News Details

On 31 August 2026, the European Commission published the 2026 update of its rolling list of restriction activities under the REACH Regulation. The updated roadmap covers restrictions adopted since 2022, cases approaching a Commission decision, proposals under evaluation by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), and substances under consideration for future restrictions.

The update follows consultation with the Competent Authorities for REACH and CLP (CARACAL) in July 2026 and introduces a revised structure intended to present the different stages of the restriction process more clearly.

Roadmap Introduces New Structure

The 2026 roadmap introduces a new chronological structure comprising:

• Measures adopted by the Commission since April 2022.
• Restriction cases currently undergoing Commission decision-making.
• Restriction proposals in ECHA’s opinion-making process.
• Substances subject to ongoing work towards possible future restrictions.
• Groups of substances being assessed where restriction is a potential regulatory option.
• Completed and ongoing assessments under Article 69(2) of REACH concerning substances on the Authorisation List.

According to the Commission, 11 REACH restrictions covering hundreds of hazardous substances have been adopted since the original roadmap was published in 2022.

Cases Approaching a Decision

The roadmap identifies nine restriction cases at the Commission decision-making stage. These include:

• Medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCPs) and other substances containing C14–C17 chloroalkanes
• Lead in certain fishing tackle
• 26 substances or substance groups newly classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction (CMR)
• Lead in gunshot
• Creosote and creosote-related substances
• Hydrogenated terphenyl
• Calcium cyanamide
• CMR substances in childcare products
• Skin-sensitising, irritating or corrosive substances in textile, leather, hide and fur articles

Several of these cases have already received a positive vote in the REACH Committee, while draft measures are being prepared or remain under scrutiny.

PFAS and Other Proposals Under Review

Three restriction proposals are currently undergoing opinion-making by ECHA’s Committees for Risk Assessment (RAC) and Socio-Economic Analysis (SEAC). These cover octocrylene in finished cosmetic products, certain chromium(VI) substances and the universal PFAS restriction.

The roadmap indicates that ECHA opinions on all three proposals are expected in 2026.

Future Restriction Work

ECHA is expected to submit an Annex XV dossier on certain non-polymeric aromatic brominated flame retardants in December 2026. The potential restriction would cover electrical and electronic equipment, construction products and textile products containing these substances.

Germany is expected to submit a dossier on bisphenols with endocrine-disrupting properties for the environment and their salts by 12 March 2027. Austria and the Netherlands are expected to submit a dossier on 6PPD and related substances in rubber tyres and potentially other rubber products by the same date.

Further work highlighted in the roadmap includes:

• A possible extension of existing restrictions to additional C4–C6 ortho-phthalates.
• Investigation reports on organophosphorus flame retardants and alternatives to certain aromatic brominated flame retardants.
• Potential restrictions on carcinogenic substances in critical fibre form.
• Certain uses of 1,4-dioxane.
• Hydrocarbyl siloxanes.
• Additional high-temperature heat-transfer fluids.
• Further bisphenols presenting human-health concerns.
• Substances used in thermal paper.
• Lead chromates in materials other than PVC.

Roadmap Does Not Establish Legal Requirements

The roadmap does not itself create new legal obligations. However, it enables businesses to identify substances and uses that could be subject to future restrictions, allowing them to start evaluating the impact on their supply chains and exploring potential alternatives.