EU round up – Paint lobbyists face experienced new European commission team for 2024-29

New members of the European Commission have been proposed for the 2024-29 term, starting on November 1, with paint and coating industry lobbyists facing experienced hands in key trade, economy, and deregulation portfolios. Reappointed Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has nominated Maroš Šefčovič of Slovakia as Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security; Interinstitutional Relations; and Transparency. Šefčovič has been a commissioner since 2009—an exceptionally long tenure—and was involved in negotiating the EU-UK Northern Ireland Protocol, which kept Northern Ireland within the EU single market after Brexit. Additionally, Latvian Valdis Dombrovskis, a commissioner since 2014, has been appointed Commissioner for Economy and Productivity, Implementation, and Simplification, tasked with reducing the EU’s notorious administrative and regulatory complexity.

Other key appointments include Sweden’s Jessika Roswall as Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience, and Competitive Circular Economy; Bulgaria’s Ekaterina Zaharieva as Commissioner for Startups, Research, and Innovation; and France’s Stéphane Séjourné as Executive Vice-President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy. Source

One immediate task for Šefčovič will be advancing negotiations on an EU trade agreement with the Mercosur bloc—Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay (and potentially Bolivia in the future). The agreement aims to liberalize chemical product trades between Mercosur and the EU and is set to be discussed at the G20 summit in Brazil on November 18. EU trade deals with India and Australia will also be among Šefčovič’s priorities.

The European Commission has approved the use of chrome plating (chromium trioxide) on injection molds within the EU until December 2028 to provide hardness and wear resistance, which aids in producing high-quality plastic parts. Such decisions are made when chemicals are deemed toxic and require special authorization under the EU’s REACH chemical control system. Source

Similarly, the Commission has authorized (until 2034) the functional chrome plating of actuation and landing gear systems for the aviation industry and the chrome surface treatment of aluminum alloys used in the aerospace sector. It has also approved the functional chrome plating of shock absorber rods for the automotive sector until November 2028. Source 1 | Source 2

Additionally, the Commission has authorized electroplating of metal substrates to achieve functional surfaces for the sanitary sector until November 2028, and pre-treatment (etching) in the chrome plating process of exterior automotive plastic components until August 2033. Chrome plating of exterior automotive plastic components has been approved until August 2028. Source

Meanwhile, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has added flame retardant bis(α,α-dimethylbenzyl) peroxide to its candidate list of substances of very high concern (SVHC), which may end up on the EU’s special authorization list. Scientists have argued that the chemical is toxic for reproduction, and its use should be tightly controlled.

ECHA has also joined an EU consultation system for imposing additional controls on chemicals considered toxic under the newly revised EU Industrial Emissions Directive, which mandates the rollout of best available techniques for limiting the environmental health impact of certain substances. ECHA will provide expertise and data on chemicals of concern, many of which are used in paints and coatings. Source

The EU agency has also warned that larger chemical companies that misdeclared their size as micro, small, or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) when registering a substance under REACH could face a fee of EUR 19,900 if their mistake is detected during an upcoming verification process. However, if a company rectifies the error before its assessment begins, the charge will be waived, according to ECHA. Source

By Keith Nuthall