The EU court annuls the classification of titanium dioxide as a carcinogen

The General Court of the European Union has issued a ruling annulling the classification of titanium dioxide as a carcinogenic substance by inhalation, a decision that is a significant relief for the European chemical industry.

The classification, introduced by the European Commission in 2019 under the CLP Regulation, had generated concern in the sector about its regulatory and economic implications. Titanium dioxide is a compound widely used in products such as paints, medicines, food products or toys and its labeling as potentially carcinogenic had caused additional costs and significant legal uncertainty.

The Court has concluded that the Commission made errors in the scientific evaluation, especially by not properly considering the physical form of the substance and its behaviour under real exposure conditions. According to the ruling, the studies used did not justify such a severe classification, which led to the annulment of the measure.

From the chemical sector, the decision has been received as a victory for scientific evidence and legal certainty. Experts emphasize that this ruling restores confidence in European regulatory processes and allows companies to operate with greater predictability.

Although the European Commission can still appeal, the opinion of the General Court establishes a relevant precedent on how toxicological data should be interpreted in the Community regulatory framework.