06/02/2026
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has announced tighter conflict-of-interest rules for external consultants, following a formal complaint submitted by Transparency International EU, Corporate Europe Observatory, LobbyControl and The Good Lobby.
The revised rules strengthen safeguards around how ECHA awards and manages consultancy contracts, particularly in highly sensitive regulatory areas such as chemicals policy. While ECHA maintains that no wrongdoing occurred in the case that triggered the complaint, the changes mark an important step forward for transparency and accountability in EU decision-making.
Background: concerns over PFAS consulting contracts
In July 2025, the four civil society organisations raised serious concerns about ECHA’s use of the consultancy Ramboll in the context of EU regulation on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as “forever chemicals”. PFAS regulation is one of the most consequential chemical policy processes currently underway in the EU, with major implications for public health and the environment. Investigative reporting revealed that Ramboll had advised ECHA on PFAS-related issues while allegedly working at the same time for companies and industry groups actively lobbying against stricter PFAS restrictions.
This situation presented a clear risk of professional conflicts of interest. In our complaint, we called on ECHA to review its contracts with Ramboll and to ensure that EU procurement rules on conflicts of interest were properly applied.
ECHA’s response and what has changed
In its formal response, ECHA stated that it had assessed and managed any potential conflicts of interest related to the Ramboll contracts. However, the agency also acknowledged the need to strengthen its framework.
ECHA has now expanded its conflict-of-interest rules by introducing explicit obligations for all service providers. Under the revised approach:
- All ECHA service providers must assess potential professional conflicts of interest before contracts are awarded.
- All tenderers and contractors must formally declare any potential professional conflicts of interest.
- Contractors must commit to avoiding such conflicts throughout the duration of their work.
Previously, ECHA’s rules only referred in general terms to the possibility of conflict-of-interest declarations, without clearly mandating these steps.
Scientific advice provided to EU institutions plays a crucial role in shaping laws that affect millions of people. When consultants advising regulators also work for industries seeking to influence those same policies, public trust and the credibility of EU decision-making is put at risk. The revised rules are a concrete improvement and show that civil society scrutiny can lead to meaningful institutional change. At the same time, stronger rules on paper must be matched by robust implementation in practice.
A reminder of the role of civil society
This outcome underscores the importance of organised, evidence-based advocacy in defending the public interest. By using legal tools and collective action, civil society organisations can, and do, push EU institutions to strengthen transparency and integrity.
The Good Lobby will continue to work alongside partners to ensure that EU policies are shaped independently, transparently and in the interest of people and the planet – not those with the loudest lobbying voices.