The European Union’s ambition to sharply reduce the use of hazardous chemicals is losing momentum. Several planned restrictions have been delayed or frozen as industrial competitiveness gains increasing political weight in Brussels. The shift is also affecting forestry and forest management, where chemical pesticides are still widely used to protect seedlings, control competing vegetation and reduce damage from insects and fungal diseases. Environmental organisations now warn that the European Commission’s efforts to restrict several groups of hazardous substances have slowed significantly in recent years. …Across Europe’s forestry sector, chemical plant protection products remain an important part of forest management practices. …Many of these substances are regulated under the EU’s extensive REACH chemicals legislation and pesticide rules governing plant protection products. At the same time, large parts of the EU’s ambitious chemical strategy — launched in 2022. …The slowdown comes amid growing pressure from Europe’s chemical industry, which is struggling with high energy prices and weak demand.