release on Commission adoption of new Chemicals Strategy
Contact
For questions about EU environmental policy, please contact Europe Direct.