The European Union (EU) is a political and economic union of 27 European countries, operating a single market governed by common legislation, standards, and trade policies. Through institutions including the European Commission, European Parliament, and the Council of the EU, it proposes, adopts, and enforces laws that shape industry, competition, environment, and consumer protection across the bloc.
For the chemical sector, the EU is a global rule‑setter. Core frameworks include REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) and CLP (Classification, Labelling and Packaging), implemented with support from the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). Additional policies—such as the Industrial Emissions Directive, the European Green Deal and circular economy measures, the Emissions Trading System (ETS), the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), and product‑specific rules (e.g., on batteries and sustainable products)—govern substances, processes, safety, sustainability, and market access. The EU also funds innovation and decarbonization via programs like Horizon Europe and the Innovation Fund, and its competition and trade decisions influence mergers, state aid, and the import/export of chemical products and intermediates.
