The EU Council has published a compromise text on 2 October 2026, advancing the 'One Substance, One Assessment' (OSOA) legislative proposal. The text, discussed at a meeting on 4 December 2024, proposes transferring key scientific tasks under the RoHS Directive (2011/65/EU) from the European Commission to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), aiming to centralise chemical safety evaluations and align procedures with the REACH Regulation.
Presidency Compromise Details
The document, prepared under the Hungarian Presidency, specifies that ECHA would be formally tasked with evaluating applications for exemptions from RoHS substance restrictions and preparing dossiers for new restrictions. The compromise outlines procedural steps, timelines, and the roles of ECHA's Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) and Committee for Socio-economic Analysis (SEAC). This re-attribution is intended to improve consistency, efficiency, and transparency in chemical assessments across EU legislation.
Policy Trade-offs and Stakeholder Impact
The reform presents several trade-offs. For EU regulatory bodies, centralising assessments at ECHA could reduce duplication and enhance scientific coherence, but may increase ECHA's workload and require additional resources. National authorities of EU countries may see a diminished role in chemical evaluations, potentially reducing administrative burdens but also limiting national influence. EU producers of electronic equipment face streamlined exemption processes, but may encounter stricter and more harmonised restriction procedures, increasing compliance costs. EU consumers and environmental NGOs stand to benefit from more consistent protection against hazardous substances, though the shift could delay decisions if ECHA's capacity is strained.
Next Steps
Following the Council's compromise, the proposal will be discussed with the European Parliament under the ordinary legislative procedure. The Parliament's ENVI committee is expected to scrutinise the text, particularly regarding timelines and the balance between efficiency and stakeholder input. The final regulation will require adoption by both co-legislators before entering into force.