BCF Issues Statement On EU TiO2 Court Case

• BCF Issues Statement on EU TiO2 Court Case: ‘Victory for Common Sense’ 

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has today dismissed an appeal from the European Commission and France against its 2022 ruling on Titanium Dioxide (TiO2).

The 2022 ruling from the ECJ sided with the case brought by the Titanium Dioxide Manufacturers’ Association (TDMA) – with BCF, CEPE and the American Coatings Association acting as interveners on behalf of the coatings industry – and annulled the original classification of TiO2 as carcinogenic category 2 by inhalation. TiO2 is a unique and essential raw material for the manufacture of paints, medicinal products, foodstuffs and toys, among other products.

This has been a battle that the industry has been fighting as a priority since March 2015, when the French authorities first tabled their concerns that TiO2 was a carcinogenic substance.

Responding to the decision of the European Court of Justice, Tom Bowtell, CEO of BCF, said: “This is excellent news and vindicates the decision of BCF, CEPE and the American Coatings Association to support the TiO2 industry in opposing the original classification, which, in industry’s view, was not based on sound science. The ECJ upholding its initial ruling will be of practical benefit to members in the coatings industry. We are therefore delighted with the outcome and hope it brings the matter to an end, giving companies certainty about a key raw material for the sector.

"It is also worth stating that this is an important outcome in terms of precedent. If the TiO2 decision and methodology used for the decision were extrapolated, other substances may have also been treated the same way. So, a good win for a united industry all working together.”

To read the ECJ ruling in full, visit: https://curia.europa.eu/jcms/upload/docs/application/pdf/2025-08/cp250099en.pdf

Source : BCF

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