Europe Regulatory News

On 7 November 2025 the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) published a draft mapping of PFAS uses to support the upcoming consultation on the Committee for Socio-Economic Analysis’s (SEAC) draft opinio...

On 7 November 2025 the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) published a draft mapping of PFAS uses to support the upcoming consultation on the Committee for Socio-Economic Analysis’s (SEAC) draft opinion concerning the proposed PFAS restriction under REACH. The document is intended to assist stakeholders in preparing for the consultation by identifying and describing relevant PFAS uses across the industrial, professional, and consumer sectors. The draft is available on ECHA’s website here.

Covers 14 sectors and PFAS manufacturing

The consultation will include sector-specific questions across 14 sectors, as well as PFAS manufacturing, to collect stakeholder input at the appropriate use level. Stakeholders are encouraged to consult the draft mapping when gathering information relevant to their specific applications.

A more detailed version of the mapping will be published after the SEAC meeting in December 2025, while the final version will be made available when the consultation opens in spring 2026. Details of the consultation process and expected timeline can be found here.

On 5 November 2025, the Council of the European Union agreed on its negotiating position for the remainder of the ‘Omnibus VI’ package, which aims to simplify the requirements for chemical product...

On 5 November 2025, the Council of the European Union agreed on its negotiating position for the remainder of the ‘Omnibus VI’ package, which aims to simplify the requirements for chemical products while maintaining a high level of protection for human health and the environment. The proposal introduces amendments to three core EU laws: the Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulation, the Cosmetics Regulation, and the Fertilising Products Regulation.

Changes to the CLP Regulation

The Council’s position builds on the 2024 revision of the CLP Regulation and maintains the “digital-by-default” labelling approach to reduce administrative burden. It introduces clearer rules on label readability, including minimum font size requirements, and harmonises labelling obligations for online and distance sales. The obligation to include a telephone contact on labels is reinstated, while digital alternatives remain possible.

As part of the package, the ‘stop-the-clock’ mechanism, already agreed under an urgent procedure by the European Parliament and the Council, will delay the entry into force of several provisions of the revised CLP Regulation until 1 January 2028. This will give industry additional time to adapt. More details on this measure are available here.

Amendments to the Cosmetics Regulation

For cosmetic products, the Council reintroduces the obligation to notify nanomaterials prior to placing them on the market, replacing the current six-month advance notification. Transition periods for the phase-out of carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic (CMR) substances will also be extended compared with current provisions to ensure practical and balanced implementation.

Updates to the Fertilising Products Regulation

The Council clarifies the role of accredited notified bodies and provides for scientific input from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the Joint Research Centre (JRC) in assessment procedures. The requirement for REACH registration of substances with harmonised classifications is also reinstated and registration obligations are introduced for micro-organisms used in fertilising products exceeding 10 tonnes per year.

Next Steps

Following the adoption of its mandate, the Council will begin negotiations with the European Parliament. This initiative supports the EU’s broader efforts to streamline legislation, reduce administrative burdens, and strengthen competitiveness, in line with the European Council’s 2024 call for regulatory simplification.

The revised EU Waste Framework Directive, which came into effect on 16 October 2025, introduces mandatory Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes for textiles and footwear and sets binding food...

The revised EU Waste Framework Directive, which came into effect on 16 October 2025, introduces mandatory Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes for textiles and footwear and sets binding food waste reduction targets for Member States. It strengthens producer responsibility for collection and recycling and promotes waste prevention and reuse across Member States.

New Directive Targets Textile and Food Waste

The European Union’s revised Waste Framework Directive marks a major step toward a circular economy. The textile sector faces growing scrutiny due to its significant consumption of water, land, and raw materials, as well as its high greenhouse gas emissions and mounting waste. Currently, only a fraction of textile waste is recycled or reused.

The updated Directive requires each Member State to establish EPR systems in which producers fund the collection, sorting, and recycling of discarded textiles. It also mandates that all textiles collected separately must be classified as waste and sorted into reusable and non-reusable categories before shipment, reinforcing oversight under the Waste Shipment Regulation.

