Chemicals | S&H | Monthly bulletin | August 2026

Europe

EU moves to add chlorpyrifos to Persistent Organic Pollutants List

On 30 June 2026, following the consultation process and regulatory review, the European Union adopted the delegated regulation in 2026 through Decision C(2026)4428, together with its corresponding annex. Its legislation on persistent organic pollutants (POPs) by adding chlorpyrifos, a widely known organophosphate pesticide, to the list of substances subject to strict controls under the EU POPs Regulation. The measure aligns EU law with an international decision adopted under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.

The EU introduces specific restrictions on production, use, placement on the market, and management of the substance. It is expected to be published in the European official Journal soon.

Council and Parliament reach deal to strengthen the European Chemicals Agency

On the 30 June 2026, the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament reached a provisional agreement on new legislation aimed at strengthening the role of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), marking a significant step forward in the EU's efforts to improve chemical safety, streamline regulatory processes, and enhance the protection of human health and the environment.

The agreement is designed to provide ECHA with stronger powers and a broader mandate, enabling the agency to better support the implementation and enforcement of EU chemicals legislation. The reform reflects the growing complexity of chemical regulation and the increasing need for a coordinated approach across multiple pieces of EU legislation.

The provisional political agreement must now undergo formal approval by both the Council and the European Parliament before it can enter into force. Once adopted, the new rules will further consolidate ECHA's role as the EU's central agency for chemical regulation and scientific assessment.

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

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)

EU opens review of RoHS exemptions for lead and cadmium in electronic components

The European Commission launched an European initiative in which several exemptions under the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive that currently allow the use of lead and cadmium in specific electrical and electronic equipment were reviewed. It opened the feedback period on 8 July 2026, with stakeholders invited to submit comments until 5 August 2026. 

The current review covers a range of applications involving lead and cadmium in specialised equipment. Examples highlighted by the Commission include:

• Lead in the glass of fluorescent tubes.
• Lead and cadmium used in laser tubes.
• Additional applications covered in the draft delegated directive and annex published by the Commission.

The Commission is assessing whether the technical and scientific justification for these exemptions remains valid and whether replacement substances or technologies are available. Following adoption, any approved exemption renewals would be incorporated into the RoHS framework and continue to provide legal certainty for affected industries

For manufacturers, importers, and compliance professionals, the outcome of this review will be closely watched as it may affect product design, supply chain decisions, and RoHS compliance obligations across the EU market.

UK

UK's HSE proposes adding new SVHCs to the UK REACH Candidate List

On 10 July 2026, the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) launched a public consultation on a proposal to add nine additional Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs) to the UK REACH Candidate List. 

Stakeholders have until 20 August 2026 to submit comments and provide scientific, technical, and use-related information regarding the proposed substances.

The proposal reflects the UK's continued development of its independent chemicals management framework and signals increasing regulatory attention on persistent and hazardous substances. For companies supplying products to the UK market, the potential addition of these nine SVHCs could trigger immediate supply chain reviews, substance tracking exercises, and enhanced communication obligations.

US

Vermont updates manufacturer guidance for Chemical Disclosure in Children's Products

Vermont's Chemical Disclosure Program for Children's Products, established under 18 V.S.A. Chapter 38A ("Chemicals of High Concern to Children"), requires manufacturers — or trade associations representing them — to report the presence of Chemicals of High Concern to Children (CHCCs) to the Vermont Department of Health (DOH). Reporting is triggered when a CHCC is present in an accessible component of a children's product and is either intentionally added above the applicable Practical Quantitation Limit (PQL), or present as a contaminant at a concentration of 100 ppm or greater. A "children's product" is defined as any consumer product marketed for use by, marketed to, sold to, offered for sale to, or distributed to children under 12 years of age in Vermont (18 V.S.A. § 1772(7)(A)). The DOH has issued its June 2026 Chemical Disclosure Guidance for Manufacturers, updating prior guidance last revised in 2024.

The following changes have been made:

• Revised decision pathway. The guidance replaces prior narrative instructions with an eight-step decision flowchart walking manufacturers through whether a given chemical must be reported — from confirming the item is a "children's product," through CHCC content, exemption status, PQL/contaminant thresholds, and (for contaminants) whether a manufacturing control program is in place to minimize the contaminant's presence.
• Single-reporter clarification. The guidance confirms that only one entity in the supply chain is required to submit a report for a given children's product, and points manufacturers to the updated High Priority Chemicals Database (HPCDS) Reporting Guide (December 2025) for determining which entity qualifies as the "manufacturer" of record. The guidance includes 13 worked examples covering private-label, licensing, vending-machine, and multi-component scenarios.
• Formaldehyde donor reporting. The guidance clarifies that formaldehyde released by a "donor" chemical must be reported as the expected formaldehyde concentration, not the donor's own concentration — illustrated using DMDM hydantoin (CAS 6440-58-0) as the donor and formaldehyde (CAS 50-00-0) as the reported chemical, with concentration reported in the applicable banded range (e.g., "≥500 but <1,000 ppm").
• Reporting periods reaffirmed. The guidance reiterates the biannual reporting windows for the 2025–2030 reporting cycle: products introduced February 1–July 31 of a given year must be reported by July 31 of that year, and products introduced August 1–January 31 must be reported by the following January 31. A $200 per-chemical fee applies to the first report of a chemical in each fee period.

Australia

Schedule of Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management (Register) Instrument 2022 Amendment

On 18 June 2026, Australia Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) public the Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management (Register) Instrument 2022 (IChEMS Register) amendment the Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management (Register) Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Instrument 2026, this amendment was registered and will come into force from 19 June 2026.

The key provisions that amendment of the IChEMS Register are as follows:

1. Section 4 Definitions Add

2. Requirements add After subsection 5(3) 

Arrangement of industrial chemicals within each Schedule:

Each Schedule of the Register lists industrial chemicals:

1. For industrial chemicals added to the Register before 1 January 2026 –in the appropriate alphabetical position, determined on a letter by-letter basis.
2. For industrial chemicals added to the Register from 1 January 2026 –as a new item into the table of the respective Schedule, positioned after the last item of the table in that Schedule, unless otherwise specified.

3. Schedule revision

Schedule 2: Relevant industrial chemicals that are unlikely to cause harm to the environment, following chemical been add, and this entry comes into effect 1 January 2027:

1) Chemical class name: Glycerides.

1. CAS Numbers, see the regulation. 
2. This class of chemicals includes esters of C6-C26 carboxylic acids and glycerol bearing one (monoglycerides), two (diglycerides), or three (triglycerides) aliphatic chains.
3. End uses or generalised end uses have also been clarified, details see the regulation. 

Schedule 3: Relevant industrial chemicals that have the potential to cause harm to the environment, following chemical been add, and this entry comes into effect 1 January 2027:

1) Chemical class name: 1,3-Propanediamine, N-[3-(C11-14-isoalkyloxy)propyl]derivs., C13-rich, acetates.

1. CAS number: 151789-08-1. 
2. End uses or generalised end uses: flotation agent;

2) Chemical class name: Carbonodithioic acid, O-(2-methylbutyl) ester, sodium salt (1:1) and Carbonodithioic acid, O-(3-methylbutyl) ester, sodium salt (1:1).

1. CAS number: 72187-33-8 and 34761-63-2. 
2. End uses or generalised end uses: flotation agent;
   
   

3) Chemical class name: Ethoxylated alcohols (Group B).

1. CAS number: see the regulation. 
2. This class of chemicals are a group of structurally similar non-ionic surfactants that have the general structure R(OCH2CH2)nOH. Some of these chemicals have been classified as harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects.
3. End uses or generalised end uses also been clarified, details see the regulation. 

4) Chemical class name: Medium and long chain alkyl sulfates.

1. CAS number: see the regulation. 
2. This class of chemicals are a group of structurally similar, medium to long chain (C6-C20) alkyl sulfates and alkyl sulfuric acids. 
3. End uses or generalised end uses have also been clarified, details see the regulation.

5) Chemical class name: Fatty acids.

1. CAS number: see the regulation. 
2. The class of chemicals are a group of aliphatic carboxylic acids (or fatty acids) as saturated and unsaturated chemicals and mixtures (C6-C26), and chemicals and mixtures of di-acids and acid salts (C4-C18). 
3. End uses or generalised end uses have also been clarified, details see the regulation. 

Schedule 4: Relevant industrial chemicals that may cause harm to the environment, following chemical been add, and this entry comes into effect 1 January 2027:

1) Chemical class name: Ethoxylated alcohols (Group A).

1. CAS number: see the regulation. 
2. This class of chemicals are a group of structurally similar non-ionic surfactants that have the general structure R(OCH2CH2)nOH. These chemicals have been classified as toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects.
3. End uses or generalised end uses have also been clarified, details see the regulation. 

2) Chemical class name: Parabens.

1. CAS number: see the regulation. 
2. The class of chemicals includes alkyl esters of para-hydroxybenzoic acid containing methyl-, ethyl-, propyl-, butyl- heptyl-, octyl-, lauryl or benzyl- ester groups as well as their salts.
3. End uses or generalised end uses have also been clarified, details see the regulation. 

3) Chemical class name: Short chain alkyl- and aryl- phthalates.

1. CAS number: see the regulation. 
2. This chemical class includes 12 phthalates with butyl, hexyl, heptyl, cyclohexyl or benzyl ester functional groups.
3. End uses or generalised end uses have also been clarified, details see the regulation. 

4) Chemical class name: Limonene.

1. CAS number: see the regulation. 
2. End uses or generalised end uses have also been clarified, details see the regulation. 

