CEPE calls for smarter regulation to strengthen the EU industry

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CEPE calls for smarter regulation to strengthen the EU industry– CEPE (the European Council of the Paint, Printing Ink and Artists’ Colorants Industry) has published a 19-point proposal to reduce regulatory complexity and support innovation in the paint and printing ink sector. The initiative calls for more efficient, but not necessarily less regulation.

On May 8, 2025, CEPE published a series of concrete simplification proposals to counteract the growing regulatory burden in the sector. The sector (which employs 100,000 Europeans) warns that the complexity of current EU legislation is hampering innovation, investment and operational efficiency. The position paper outlines changes to regulations such as REACH, CLP and the Biocidal Products Regulation with the aim of maintaining policy objectives while improving implementation and compliance.

No deregulation, but smart and effective regulation

“We are not calling for deregulation,” said CEPE Managing Director Christel Davidson. “We are calling for smart and effective regulation.” The proposals are intended as a constructive contribution to the European Commission’s commitment to reduce administrative burdens by at least 25%.

An overview of the key proposals

The recommendations include the introduction of a Commission-backed XML standard for importing safety data sheets, the use of QR codes to give professional users access to safety data sheets (SDSs) and a simplified approach to notifications to poison control centers (PCNs). CEPE proposes to submit PCN dossiers in English in all Member States and calls for the abolition of national submission fees.
In the area of biocides, the proposals include speeding up approval times, reducing costs and shifting the assessment process from individual substances to entire product types. CEPE also calls on the EU to intervene where national labelling requirements conflict with harmonized EU legislation and warns that such measures undermine the internal market.

Message to policy makers

CEPE supports the EU’s broader regulatory objectives, but argues that better coordination, appropriate commitments and digital tools are needed to make them workable. The 19-point plan is designed for rapid implementation and aims to increase the resilience and sustainability of the sector while reducing unnecessary burdens.

Source: European Coatings
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