In tackling food waste, the Directive demands a 10% cut in processing and manufacturing as well as a 30% reduction in retail and household waste per capita by 2030. Member States must enhance prevention programs, raise public awareness, and promote food donation and innovation.

Implementation Timeline

EU Member States have 20 months to implement the revised Directive and 30 months to establish EPR schemes for textiles and footwear.

On 5 November 2025, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) added 1,1'-(ethane-1,2-diyl)bis[pentabromobenzene] (DBDPE) (CAS No. 84852-53-9) to the Candidate List of substances of very high concern (SVHCs...

On 5 November 2025, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) added 1,1'-(ethane-1,2-diyl)bis[pentabromobenzene] (DBDPE) (CAS No. 84852-53-9) to the Candidate List of substances of very high concern (SVHCs) under the REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006. The addition brings the total number of entries on the list to 251, some of which cover groups of chemicals.

The decision follows the agreement of the Member State Committee (MSC) at its October 2025 meeting, confirming the identification of DBDPE as very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB) under Article 57(e) of REACH. The Swedish competent authority prepared the Annex XV dossier supporting this identification.

Reason for Inclusion and Background

DBDPE is a brominated flame retardant used in a variety of industrial applications including plastics, textiles, and electronic equipment. Its identification as an SVHC is based on a weight-of-evidence assessment demonstrating its persistence in the environment and its potential to bioaccumulate in living organisms.

ECHA noted that, beyond the usual obligations following Candidate List inclusion, the identification of DBDPE as an SVHC supports ongoing work toward a potential restriction on brominated flame retardants.

Regulatory Implications

The inclusion of DBDPE on the Candidate List triggers multiple legal obligations for companies under REACH and related EU legislation:

• Information duty: Suppliers of articles containing DBDPE in concentrations above 0.1 % w/w must inform recipients and consumers about its safe use. Consumers may request this information and must receive a response within 45 days.
• Notification to ECHA: Importers and producers of articles must notify ECHA within six months of the inclusion date (i.e. by 5 May 2026) if their articles contain DBDPE above the 0.1 % threshold and exceed one tonne per year, unless exposure can be excluded.
• Safety data sheets: Suppliers of substances or mixtures containing DBDPE must update their SDSs to reflect its Candidate List status.
• SCIP notification under the Waste Framework Directive:
  Companies producing or importing articles containing DBDPE above the 0.1 % threshold must also submit a notification to ECHA’s SCIP database of substances of concern in products.
• Restrictions on ecolabels: Products containing SVHCs cannot be awarded the EU Ecolabel under the EU Ecolabel Regulation.

ECHA notes that DBDPE may be considered for future inclusion in the Authorisation List (Annex XIV), which would prohibit its use without prior authorisation by the European Commission.

The national authorities of Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden have released a 20-page summary explaining the updates to their proposal to restrict per- and polyfluoroalkyl substa...

The national authorities of Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden have released a 20-page summary explaining the updates to their proposal to restrict per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) under the REACH Regulation in the EU/EEA.

Purpose and Key Updates

The document, titled “What You Need to Know About the Updated PFAS Restriction Dossier,” provides an overview of the key changes made since the original proposal was submitted to ECHA in January 2023. It aims to help stakeholders navigate the broad and technically complex proposal and to clarify how consultation feedback and scientific evaluations have been incorporated.

Scope and Derogations

The updated dossier refines the definition of PFAS, includes revised or new derogations for specific uses where alternatives are not yet available, and outlines transitional periods. It also updates the socio-economic analysis and clarifies analytical and reporting requirements.

Next Steps

ECHA’s expert committees, the Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) and the Committee for Socio‑Economic Analysis (SEAC), are expected to issue their draft opinions in spring 2026, followed by a formal public consultation (more details here).

The dossier submitters emphasise that the summary is not a substitute for the full updated restriction dossier but serves as guidance to support industry and other stakeholders in understanding the forthcoming decision-making process.

The full summary can be accessed here.

