In December 2022, the European Commission adopted a Recommendation establishing a European assessment framework for “safe and sustainable by design” chemicals and materials. The Recommendation is accompanied by an Annex.
Following up on what announced in the context of the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability of October 2022, the Recommendation proposes an EU framework for assessing and defining safety and sustainability criteria for chemicals and materials for R&I purposes. It will be relevant for both the development of new chemicals and materials or to the re-assessment of existing ones.
By proposing this framework, the European Commission aims to boost research and innovation in safer and more sustainable chemicals and materials, incl. in terms of replacing hazardous substances in products and processes, e.g., in food-contact materials, like plastic wrap or food containers, textiles or information and communications technologies products.
The framework should thus serve as a reference for EU Member States, industry, academia, research and technology organisations in their R&I activities. It is also intended to become a global reference, and it will be promoted by the European Commission in relevant international fora.
The framework will initially consist in a testing period. A revision process will be launched before the end of the transitional period, and, on the basis of the feedback received, additional safety and environmental aspects, as well as economic and social sustainability aspects, may be added to the framework by the European Commission.
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This Recommendation goes on top of the recently published Strategic Research and Innovation Plan (SRIP), where the European Commission identifies research and innovation needs for the transition to safe and sustainable chemicals and materials. As such, the SRIP is meant to guide funders in EU, national and private financial programmes. The SRIP is set to be incorporated into the Horizon Europe work programme 2023-2024 as an overarching strategy to which Horizon Europe should contribute. For further information, please click here to access the European Commission’s press release.
Please do not hesitate to contact our office at EU@israeltrade.gov.il if you have any questions or require further information.