On October 18, the European Commission adopted its 2023 Work Programme, outlining the key policy and regulatory priorities that the EU executive will focus on in the course of next year.

The Programme includes the upcoming adoption of initiatives covering, among others, plastics and microplastics as well as the sustainability of packaging. It also confirms the anticipated revision of the REACH Regulation with the aim of securing European competitive advantages and innovation by promoting sustainable chemicals, simplifying and streamlining the regulatory process, and protecting human health and the environment.

Although the Work Programme does not specify a precise timeframe for the adoption of the targeted revision proposal, Chemical Watch reports (paywall) that this has been delayed from Q1 2023 to late 2024; it remains to be clarified how this will impact the adoption into legislation of the new nanomaterial definition, published in June of this year.