Environment Committee votes against REACH Restriction on lead and PVC

6th February 202014th January 2020 by Aaron

The full Parliament will vote on Environment Committee backed challenge on Wednesday 12 February.

This will be a precedent-setting challenge to a proposed REACH Restriction.

If the EP blocks the proposed Restriction, both the Commission and ECHA are going face some difficult choices.

Update (21/1/20)

This morning (21 January 2020) the Environment Committee backed the challenge.

The vote

42 for, 22 against, and 4 abstentions.

The EPP and ECR voted against.

The vote in the full Parliament will be in February.

Link

EP Environment Committee Press Release (link)

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On Tuesday 21 January, the Environment Committee will consider and vote on a test case for the circular economy.

It centres on contamination by legacy substances (lead) from entering the European market via imports. Lead in PVC is already phased out since 2015 by way of a voluntary agreement.

But, lead in PCV continues to come in through imported articles. This is because the voluntary agreement does not cover imports.

The challenge contends that ‘recycling should not justify the perpetuation of the use of hazardous legacy substances’ (para P).

The outcome of the challenge will set an important precedent.

Objection pursuant to Rule 112(2), (3) and (4)(c): Commission Regulation amending Annex XVII to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) as regards lead and its compounds