144 signatures
Petition is addressed to: European Parliament and Council of the European Union
This law was created to prevent terrorism and save lives — but it fails to do either. It severely restricts access to basic chemicals they are calling "explosives precursors" like nitric acid, hydrogen peroxide and sulfuric acid, which are essential for science, education, and innovation. These substances are used daily in research labs and classrooms across Europe — but now, students, teachers, and hobbyists face criminal suspicion just for ordering them.
Terrorism is not caused by access to chemicals. It's caused by radicalisation, poverty, and alienation. There is no public data showing that this law has prevented a single attack. Meanwhile, it is doing real damage to European science.
This regulation fights the wrong enemy. It harms the curious, the responsible, and the honest — while doing little to stop those who truly want to cause harm.
Let’s protect public safety without criminalising chemistry. Let scientists be scientists.
Call on the European Union to repeal Regulation (EU) 2019/1148 and replace it with smarter, science-friendly policy that truly addresses the root causes of terrorism.
Reason
This regulation is not just about chemicals. It’s about what kind of society we want the European Union to be. Do we want a society that supports personal freedom, scientific progress, and rational, evidence-based policymaking? One that upholds fundamental values like innocent until proven guilty — and encourages curiosity, learning, and innovation? Or do we want a society that reacts in panic and fear — a society where symbolic laws punish the innocent while doing nothing to stop real threats?
This regulation was passed in response to terrorism, but it is not stopping terrorism. There is no public evidence that it has prevented a single attack. Instead, it is criminalizing students, teachers, and hobby chemists. It is slowing research, harming education, and undermining trust. The cost of this law is far higher than most people realize. And now, the EU is considering expanding it even further. If we stay silent, this damage will grow.
This petition is a call to action — to protect what makes Europe worth defending: its freedom, its reason, its spirit of scientific exploration.
If you believe in these values, please speak up and sign.
This is the regulation: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2019/1148/oj
Here are the results of a previous survey from the EU on the regulation:
https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/13426-Preventing-terrorism-new-rules-on-the-marketing-and-use-of-high-risk-chemicals/public-consultation_en
Petition details
Petition started:
06/14/2025
Collection ends:
12/13/2025
Region:
European Union
Topic:
Science
Translate this petition now
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Removing restrictions on chemicals like sulfuric acid allows free access to essential substances for experimentation, learning, and innovation. Current laws punish responsible users while criminals find ways around them anyway. Chemistry should not be a privilege limited by fear-driven policy—it should be open to all who seek knowledge and discovery without state interference.
No CONTRA argument yet.
Why people sign
As a amateur chemist, it is my belief that students and teachers should be able to access the resources they need to teach, learn, and research subjects.
As a trained chemist, I am concerned that this law will do great harm to the EU's position as global tech leader in many industries that will be directly impacted, such as pharmaceuticals, ecofriendly plastics, semiconductor R&D. It will also impact many other fields that depend on advancements in materials science to overcome technical and engineering hurdles, such as high-energy physics and fusion research.
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Petition statistics
Supporters by country
| Country | number | quorum (?) |
|---|---|---|
| Deutschland | 28 | 0.04% |
| Italia | 16 | 0.03% |
| Nederland | 9 | 0.05% |
| Polska | 7 | 0.02% |
Signature distribution
I am studying Chemestry and have Chemestry as a Hobby and I do Not want to feel Like a crimenal buying chemicals.