At a meeting of the European Parliament’s Environment Committee on April 27, 2026, EU Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall announced that the REACH reform begun in 2020 has been suspended.
First introduced in 2006, REACH is the European Union’s flagship chemicals policy, aiming to identify harmful chemicals better and earlier, eventually phasing out or restricting them, to protect human and environmental health. The European Commission committed to revising REACH as part of its Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability towards a toxic-free environment, published in October 2020 as part of the European Green Deal (FPF reported).
The announcement
At the meeting Roswall described the current situation in Europe (FPF reported). “We need to take short term measures in the energy field but also double down on structured transformative measures… Our dependence on oil and gas is not limited to energy and fuels. Fossil fuel stocks [are] also [a] significant source of input for a number of sectors – chemicals, plastics, fertilizers, textiles, just to mention a few. For this reason, we need to take concrete actions toward a circular economy and the EU bioeconomy both of which need more resource efficiency, more strategic autonomy, more security, and more competitiveness.” She continued, “we have prepared a banns proposal to simplify without lowering standards. I urge you to maintain your focus on reducing administrative burden and legal complexity.”
Several ongoing projects such as the PFAS restriction proposal (FPF reported) Roswall stated could still come by the end of 2026.
The response
Chemical industry groups including Cefic and the German Chemical Industry Association (VCI) have expressed support for the move, having recently cited concerns about global competitiveness. European civil society organizations in recent months highlighted the lobbying efforts of the chemicals industry against some of the aims of the REACH revision. Corporate Europe Observatory stated that European Commission members met with industry 93 times, while civil society had similar meetings only 14 times (FPF reported).
Going forward
Some revisions may still take place. Roswall noted working on “simplification and modernization” of the current framework. As reported in c&en, “the commission can make minor changes to REACH through comitology, a process that allows the EU executive to change laws without consulting its co-legislators: the European Parliament and Council of the EU.”
References
European Commission (April 27, 2026). “Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety – Extraordinary Meeting (ENVI Extraordinary Committee Meeting).”
ChemRadar (April 25, 2026). “EU Chemical Industry Groups Question REACH Revision Proposal.” CIRS
BMUKN (March 26, 2026). “National Chemicals Agenda presented – For a strong and competitive chemical industry.” (in German)
Vanessa Zainzinger (April 30, 2026). “European lawmakers shelve major revision of REACH chemical regulation.” Chemical & Engineering News.
Read more
Jørgen Steen Nielsen (April 27, 2026). “The EU’s major showdown with the chemical chaos gives way to competition considerations.” Information. (in Danish)
Luke Buxton (May 6, 2026). “MEPs give mixed reaction to REACH revision abandonment.” Chemical Watch News and Insight.
