Ref. Ares(2017)5149017 - 22/10/2017
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs
Consumer, Environmental and Health Technologies
Chemicals
Brussels, 17 October 2017
GROW/D.2/
NOTE FOR THE FILE
MEETING WITH CEFIC
Participants Cefic:
Marco Mensink, Director-General
Aaron McLoughlin, Executive Director Public Affairs
(transparency register id 64879142323-90),
Participants GROW:
Lowri Evans,
,
Date & time:
17 October 2017, 16:30-17:30
1.
BACKGROUND
Mr Mensink requested a meeting with Ms Evans to discuss four issues: (1) REACH
enforcement, (2) R&D support, (3) ETS innovation fund, and (4) Better Regulation.
The recently published industrial policy strategy was also added to the agenda.
2.
DISCUSSION
Cefic provided an update on its current key activities, including improving
outreach to SMEs around Europe, followed by an overview of the chemicals
sector, which has shown a strong performance over the past six months.
In relation to the EU industrial policy strategy. GROW underlined the importance
of all relevant actors on a national and regional level to contribute and encouraged
Cefic to provide suggestions on effective indicators to monitor progress.
Cefic presented the work on its Mid-Century Strategy, aiming at a chemical
industry that is decarbonised, circular and economically viable. The lack of
investment in new industrial installations in Europe was raised as a particular
concern by Cefic.
In relation to the plastics strategy, it is important to obtain a more granular
understanding of plastics manufacturing, use and recycling. In addition, Cefic
considered it crucial that chemical recycling is counted towards recycling targets
and called for the introduction of standards for recycled plastics (as has been
previously done for paper).
Inform GROW/D.2
Cefic raised the lack of REACH enforcement at the border (imported chemicals
and articles) as a major concern. This requires further coordination between
REACH authorities and customs authorities.
Follow-up with GROW/B on
market surveillance and with GROW/D.1, which is already working on this
matter with DG TAXUD and the Member States.
Commission européenne/Europese Commissie, 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel, BELGIQUE/BELGIË - Tel. +32 22991111
Office: BREY 1
- Tel. direct line +32
@ec.europa.eu
Cefic advocated more support to SMEs for substitution activities. It also stressed
that any potential future work on a non-toxic environment strategy should
consider competitiveness and innovation.
In relation to the Better Regulation Agenda, Cefic indicated that economic impact
assessments should be more consistently conducted on technical adaptations (in
particular new harmonised classifications under CLP), as well as proposals under
the Stockholm Convention. It specifically raised concerns about the impacts of
the classification of titanium dioxide (widely used in paints) and pyrithione zinc
(used in shampoo). GROW indicated that the classification of mixtures
containing titanium dioxide is on the agenda of the next CARACAL expert group
meeting.
Follow-up with GROW/01 on economic impact assessments and
GROW/D.2 (responsible for CLP)
c.c.
L. Evans, A. Peltomäki,
(GROW), C. Pettinelli (GROW/D)
(GROW/D.2)
(GROW/D.1)
(GROW/01),
(GROW/B.1)
2
Document Outline