The European Union is undertaking the most ambitious overhaul of chemicals regulation in a generation. The Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, part of the European Green Deal, has far-reaching implications for ocean health.
The Current Landscape
The EU's existing chemicals framework — REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals) — was groundbreaking when introduced in 2006. But it has limitations. Assessment is slow, mixture effects aren't adequately addressed, and many chemicals of concern remain on the market while regulatory processes grind forward.
Key Proposals
The strategy introduces several important principles:
- **One substance, one assessment** — streamlining how chemicals are evaluated across different regulations
- **Mixture assessment factor** — for the first time, accounting for the fact that we're exposed to multiple chemicals simultaneously
- **Essential use concept** — restricting the most harmful chemicals to uses where no safer alternative exists
- **Safe and sustainable by design** — building environmental safety into chemical development from the start
PFAS Restriction
The most high-profile proposal is a near-universal restriction on PFAS. Five EU member states have proposed banning all non-essential PFAS uses — potentially the largest chemicals restriction in history, affecting thousands of products.
What It Means for Oceans
If implemented fully, the strategy would significantly reduce the flow of harmful chemicals into marine environments. Better regulation of pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and industrial chemicals would address CECs at source — far more effective than trying to clean them up after release.
The CONTRAST Connection
CONTRAST research directly supports EU policy development. By generating evidence on how CECs affect marine ecosystems, the project helps policymakers set science-based environmental quality standards and prioritise chemicals for regulatory action.
Challenges Ahead
Industry resistance, implementation complexity, and the sheer number of chemicals in commerce make this an enormous undertaking. But the direction is clear: the era of treating the environment as an unlimited chemical sink is ending.
This article is part of the CONTRAST project, funded by the European Union under Horizon Europe. Views expressed are those of the author(s) only.