The European Phenolic Resins Association (EPRA) was one of 18 trade associations across the chemical industry which counter-signed a letter prepared by CEFIC in response to the latest proposals from the European Commission on a new Chemical Sustainability Strategy.
The letter, addressed to European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and vice-president Frans Timmermans, who is also the lead on the European Green Deal, outlines concerns that the proposals set out within the draft Strategy go far beyond the current scope of REACH and will add to the challenge of meeting on-going regulatory requirements. The burden of REACH itself has been substantial on many parts of the industry, especially those with complex reactive chemistries such as resins. It would therefore be inappropriate to dismiss the level of effort already invested by completely re-opening REACH and adding a further layer of complexity, which will inevitably put the European industry at a further disadvantage, particularly at a time when enforcement of the existing regulations across the EU-27 continues to be patchy.