The EU declares lithium batteries toxic

Could European Commission classify lithium as a Category 1A reproductive toxin?

A potential European Commission (EC) act to classify lithium as a Category 1A reproductive toxin in this year’s fourth quarter could undermine the European Union (EU)’s attempt to create and support a domestic battery materials supply chain.

Could a lithium label derail the EU's transition to green energy?

Such a label risks hampering the bloc’s climate ambitions, the industry argues. The European Commission will soon decide whether to classify lithium as a toxic chemical — causing a freak-out among battery and raw material producers who argue that doing so will derail the bloc's transition to green energy.

Will Europe fall further behind China if a lithium label 'Toxic' is approved?

Europe is at risk of falling even further behind China in the race to secure metals used to power electric vehicles if an EU proposal to label lithium “toxic” is approved, industry bodies have warned.

Should the EU keep lithium off its list of toxic chemicals?

The U.S., Australia and Argentina have urged the EU to keep lithium off its list of toxic chemicals so that new supply chains for battery technologies outside of Asia are created.

Are We out of lithium?

“We are out of lithium, out of nickel, out of copper and those materials are becoming essential,” Massimo Gasparon, director of the European Raw Materials Alliance said during a panel at the Fastmarkets European Battery Raw Materials conference in Barcelona last month. “It is difficult to see how Europe can be independent here.”

Is lithium a toxic material?

James Ley, of consultants Rystad Energy, said the potential classification of lithium as a toxic material stood “in polar opposition” to EU’s target of 100 per cent zero-emission vehicles sales by 2035. “That was hard enough to reach already, without adding additional constraints on domestic lithium production,” he added.