The EU Member States, in Council, unanimously adopted on 25th June conclusions on the EU Circular Economy Action Plan, including recommendations to define “substances of concern to be minimised or eliminated in products or waste”, proposing that a traceability system through the supply chain be developed (by 2030), with either detoxification of wastes containing “legacy substances” before recycling with exemptions where health and environment risks are controlled. Council also wants the EU to ensure that imported goods face the same restrictions on SVHCs (Substances of Very High Concern) as EU produced goods. Council also noted that the Ecodesign Directive should facilitate recycling by including specifications on toxic substances, and that technical, financial and market barriers to the circular economy should be addressed in the interface between chemical, product and waste legislation.
Council conclusions 25 June 2018 http://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/35781/st10447-en18.pdf