Press release
NGOs urge European Commission to halt deregulation Omnibus in chemicals sector
09 July 2025
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.”
Schenten added “The Commission’s proposal lacks a solid evidence base, sidesteps public consultation, and ignores its own Better Regulation Guidelines. That’s not simplification – that’s maladministration. By advancing a legally unsound proposal, the Commission risks triggering legal challenges that will increase uncertainty for industry and exacerbate problems rather than solve them”
On the planned rollback of CLP measures, Schenten warned previously: “The Commission is planning to scrap rules on packaging and advertising of hazardous mixtures. Cutting paperwork does not make toxic products any safer. The CLP Regulation exists to ensure a high level of protection – not to ease administrative burdens at the expense of public safety.”
Silvia Pastorelli, EU petrochemicals campaigner at the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) added: “Regulatory safeguards aren’t barriers. They are vital investments in public wellbeing, ecosystems, and a just and necessary transition away from a fossil-based economy. Cutting so-called ‘red tape’ cannot come at the cost of public safety.”
The Commission must commit to full transparency and include civil society and independent experts in the decision-making process. ClientEarth’s letter urges the Commission to drop the omnibus deregulatory package, and refrain from eliminating safeguards in CLP, cosmetics and fertilisers.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- The letter was signed by ChemSec – the International Chemical Secretariat, Child Rights International Network (CRIN), Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO), ECOS (Environmental Coalition on Standards), European Environmental Bureau (EEB)
Federation SEPANSO Aquitaine, Générations Futures, Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL). - Since the beginning of this year, the European Commission has been pushing for simplification across many different environment and climate files to boost the competitive edge of Europe. ClientEarth has condemned the downgrading of sustainability standards, as it happened with the Omnibus I package, and has sounded the alarm over the lack of transparency in these processes. In March, we denounced the limited stakeholder engagement in the Strategic Dialogue on the Chemicals Industry Package. With very few representatives of civil society, the high-level dialogue favoured industry’s interests. ClientEarth warned that more deregulation is unacceptable and stressed the need to maintain REACH’s core objectives.
- This simplification is not just a step backwards for the environment, but also for people’s health and safety. Consumer groups have expressed concerns about the new simplification, as its rules could greatly increase consumer exposure to dangerous chemicals and increase health risks.
- This call comes as the European watchdog upheld her finding of maladministration against the Commission over systemic delays in authorisation decisions for hazardous chemicals. Teresa Anjinho criticised the Commission’s failure to act on her recommendations or present a credible plan to remedy the situation. These delays pose a serious threat to public health and the environment, reinforcing the need for stronger chemical regulation in the EU.
About ClientEarth
ClientEarth is a non-profit organisation that uses the law to create systemic change that protects the Earth for – and with – its inhabitants. We are tackling climate change, protecting nature and stopping pollution, with partners and citizens around the globe. We hold industry and governments to account, and defend everyone’s right to a healthy world. From our offices in Europe, Asia and the USA we shape, implement and enforce the law, to build a future for our planet in which people and nature can thrive together.