All regulatory updates
1373 results found
FHWA Updates De Minimis and Small Grants Buy America Waiver Q&As
FHWA updated its Questions & Answers guidance for the waiver of Buy America requirements for de minimis costs and small grants applicable on or after October 1, 2025. The updated document provides clarification on implementation of the manufactured products requirements and the interplay with de minimis waiver provisions following the termination of the General Applicability Waiver for manufactured products.
FHWA Issues Updated Buy America Q&A for Federal-aid Program
FHWA has issued an updated Buy America Questions and Answers document for the Federal-aid Program, dated January 5, 2026. The Q&A provides guidance on FHWA's Buy America policies for iron, steel, and manufactured products permanently incorporated in Federal-aid highway construction projects. It clarifies the phased implementation of manufactured products requirements: Phase 1 (October 1, 2025) requires final assembly in the US, and Phase 2 (October 1, 2026) requires final assembly plus greater than 55% domestic component cost. The document also addresses waiver criteria and classification guidance for various product types.
EPA Announces Process for Expiring TSCA CBI Claims
EPA announced the process the agency intends to use to notify companies of upcoming expiring confidential business information (CBI) claims under TSCA and how companies can request an extension of expiring CBI claims. The 2016 TSCA amendments included a ten-year cap on many CBI claims, which will begin to expire on a rolling basis in June 2026 unless further reasserted and re-substantiated with EPA-approved extension requests.
EPA publishes process and timeline for expiring TSCA CBI claims beginning June 2026 (extension requests via CDX)
EPA published an update describing how it will implement TSCA’s 10-year expiration of most confidential business information (CBI) claims and how submitters can request extensions. EPA states the first CBI claims will begin expiring in June 2026. EPA plans to post (in early spring 2026) a public list of TSCA submissions with CBI claims expiring starting June 2026 and to send direct notices via EPA’s Central Data Exchange (CDX). To maintain confidentiality, submitters must file an extension request via CDX no later than 30 days before the claim’s expiration date and provide substantiation. Compliance teams should identify TSCA submissions with CBI claims approaching the 10-year mark, prepare substantiation materials, and ensure CDX access/workflows are in place to meet the “30 days before expiration” timing described by EPA.
EPA issues process update for expiring TSCA Confidential Business Information (CBI) claims beginning June 2026 (CDX extension requests required)
EPA published an implementation/process update describing how it will handle the first wave of TSCA CBI claim expirations beginning in June 2026 (reflecting TSCA’s 10-year sunset for many non-exempt CBI claims). EPA states it will (1) post lists (early spring) of TSCA submissions with CBI claims expiring starting June 2026 and (2) notify submitters via EPA’s Central Data Exchange (CDX). To maintain confidentiality, submitters must file CBI extension requests electronically via CDX no later than 30 days before the claim’s expiration and provide substantiation; otherwise EPA may disclose the information. EPA also indicates it is developing a new CDX tool for these extension requests and intends it to be ready before June 2026.
Federal Register notice publishes TSCA Section 5 statements of findings for certain new chemicals/significant new uses (July–September 2025)
EPA issued a Federal Register notice compiling TSCA Section 5 statements of findings for certain new chemicals or significant new uses covering July 2025 through September 2025. This notice provides transparency on EPA determinations for PMNs/SNUNs/MCANs and can be used by compliance teams to monitor trends in EPA findings and potential consent order/SNUR patterns affecting future submissions.
FHWA updates BABA Q&As for Federal-aid highway projects (construction materials definitions and manufactured products phase-in dates)
FHWA published an updated Q&A document explaining how BABA/OMB guidance applies to FHWA Federal-aid highway projects. The Q&As clarify construction material coverage and definitions (including required U.S. manufacturing processes consistent with 2 CFR 184.6) and address classification issues (e.g., when combined materials become manufactured products and interactions with iron/steel content). The document reiterates the staged manufactured-products requirements tied to FHWA’s rescission of the manufactured products general waiver: for projects obligated on/after Oct 1, 2025, final assembly must occur in the U.S.; for projects obligated on/after Oct 1, 2026, final assembly plus >55% U.S. component cost applies. Compliance teams should use the updated Q&As to validate material/product classification, supplier declarations, and contract flow-downs for FHWA-funded work.
FHWA Updates Manufactured Products Final Rule Q&A Document
FHWA issued updated Q&As clarifying implementation of the Manufactured Products Final Rule (effective March 20, 2025). Key clarifications include: (1) the manufactured products general waiver remains in effect for projects obligated March 20 – September 30, 2025; (2) confirmation that cement, asphalt mixtures, and aggregates are NOT construction materials under BABA but are Section 70917(c) materials; and (3) details on the two-phase implementation timeline with final assembly requirements effective October 1, 2025 and the 55% domestic component cost requirement effective October 1, 2026.
Massachusetts H.4870 proposes comprehensive PFAS product restrictions
House Bill 4870, reported favorably by the Joint Committee on Public Health with an 'ought to pass' recommendation, would establish a PFAS Remediation Trust Fund for contamination mitigation, ban consumer products with intentionally added PFAS (with temporary exemptions for currently unavoidable uses up to 4 years), require PFAS monitoring in groundwater and surface water discharge permits upon renewal, phase out sludge use without site-specific DEP approval, and mandate a multilingual public awareness campaign on PFAS health impacts. Earlier deadlines would apply to food packaging, children's products, and firefighting PPE.
EU 'One Substance, One Assessment' (OSOA) package enters into force, impacting RoHS scientific/technical tasking arrangements
The European Commission announced that the EU 'One Substance, One Assessment' (OSOA) package entered into force on 1 January 2026. While horizontal in nature, OSOA is relevant to RoHS because it changes governance and how scientific/technical work that underpins chemicals legislation is organised (including re-attribution of certain technical tasks to ECHA and creation of a common chemicals data platform). Compliance teams should monitor downstream impacts on RoHS restriction/exemption assessment workflows, evidence expectations, and process/timeline changes as OSOA implementation progresses.
EPA publishes process update for TSCA confidential business information (CBI) claim expirations beginning June 2026 (extension requests via CDX)
EPA published an implementation/process update describing how it will notify submitters about TSCA confidential business information (CBI) claims expiring starting June 2026 and how to request extensions. EPA indicates it will post lists of submissions with expiring claims (and send notices via CDX), and that extension requests must be submitted electronically via CDX no later than 30 days prior to the claim’s expiration, including substantiation. Compliance teams should inventory existing TSCA CBI claims, establish monitoring for EPA’s posted lists/notices, and prepare substantiated extension requests where ongoing confidentiality is needed.
Minnesota PFAS in Products Reporting Rule (Amara's Law) – PFAS reporting requirement for manufacturers of products containing intentionally added PFAS.
Under Amara’s Law, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) requires manufacturers of products containing intentionally added per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to report product and chemical information to the state. The MPCA has extended the initial reporting deadline to allow additional time for manufacturers to collect supply chain data and prepare disclosures. The initial PFAS report is due by July 1, 2026, with subsequent reports required annually by February 1.
Connecticut PFAS outdoor apparel and turnout gear disclosure requirements take effect
Effective January 1, 2026, