Chemicals | Monthly bulletin | April 2026

Europe

EU moves closer to PFAS ban as ECHA’s Risk Committee adopts opinion

On the 3^rd of March 2026, the Risk Assessment Committee (RAC) formally adopted its scientific opinion on the proposed EU‑wide restriction covering PFAS use under the REACH Regulation.

The RAC assessment focuses specifically on:

• Risks to human health during manufacture, use, and end‑of‑life phases
• Environmental impacts stemming from long‑term persistence and dispersal
• Whether a universal restriction is appropriate for mitigating exposure risks

With the RAC opinion adopted, attention now shifts to ECHA’s Socio‑Economic Analysis Committee (SEAC), which evaluates the broader impacts and feasibility of the proposed restriction.

On the 11^th of March 2026, the European Committee for Socio‑Economic Analysis (SEAC) formally agreed its draft opinion on the proposed universal restriction of per‑ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The committee’s work built on the RAC (Risk Assessment Committee) scientific opinion.

The draft opinion will now proceed to a 60‑day public consultation. SEAC is expected to adopt its final opinion by the end of 2026, taking into account submitted evidence. Both committees’ final opinions will then be submitted to the European Commission. The Commission will draft the final PFAS restriction, to be voted on by EU Member States within the REACH Committee.

The agreement of SEAC’s draft opinion and RAC’s final scientific conclusion, brings the PFAS restriction proposal significantly closer to becoming EU law.

Recent publications on REACH Regulation

The following table provides a non-exhaustive summary of some recent updates regarding REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006:

Interesting resources on REACH Regulation on the ECHA’s website 

• Registry of restriction intentions until outcome - ECHA (europa.eu)
• Registry of SVHC intentions until outcome - ECHA (europa.eu)
• Substance evaluation - CoRAP - ECHA (europa.eu)
• Adopted opinions and previous consultations on applications for authorisation - ECHA (europa.eu)
• Applications for authorisation - current consultations - ECHA (europa.eu)
• Current calls for comments and evidence - ECHA (europa.eu)
• Authorisation List - ECHA (europa.eu)
• ECHA's completed activities on restriction
• Submitted restrictions under consideration
• Assessment of regulatory needs list

Recent publications on CLP Regulation

The following table provides a non-exhaustive summary of some recent updates regarding CLP Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008:

EU issues new Recommendation for “Safe and Sustainable by Design”

On the 10^th of March 2026, the European Commission published Recommendation (EU) 2026/510, introducing a revision to the European assessment framework for “safe and sustainable by design” (SSbD) chemicals and materials.

The new Commission Recommendation aims to:

• Update and harmonise the SSbD assessment criteria
• Encourage industry uptake through a clearer, more predictable methodology
• Facilitate early‑stage chemical safety screening during product design
• Support innovation of safer alternatives and advanced materials
• Improve market competitiveness while reducing risks throughout the chemical life cycle

This Recommendation marks a significant advancement in the EU’s push toward safer, more sustainable chemical innovation. By updating the SSbD framework, the European Commission aims to strengthen Europe’s strategic autonomy, protect public health, and accelerate the transition to a resilient, sustainable industrial future.

As Member States and industry begin implementing the revised guidance, the initiative is poised to influence chemical design, manufacturing, and materials development across Europe for years to come.

Interesting resources on the CLP Regulation on the ECHA’s website

• Registry of CLH intentions until outcome - ECHA (europa.eu)
• Harmonised classification and labelling consultations - ECHA (europa.eu)

UK

UK Government adopts REACH (Amendment) Regulations 2026

On the 2^nd of March 2026, the UK Government formally adopted the REACH (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (S. I. 2026 No. 195), introducing significant updates related to lead and its compounds in objects intended to be expelled from a firearm (“projectiles”) in Annex 17 of UK REACH. Key Points of the Amendment are:

1. New restrictions on lead in projectiles
2. Derogations for specific shooting activities
3. Exemptions for air weapons
4. Elite athlete exemptions
5. Additional exemptions for projectiles other than shot used in:

• • Indoor target shooting,
  • Outdoor ranges,
  • Live quarry shooting, including zeroing (adjusting firearms).

6. Labelling requirements
7. General exemptions where the restriction does not apply.

New strategic approach to UK REACH Candidate List of SVHCs

On the 24^th of February 2026, the UK Government announced an overhaul of its chemicals regulatory framework with the publication of its new approach to the UK REACH Candidate List of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs). The policy, issued by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), replaces the interim principles in place since the UK’s departure from the European Union.

The new strategy officially ends the 2021 interim principles that guided SVHC identification after it’s EU exit. Under those principles, the UK used a case‑by‑case system involving regulatory management option analyses (RMOAs), which resulted in far fewer SVHC additions compared to the EU’s biannual updates.

From the 24^th of February 2026 onward, substances added to the EU REACH Candidate List since the 1^st of January 2021 will be reviewed by the UK, and, where appropriate, added to the UK REACH Candidate List.

This strategic change aligns with Commitment 40 of Defra’s 2025 Environmental Improvement Plan.

As part of the new approach, the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has already launched a six‑week consultation on the proposed addition of 15 new SVHCs to the UK REACH Candidate List , marking the first UK SVHC additions since Brexit.  Businesses have until April 20^th, 2026, to provide comments. If no comments are submitted, the substances will be added automatically; if comments are received, the HSE will evaluate them within 45 days.

This new direction aims to reduce regulatory divergence between UK and EU, lower complexity and cost for businesses operating in both markets.

International

World trade notifications related to chemicals 

The table below summarises recent World Trade notifications related to chemicals: