Supporting the Commission in developing an essential use concept

Abstract

This report presents the outcome of a project to support the Commission to further define the essential use concept and associated criteria to help phase out the most harmful chemicals. The report investigates how the essential use concept could be implemented in EU legislation including REACH, the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive, food contact materials legislation, the Cosmetic Products Regulation, the Taxonomy Regulation, and the End-of-life Vehicles Directive. For REACH, the report identifies ‘sub-options’ for the essential use concept which could apply within options for the reform of authorisation and restriction, as considered in the targeted revision of REACH. Finally, the report provides a qualitative assessment of expected impacts from the introduction of the essential use concept in REACH. The evidence base was built up through a review of legislation and literature; a targeted survey; interviews; and a workshop.