On 21 October 2025, the European Parliament adopted three legislative resolutions forming the core of the One Substance, One Assessment (OSOA) initiative. The package aims to simplify and harmonise...

On 21 October 2025, the European Parliament adopted three legislative resolutions forming the core of the One Substance, One Assessment (OSOA) initiative. The package aims to simplify and harmonise the evaluation of chemicals across the EU by improving data accessibility, strengthening coordination among EU agencies, and transferring certain scientific and technical tasks to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).

Common Data Platform on Chemicals

The first regulation (P10_TA(2025)0235) establishes a common data platform on chemicals to consolidate information on hazard properties, uses, emissions, presence in the environment, and human exposure. The platform will also include data on safer alternatives and will apply the FAIR principles (findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable) to ensure consistency and transparency in chemical data. It also establishes a monitoring and outlook framework to support the early identification of emerging chemical risks.

Re-attribution of Tasks to ECHA

The second act (P10_TA(2025)0236) reallocates specific scientific and technical tasks from the European Commission and other bodies to ECHA. These include assessing exemption requests under the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive 2011/65/EU, coordinating technical reviews, and publishing non-confidential application information. A twenty-month transition period is foreseen to enable the transfer of responsibilities and resources.

Strengthened Inter-Agency Cooperation

The third text (P10_TA(2025)0237) amends several existing EU regulations to strengthen cooperation among EU agencies involved in chemical safety, food safety, environmental protection, and product regulation. These include:

• Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 (General Food Law Regulation)
• Regulation (EC) No 401/2009 (European Environment Agency Regulation)
• Regulation (EU) 2017/745 (Medical Devices Regulation)
• Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 (Persistent Organic Pollutants Regulation)

The amendments introduce mechanisms for data exchange, coordinated scientific assessments, and the resolution of divergent scientific opinions.

Next Steps

These measures aim to eliminate the duplication of chemical assessments, improve regulatory efficiency, and enhance the scientific coherence of EU chemicals legislation. This is in line with the objectives of the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability and the zero-pollution ambition of the European Green Deal.

Following Parliament’s approval, the package awaits formal adoption by the Council of the European Union before entering into force. Each act will enter into force following publication in the Official Journal of the European Union, typically twenty days after publication, unless otherwise specified.

On 15 October 2025, the European Commission adopted Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/2067, amending Regulation (EC) No 340/2008 on the fees and charges payable to the European Chemicals Agency (EC...

On 15 October 2025, the European Commission adopted Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/2067, amending Regulation (EC) No 340/2008 on the fees and charges payable to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) under REACH. The regulation was published in the Official Journal of the European Union the following day. It introduces two major reforms: an inflation-based adjustment to standard REACH fees and a new system for verifying Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) status.

Fee Adjustments

The amendment introduces a 19.5 % increase in standard REACH fees, reflecting the cumulative inflation recorded since 2021. This update ensures that the fees paid to ECHA continue to cover the costs of registration, evaluation, and other administrative processes under REACH.
However, in line with the European Commission’s SME Relief Package and the 2024–2029 Political Guidelines, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are excluded from this adjustment. The exemption is intended to maintain a fair balance between administrative sustainability and the financial capacity of smaller companies.

The revised fee structure will apply from 5 November 2025, the date the regulation enters into force. The exact fee amounts for each registration type and company size can be found in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/2067 which is available here.

New Approach to SME Status Verification

The amendment introduces a change to how ECHA verifies SME eligibility. Rather than reviewing SME claims after submission (the current ex post approach), ECHA will now verify SME status in advance (ex ante).

Under the revised system, companies wishing to benefit from reduced fees must obtain SME recognition before submitting their dossiers. This request must be submitted no later than two months before the intended submission date. Once granted, SME status will remain valid for three years and will cover all applications made during that period.
ECHA may charge an administrative fee to process SME recognition requests, but this fee will be waived if the company’s SME status is confirmed. 

The new SME verification system will apply from 5 February 2027, providing a 15-month transition period for companies to align their internal procedures.