Commissioner Stéphane Séjourné has clarified that the EU's cosmetics regulatory framework will move toward integrating real-world exposure and risk assessments alongside hazard classification, without overhauling existing procedures. In a response to a parliamentary question from MEPs primarily in the EPP and ECR groups, Séjourné explained that the Risk Assessment Committee (RAC) identifies hazards to inform harmonized classifications, while exposure considerations are delegated to sector-specific legislation. The Commission plans simplifications under Omnibus VI to provide clearer legal footing for businesses, including criteria assessing the feasibility and economic viability of alternatives to hazardous substances. This approach maintains a scientific compromise by treating toxicity data from one exposure route as generally covering others to reduce animal testing, unless proven otherwise.
This clarification follows broader simplification efforts in EU food and feed safety. On December 16, 2025, Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis proposed a major simplification package for food and feed safety and medical devices, targeting a 25% cut in administrative burdens. The Food and Feed Safety Omnibus alone was expected to save €939 million annually. On March 18, 2026, Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi detailed the Food and Feed Safety Simplification Package to the AGRI Committee, emphasizing faster market authorizations for biocontrol products and risk-based renewals for pesticides and biocides. These proposals aim to balance high EU standards with farmers' competitiveness, including stricter import controls and increased audits.
In the ENVI committee debate on April 15, 2026, EFSA Executive Director Nikolaus Kriz defended strict scientific independence and pragmatic pesticide regulation, clashing with MEPs who voiced concerns about political pressure and the precautionary principle. Kriz presented the Food and Feed Omnibus as a risk-based solution to the backlog in pesticide renewals, focusing on highest-risk substances. The debate also covered the EU's stance on shipping decarbonisation and fossil-fuel transition ahead of IMO MEPC 84 and the Santa Marta conference.
Séjourné's response signals a moderate shift toward risk-based assessments in cosmetics, echoing the broader simplification trend. Stakeholder impacts vary: cosmetics manufacturers may benefit from clearer guidelines reducing arbitrary bans; consumer safety bodies might seek stronger exposure assessments; and socio-economic factors for industry receive preliminary attention. The pending Omnibus VI proposals will be crucial, as they could reshape how exposure and alternatives are factored into regulation, building on the Commission's ongoing policy evaluations.