5) Chemical class name: Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA), perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), their salts and any substance containing a perfluoropropyl, perfluorobutyl or perfluoropentyl moiety that can degrade to PFBA, PFPeA or PFHxA.

1. This entry excludes chemicals that may degrade to Schedule 5, 6 or 7 substances in addition to PFHxA, PFPeA or PFBA such as perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and their respective related substances as listed in this register.
2. This entry also excludes hydrofluorocarbons that have the molecular formula CnHxF(2n+2–x) in which 1≤n≤5; and 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonamides as listed in this register. 
3. End uses or generalised end uses have also been clarified, details see the regulation.

Schedule 5: Relevant industrial chemicals that are likely to cause harm to the environment, following chemical been add, and this entry comes into effect 1 January 2027:

1) Chemical class name: Dibutylphthalate, di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate and diisooctylphthalate.

1. CAS number: 84-74-2; 117-81-7 and 27554-26-3. 
2. End uses or generalised end uses have also been clarified, details see the regulation.

2) Chemical class name: Lead(2+) salts of long-chain carboxylic acids.

1. CAS number: see the regulation. 
2. This class of chemicals are a group of structurally similar lead(2+) salts derived from long-chain (C12–C26) carboxylic acids.
3. End uses or generalised end uses have also been clarified, details see the regulation.

3) Chemical class name: Lead(2+) salts of medium-chain carboxylic acids.

1. CAS number: see the regulation. 
2. This class of chemicals are a group of structurally similar lead(2+) salts derived from medium-chain (C6-C12) carboxylic acids.
3. End uses or generalised end uses have also been clarified, details see the regulation.

4) Chemical class name: 6:2 Fluorotelomer sulfonamides.

1. CAS number: see the regulation. 
2. End uses or generalised end uses have also been clarified, details see the regulation.

5) Chemical class name: Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS), its salts and any substance containing a perfluorobutanesulfonyl moiety that can degrade to PFBS.

1. End uses or generalised end uses have also been clarified, details see the regulation.

6) Chemical class name: Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA), its salts and any substance containing a perfluorohexyl moiety that can degrade to PFHpA.

1. This entry excludes chemicals that may degrade to Schedule 6 or 7 substances in addition to PFHpA such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and related substances as listed in this register.
2. This entry also excludes 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonamides as listed in this register.
3. End uses or generalised end uses have also been clarified, details see the regulation.

7) Chemical class name: Perfluoropentanesulfonic acid (PFPeS), its salts and any substance containing a perfluoropentanesulfonyl moiety that can degrade to PFPeS.

1. End uses or generalised end uses have also been clarified, details see the regulation.

8) Chemical class name: Phenol, 4,4'-(1-methylethylidene)bis[2,6-dibromo- (TBBPA).

1. CAS number: 79-94-7. 
2. End uses or generalised end uses have also been clarified, details see the regulation.

Schedule 6: Relevant industrial chemicals that are likely to cause serious or irreversible harm to the environment with essential uses

Repeal the “Prohibitions, restrictions and risk management measures” paragraph content for the “Phenol, 2-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4,6-bis(1,1-dimethylpropyl)- (UV-328) , substitute with new content.

Schedule 7: Relevant industrial chemicals that are likely to cause serious or irreversible harm to the environment with no essential uses, following chemical been add, and this entry comes into effect 1 January 2027:

1) Chemical class name: Perfluoroheptanesulfonic acid (PFHpS), its salts and any substance containing a perfluoroheptanesulfonyl moiety that can degrade to PFHpS.

1. The use, import and export of the class of chemicals (whether on their own or in mixtures or in articles) is prohibited except:
   [1].    ≤ 0.025 mg/kg for PFHpS and its salts; or
   [2].    ≤ 1 mg/kg for any individual PFHpS‑related compound or a combination of those compounds; 
2. The manufacture of the class of chemicals (Substances) is prohibited except:
   [1].    ≤ 0.025 mg/kg for PFHpS and its salts; or
   [2].    ≤ 1 mg/kg for any individual PFHpS‑related compound or a combination of those compounds;

2)  Chemical class name: Perfluorononanesulfonic acid (PFNS), perfluorodecanesulfonic acid (PFDS), their salts and any substance containing a perfluorononanesulfonyl or perfluorodecanesulfonyl moiety that can degrade to PFNS or PFDS.

1. The use, import and export of the class of chemicals (whether on their own or in mixtures or in articles) is prohibited except:
   [1].    ≤ 0.025 mg/kg for PFHpS and its salts; or
   [2].    ≤ 1 mg/kg for any individual PFHpS‑related compound or a combination of those compounds; 
2. The manufacture of the class of chemicals (Substances) is prohibited except:
   [1].    ≤ 0.025 mg/kg for PFNS, PFDS and their salts; or; 
   [2].    ≤ 1 mg/kg for any individual PFNS or PFDS related compound or a combination of those compounds.