“NGOs urge European Commission to halt deregulation Omnibus in chemicals sector”

Today, ClientEarth and nine health and environmental organisations have sent an open letter to the European Commission, calling on the institution to abandon the proposed deregulatory Omnibus affecting chemicals legislation. This proposal – which covers CLP (Classification, Labelling and Packaging) and cosmetics rules – risks rolling back key protections that safeguard public health, consumers and ecosystems.

Chemical regulation is foundational to our standards of living and environmental protection. In the letter, ClientEarth and other signatories outline how the proposal undermines legal certainty, fails to meet EU transparency and consultation requirements, and is likely in breach of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.

The letter also highlights instances of maladministration in the Commission’s process, including the absence of a proper public consultation and a lack of evidence to justify the rollback of key safety provisions. ClientEarth warns the proposal is legally vulnerable and risks being overturned in court.

ClientEarth legal expert Julian Schenten said: “The EU institutions exist to protect people and planet, not to bend to industry pressure. The Commission must resist pressure from industry to weaken health and safety rules for the sake of preserving business as usual.”…