EU Commission Recommendation 2022/2510 published on 8 December 2022 proposes to establish a European assessment framework for chemicals and materials that are 'safe and sustainable by design'.
The proposed safety and sustainability assessment follows a hierarchical approach in which safety aspects are prioritised before moving on to sustainability aspects.
The next stage in the approach described in the Recommendation involves a further four steps.
The first three mainly concern different safety aspects of chemicals or materials. These three phases are based on the knowledge generated through REACH, CLP and occupational health and safety regulations.
The third step involves specific hazard and risk assessments related to the final use/application of the product/material.
The objective is to assess whether the use in its final application poses a risk to human health or the environment.
In the fourth step, impacts on environmental sustainability throughout the life cycle of the chemical/material are considered by means of an LCA.
The Recommendation, which is addressed to Member States, industry, academia and research and technology organisations, provides for a trial period and envisages a voluntary reporting mechanism for Member States and stakeholders during this trial period. A review process of the framework proposed in the recommendation will then be initiated based on the feedback received.
To provide incentives to use and test the proposed framework, the Commission will support the trial/experimentation period through actions under the Horizon Europe framework programme for the development of chemicals and materials that are 'safe and sustainable by design', and for the development and improvement of testing methods and assessment tools