ETRMA: REACH Reform Must Balance Health Goals with Industry Predictability

The European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers’ Association (ETRMA) has submitted its official response to the European Commission’s consultation on the simplification of the REACH Regulation. While reaffirming its support for REACH’s core objectives to safeguard health and the environment, ETRMA is calling for reforms that maintain regulatory clarity and ensure industrial competitiveness within Europe’s tyre and rubber sector.

Key requests from the tyre industry

In its submission, ETRMA identifies five core areas of concern that it believes the revised REACH framework must address to avoid disrupting the supply chain and innovation in the tyre industry:

1. Regulatory alignment across EU law

ETRMA urges the Commission to align REACH more effectively with current and upcoming EU legislation to avoid duplication and contradictory obligations.

2. Introduction of the RMOA framework

A Regulatory Management Option Analysis (RMOA) should be formally integrated into the REACH structure to ensure decision-making is risk- and science-based, not politically reactive.

3. No extension of registration to polymers

The organisation advises against expanding REACH’s registration requirements to polymers, citing disproportionate cost implications and limited benefit for safety outcomes.

4. Reform of the Authorisation process

ETRMA advocates for a clearer, more streamlined REACH Authorisation process, ensuring legal certainty and manageable timelines for industry actors.

5. A level playing field

Uniform enforcement across all EU Member States remains a priority to prevent regulatory fragmentation and competitive imbalances within the Single Market.

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As the tyre sector invests in sustainable materials and EV-ready compounds, predictable and coherent chemical regulation is vital. ETRMA’s intervention reflects a wider trend across advanced manufacturing industries: aligning environmental goals with practical frameworks that support innovation, trade, and compliance. Simplified REACH reform will be essential for EU-based tyre producers to remain globally competitive.

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Tagged with: REACH regulation, ETRMA, tyre industry policy, chemical regulation EU, Regulatory Management Option Analysis, polymers REACH, tyre manufacturing compliance, EU chemicals strategy

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