Re-attribution of scientific and technical tasks and improving cooperation among Union agencies in the area of chemicals
The European Parliament adopted by 486 votes to 171, with 18 abstentions, amendments to the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulations (EC) No 178/2002, (EC) No 401/2009, (EU) 2017/745 and (EU) No 2019/1021 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the re-attribution of scientific and technical tasks and improving cooperation among Union agencies in the area of chemicals.
The matter was referred back to the committee responsible for interinstitutional negotiations.
The main amendments adopted in plenary concern the following issues:
Divergent scientific opinions
Differences in assessment methodologies resulting in divergent opinions will be duly justified, especially regarding the protection of vulnerable groups.
Members specify that the Authority and the body concerned must cooperate to resolve the divergence, with the aim of ensuring the highest level of health and environmental protection. Priority should be given to the most protective opinion to safeguard vulnerable groups.
Where a substantive divergence over scientific issues has been identified and the body in question is a Member State body, the Authority and the national body will be obliged to cooperate with a view to either resolving the divergence or preparing a joint document clarifying the contentious scientific issues and identifying the relevant uncertainties in the data. That document will be made public.
In cases where a divergence is identified, and the Authority requests additional information from the other Union or Member State authority, the period within which the relevant authorities are required to adopt their respective output, or the joint output may be extended.
Agency’s resources
The proposed Regulation expands the tasks, workload and remit of the scientific committees of the European Chemicals Agency. Support and thorough scientific evaluations, appropriate and stable resources, capacity and governance of the scientific committees should be ensured.
In this regard, the Commission will monitor the situation regarding the resources of the European Chemicals Agency and tasks, workload and remit of the scientific committees of the European Chemicals Agency and present, where necessary, a legislative proposal to reflect any needs of the European Chemicals Agency stemming from tasks introduced by this Regulation and to improve the governance of its scientific committees.
Persistent organic pollutants
Lastly, Parliament introduces amendments to Annex IV of Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 on persistent organic pollutants (list of substances subject to waste management provisions). These amendments stipulate that the Commission will review the concentration limits for certain substances and, if necessary, adopt a legislative proposal to lower certain valuesby 30 December 2027.