The European Chemical Industry Council (Cefic) has called for reforms in its new paper titled “Towards a simpler, faster and more supportive legislative framework to help restore Europe’s competitiveness.” This initiative aligns with the European Commission’s ongoing efforts to simplify regulations.
Cefic’s paper highlights six key policy areas and three sector-specific issues that need attention. The goal is to support businesses across Europe while maintaining necessary policy objectives.
Among the recommendations, Cefic emphasizes the need to simplify the implementation of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). They suggest postponing the sector-specific European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) and temporarily relieving companies from stringent EU Taxonomy reporting obligations. The idea is to make these directives easier to manage and more practical for businesses.
Another crucial proposal is an assessment of the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D). Cefic believes this could help reduce the regulatory burden and minimize company litigation risks. They recommend delaying the rollout of these new rules until the assessment is complete.
Cefic also calls for a clearer legislative framework to promote a circular economy. This involves enhancing mechanical and chemical recycling technologies and adopting a mass balance chain of custody for recycled materials. By harmonizing “end-of-waste” criteria at the EU level, the alliance aims to simplify administrative processes related to waste shipments.
Additionally, the paper advocates for streamlining existing policies like the Emissions Trading System (ETS) and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). These changes aim to boost industrial competitiveness, lower compliance costs, and ensure fair competition among businesses.
Cefic stresses the importance of understanding how different chemical policies interact with broader EU regulations. This proactive approach could prevent delays in investment decisions and provide much-needed clarity for companies. They also address significant labeling challenges in the revised Classification, Labelling and Packaging Regulation, aiming for more straightforward guidelines.
Finally, under the Industrial Emissions Directive, Cefic suggests decoupling Environmental Management Standards from the permit process. This change is intended to ease administrative burdens and prevent unnecessary delays.
Cefic’s paper underscores the importance of reducing bureaucracy while accelerating and simplifying administrative processes. By fostering a more supportive legislative environment, Cefic aims to enhance Europe’s competitiveness on the global stage, ultimately benefiting businesses and the economy as a whole.
