A group of Italian MEPs from the European People's Party (PPE) has asked the European Commission how it plans to enforce the upcoming ban on medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCPs) and prevent unfair competition from third-country producers. In a written parliamentary question dated 7 July 2026, MEPs Salvatore De Meo, Marco Falcone, Fulvio Martusciello, Letizia Moratti, Giusi Princi, Massimiliano Salini, and Flavio Tosi warned that the restrictions, which enter into force on 16 December 2026, could create a competitive disadvantage for EU industry if not properly enforced.
The MEPs note that MCCPs are widely used in PVC products, electric cables, and building materials. While they support the environmental and health objectives of the ban, they highlight concerns from industrial operators that detecting MCCPs requires complex analytical techniques that are too demanding for routine inspections. This could allow third-country finished products containing MCCPs to enter the EU market unchecked, undermining the level playing field.
first, what enforcement measures the Commission will implement to ensure the ban is effective; second, whether the Commission will introduce specific certification, traceability, or due diligence requirements for operators placing such products on the EU market; and third, how it will ensure a level playing field between European and non-EU producers while protecting the internal market from distortions and preventing delocalisation.
The policy orientation of the question is protectionist and pro-enforcement, seeking to shield EU producers from regulatory asymmetry. The MEPs implicitly advocate for stronger EU-level controls on imported goods, which could increase administrative burdens on importers but safeguard domestic manufacturing jobs and competitiveness.
The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks. Its answer will signal whether it plans to rely on existing market surveillance mechanisms or introduce new compliance tools, and whether it shares the MEPs' concern about competitive distortions.