REACH

Consultations on applications for authorisation

We have launched consultations on nine applications for authorisation covering 12 uses of Chromium trioxide (EC 215-607-8) used for:

• functional chrome plating
• hard chrome plating
• etching of plastic substrates
• electroplating of plastic and metal components in personal grooming products

More details about the uses applied for and all sectors affected are available on our website.

Submit your comments through our web form by 8 October 2025.

CLP

Consultations on harmonised classification and labelling

We are looking for comments on harmonised classification and labelling proposals for:

• Spearmint oil; Essential oil of Spearmint obtained from the aerial part of Mentha spicata and/or Mentha cardiaca (Lamiaceae) obtained by distillation (EC -, CAS 8008-79-5)
  
  
• l-p-mentha-1(6),8-dien-2-one; (5R)-2-methyl-5-(prop-1-en-2-yl)cyclohex-2-en-1-one; l-carvone (EC 229-352-5, CAS 6485-40-1)

Have your say until 5 September 2025.

• fenazaquin (ISO); 4-[2-[4-(1,1-dimethylethyl)phenyl]-ethoxy]quinazoline (EC 410-580-0, CAS 120928-09-8)

Have your say until 12 September 2025.

New proposals and withdrawal to harmonise classification and labelling

Five proposals have been submitted for:

• pendimethalin (ISO); N-(1-ethylpropyl)-2,6-dinitro-3,4-xylidine (provisional chemical name) (EC 254-938-2, CAS 40487-42-1)
• 4,4'-biphthalic dianhydride; [5,5'-bi-2-benzofuran]-1,1',3,3'-tetrone (provisional chemical name) (EC 219-342-9, CAS 2420-87-3)
• benzophenone-3,3',4,4'-tetracarboxylic dianhydride (provisional chemical name) (EC 219-348-1, CAS 2421-28-5)
• 4,4'-oxydiphthalic anhydride (provisional chemical name) (EC 412-830-4, CAS 1823-59-2)
• 5,5'-sulfonyldi(2-benzofuran-1,3-dione) (provisional chemical name) (EC -, CAS 2540-99-0)

A withdrawal has been received for:

• penthiopyrad (ISO); (RS)-N-[2-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-3-thienyl]-1-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)pyrazole-4-carboxamide (EC -, CAS 183675-82-3)

Biocides

Treated articles: List of allowed substances updated

Is your company interested in manufacturing articles treated with biocidal active substances? 

We have updated the list of substance and product-type combinations that can be used in treated articles.

List of biocides suppliers updated

An updated Article 95 list of active substance and product suppliers is now available.

Guidance

EU guidance for transitioning to fluorine-free firefighting foams

This guidance supports stakeholders in the transition from PFAS-containing firefighting foams to fluorine-free alternatives, in line with regulatory requirements under the Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and REACH regulations.

It consolidates best practice, technical and regulatory insights, and feasible solutions to help operators and regulators in the transition while maintaining high fire safety and environmental protection standards.

The guidance also addresses the requirements of the upcoming REACH restriction on PFAS in firefighting foams, which was agreed by the European Commission’s REACH Committee in April 2025 and is expected to be formally adopted by the Commission later this year.

IT tools

New version of Chesar available for download

We have updated our chemical safety assessment and reporting tool, Chesar.  

The latest version, Chesar 3.9.1, is fully compatible with the recently released IUCLID 6.9.

ECHA

Last chance to register: Contract research organisation days

Are you part of a contract research organisation specialising in ecotoxicological and environmental fate studies? 

Registration for our event on 21-22 October 2025 closes on 15 August. A limited number of seats remain, so secure your place now.

This event will explore learnings from our hazard assessments and strategies to improve the regulatory acceptance of experimental environmental studies. 

We also welcome your feedback to help us better understand the challenges contract research organisations face when conducting these studies.

Call for expression of interests: Scientific experts

We are looking for scientific experts to support our public health risk assessments following cross-border chemical incidents.

Selected experts may be asked to perform tasks such as:

• Conducting rapid and detailed scientific evaluations of chemical risks during and after incidents.
• Providing expert opinions on exposure pathways and potential health effects.
• Offering advice on public health emergencies and contributing to scientific reports and risk management recommendations.
• Offering insights on risk mitigation strategies and emergency response measures.

If selected, you must be available to respond quickly and work under short notice. All tasks will be carried out remotely, with results delivered electronically.

Read more on our website and express your interest using our web form.

Our committees meet in September 2025

Are you interested in knowing what our scientific committees will discuss in their upcoming meetings? Have a look at their draft agendas:

• Biocidal Products Committee: 9-11 September 2025
• Committee for Risk Assessment: 8-12 September 2025
• Committee for Socio-Economic Analysis: 15-19 September 2025

Assessment of regulatory needs reports published

Reports for the following substance groups are now available on our website:

• Aliphatic esters from branched carboxylic acids and branched alcohols
• Benzotriazole and its other-than-hydroxyphenyl derivatives
• Cycloalkenes of natural origin or their synthetic analogues and oligomers

If you have questions or feedback related to the assessment work, you can send them to us using this web form.

EU Chemicals Legislation Finder (EUCLEF)

Check the latest updates

EUCLEF was recently updated with the latest information on five substance lists and two legislation profiles.

EU Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON)

Two Nanopinions published

We have recently published two new Nanopinion guest columns.

The first is written by a group of experts with Dr Neil Hunt as the first author. It reviews the REACH Regulation from a nanoform perspective, assessing its readiness for multicomponent nanomaterials (MCNMs) and highlights the need for clearer definitions to reduce regulatory uncertainties.

The second is by Anastasios Papadiamantis and Antreas Afantitis from NovaMechanics Ltd. It highlights the findings of an EUON-commissioned study on detecting and quantifying carbon-based nanomaterials (CBNMs) in real-world scenarios.

European Commission

Commission updates REACH Restrictions Roadmap

The Rolling List of (groups of) substances for restriction was updated at the end of June 2025. The update includes:

• A new entry on 6PPD (Annex I, entry 6.2).
• The removal of THF (Annex II, entry 1.11).
• An update to information for files that changed status. 

The roadmap outlines ongoing efforts and future plans for restrictions under REACH. It prioritises group restrictions for the most harmful substances to human health and the environment, in line with the EU’s Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability.

Commission decisions on biocides

The Commission has approved an active substance:

• 2-methyl-2,3-dihydro-1,2-thiazol-3-one hydrochloride for product-type 6.

The Commission has also amended a Union authorisation due to administrative and minor changes for:

• the single biocidal product DEC-SPORE 200 Plus.

Court judgments

Annulment of the classification of titanium dioxide in certain powder forms as a carcinogenic substance upheld

The Court of Justice dismissed two appeals against the judgments of the General Court in cases T-279/20, T-283/20 and T-288/20, thereby upholding the General Court’s annulment of the classification of titanium dioxide in certain powder forms as a carcinogenic substance.

Favourable judgments on melamine

The General Court decided in ECHA's favour in cases T-163/23 and T-167/23 on the identification of melamine as a substance of very high concern (SVHC) due to its persistent, mobile and toxic properties.

Board of Appeal

Announcement of a new appeal

The Board of Appeal has published an announcement in case A-007-2025 concerning a decision on the data sharing dispute.