Europe Regulatory News

On 6 November 2025, the European Commissioner for the Environment, Water Resilience and Forestry, Jessika Roswall, presented an update on the European Commission’s chemicals policy agenda. She confi...

On 6 November 2025, the European Commissioner for the Environment, Water Resilience and Forestry, Jessika Roswall, presented an update on the European Commission’s chemicals policy agenda. She confirmed that the long-awaited revision of the REACH Regulation is still in preparation. The Commissioner outlined the ongoing efforts to reinforce EU chemicals legislation and encourage the development of safer and more sustainable materials.

REACH Revision Still Under Preparation

Roswall acknowledged that the REACH revision process is taking longer than initially planned, noting that the Commission is still updating its supporting analysis and impact assessments. She confirmed that no proposal date could yet be given, indicating that the draft would only be published once the analytical work was complete.
This effectively confirms that the REACH revision will not be presented in 2025, in line with previous indications of delay.

New Databases to Support One Substance, One Assessment

The Commissioner also outlined the upcoming measures under the ‘One Substance, One Assessment’ Regulation, including the establishment of two new EU databases. One database will collect environmental sustainability data to support lifecycle-based assessments of chemicals. The second database will compile information on alternatives to substances of concern, with the aim of facilitating substitution and reducing regulatory duplication.

These databases are intended to increase transparency, improve coordination across EU agencies, and promote the development of safer substances.

Revised Safe and Sustainable by Design Framework

Roswall announced that the Commission will soon adopt an updated Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) Framework to guide research and innovation funding towards safer and more sustainable chemical and material solutions. The revised framework will also help companies to integrate sustainability criteria at an early stage in the development of products.

EU Innovation and Substitution Hubs to Address PFAS and Promote Safer Alternatives

To complement these efforts, the Commission is establishing EU Innovation and Substitution Hubs under the EU Chemicals Industry Action Plan. These hubs are designed to accelerate the development of safer and more sustainable alternatives as well as addressing key challenges such as the substitution of PFAS and other substances of concern.

Roswall noted that the design phase is already underway and invited stakeholders to provide input on how the hubs can best support industry and research collaboration.

Upcoming Bioeconomy Strategy and Circular Economy Act

The Commissioner also confirmed that the new EU Bioeconomy Strategy will be adopted on 25 November 2025. The strategy aims to scale up the production of bio-based materials, strengthen biotechnology research, and extend sustainable value chains across industrial sectors.

A Circular Economy Act, expected in 2026, will follow as part of the Commission’s broader environmental policy package. This act will focus on creating a single market for secondary raw materials and fostering circular solutions throughout EU supply chains.

Collaboration and Outlook

Roswall emphasised that the success of these initiatives will depend on cooperation between Member States, industry, and research partners. She emphasised that the Commission’s long-term goal is to maintain high health and environmental protection standards while strengthening the competitiveness and resilience of the EU chemicals sector.

The long-awaited revision of the EU REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 has been delayed again. The European Commission’s internal planning document (SEC(2025) 2543 final, 3 November 2025), outlining...

The long-awaited revision of the EU REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 has been delayed again. The European Commission’s internal planning document (SEC(2025) 2543 final, 3 November 2025), outlining possible agenda items for meetings between 12 November 2025 and 28 January 2026, does not list the REACH revision among the key legislative proposals. This confirms that the proposal will not be tabled in 2025 and is now expected in 2026, depending on progress with the revised impact assessment and inter-service consultation.

RSB Rejection Causes Further Delay

The delay also follows reports that the Regulatory Scrutiny Board (RSB) issued a negative opinion on the Commission’s impact assessment supporting the REACH revision in September 2025. The RSB reportedly requested further analysis from the Directorate-General for Environment before the proposal could proceed, contributing to the postponement of the legislative process.

Background and Objectives

Originally announced under the EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, the REACH revision aims to strengthen data requirements, improve risk management for hazardous substances, and streamline administrative procedures.

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.