“It is crucial to protect people and the environment from the use of hazardous chemicals that can be found in products that we use in our daily lives,” was the main message of the Minister for Inclusion, Associations Volunteers and Consumer Rights Julia Farrugia Portelli, during an intervention in Paris, France, during a ministerial conference attended by ministers from all member states of the European Union.
The topic of the ministerial conference was the use of chemicals and how as member states we can better protect consumer health and the environment from certain chemicals found in everyday products. Various products are currently being analyzed, including toys, cosmetics, clothing and kitchen products.
The Minister emphasized that in addition to establishing the criteria by which to identify which products should be considered essential for this exercise, it is also just as important to educate and inform the consumer.
Minister Farrugia Portelli said that all this should be done at the same time as we incentivize the industry to continue investing in innovation. “We must seek to help the industry by being more proactive in this regard. One way to do this is to make sure that legislation does not unnecessarily restrict or stifle innovation. ”
Minister Farrugia Portelli said that the focus should not only be on the damage that certain chemicals can do, but should also be given importance to essential products that the consumer uses on a daily basis. The minister went on to say that Malta is open to exploring the possibility of applying certain principles that are currently being used under different legislation.
Minister Julia Farrugia Portelli concluded that it is crucial for the European Union and its member states to collectively identify a solution and strike the right balance between the necessary shift away from the use of hazardous chemicals while providing sufficient flexibility. to facilitate the use of particular chemicals linked to essential products.
