This morning, the full European Parliament backed the Environment Committee’s challenge to the Restriction on the use of lead in PVC. See my earlier post on the environment committee’s vote here.
The vote was 394 for, 241 against, and 13 abstentions.
The majority easily got over the threshold of 353 votes.
This stops the proposed measure.
The challenge focused on two proposed derogations for recovered PVC materials, which will be in place for 15 years. One would allow the concentration of lead up to 2 % by weight of rigid PVC and the other 1 % by weight of flexible/soft PVC.
It is an important set back for ECHA. The Environment Committee is overseeing the quality of the proposals, and when not satisfied, stepping in to fire a warning shot, or as in this case block.
This clear expression of legislative will sets an important precedent for the upcoming policy debate on (1) the use of recyclates and the (2) chemical strategy.
The response from the ECHA and the Commission will be interesting to read.