In an open letter dated February 19, 2026, 36 environmental NGOs call on European Union leaders “to remain faithful to the primary objective of REACH: a high level of protection for human health and the environment.” They denounce deregulation disguised as “simplification” that puts European citizens at risk…
Among the signatories of this letter are the EEB (European Environmental Bureau), Chemsec (International Chemical Secretariat), France Nature Environnement, Green Transition Denmark, Ocean Now, and Plastic Soup Foundation, as well as Générations Futures, Surfraider Foundation, and Chem Trust.
Their common message: “Protection first” for Europeans, who, according to them, are not adequately protected from harmful chemicals, “at a time when European omnibuses are deregulating and the revision of the REACH Regulation is stalling.”
Throughout the debate, they identify a current trend toward deregulation of chemical controls.
Change of course
“In 2020,” the NGOs point out, “the European Strategy for Sustainable Chemicals (CSS) was adopted […]. In particular, it introduced the need to revise the REACH regulation and ban the most dangerous substances.”
And they denounce: “The European institutions changed their political priorities when they were renewed in 2024 and put forward a deregulation program motivated by industry demands.”
The Commission’s “simplification” approach is therefore targeted.
“For example,” for Générations Futures, “we have denounced Omnibus VI on chemicals which, if approved, will facilitate and expand the use of carcinogenic or reproductive toxic chemicals in cosmetics, slow down the development of safer alternatives, and significantly undermine consumer and …
