The EU Council has adopted a contribution supporting the 'One Substance One Assessment' (OSOA) legislative proposal, which aims to re-attribute scientific tasks and improve cooperation among EU agencies in the chemicals field. The document, published on 2 October 2026, backs granting new guideline-development tasks to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) while calling for access to external expertise on medical devices. Member states also engaged in detailed textual debates on updating concentration limits for persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in waste.
Document Context and Type
The contribution, issued by the Council, is a formal input into the legislative process. It addresses amendments to Regulations (EC) No 178/2002, (EC) No 401/2009, (EU) 2017/745, and (EU) 2019/1021 (the POPs Regulation). The document is not a final legislative act but a policy orientation that will inform subsequent negotiations with the European Parliament and the European Commission.
Policy Orientations and Trade-offs
The Council supports expanding ECHA's role in developing guidelines, which could streamline chemical assessments but raises concerns about resource allocation and expertise gaps, particularly for medical devices. On POPs, member states debated updating concentration limits in waste, balancing environmental protection with the practical costs of waste management. This reflects a trade-off between public health goals and economic competitiveness for waste treatment industries.
Impact on Stakeholders
- ECHA: Gains new responsibilities for guideline development, potentially increasing its influence but requiring additional expertise and resources.
- Medical device manufacturers: May face stricter chemical oversight if ECHA's guidelines apply to their products, increasing compliance costs.
- Waste management sector: Updated POPs limits could require more stringent waste treatment processes, raising operational costs.
- EU consumers: Benefit from improved chemical safety and reduced exposure to hazardous substances.
Institutional Follow-up
The Council's contribution will feed into trilogue negotiations with the European Parliament and the European Commission. The Parliament is expected to adopt its position in the coming months, with the final regulation likely to be adopted by mid-2027.