European Commission urged to reject REACH authorisation proposal

ILA has written to the European Commission asking it to reject a recommendation from ECHA – the EU chemicals regulator – to include lead on its REACH list of substances requiring authorisation. 

In a letter to the Commission, Dr Steve Binks, ILA’s Regulatory Affairs Director, warned that the recommendation would have “significant consequences for a wide cross-section of European businesses.” 

ILA has sent the Commission an open statement signed by a range of businesses and associations representing downstream users of lead, warning of severe consequences for a broad range of strategically important European industries and applications – including non-ferrous metals manufacturing, lead battery production, automotive, machinery and mechanical engineering industries, the marine sector, aeronautics, space, and defence, healthcare, such as clean energy, solar, nuclear and offshore wind.

The statement goes on to advise policymakers about lead’s essential role in the shielding of ionising radiation, to protect workers, patients, and members of the public, as an alloying agent, and many more applications for which lead is an essential raw material that does not have any technical or socioeconomically viable alternatives. 

Dr Binks said: “In many economically and socially important applications the use of lead is not only unavoidable it is essential and extensively regulated. Many products and applications that rely on lead underpin the EU’s policy objectives for the twin transitions and for a strategically autonomous, sustainable future.”

ILA will be meeting with European Commission officials and other stakeholders arguing against the recommendation, given that lead is already extensively regulated in Europe.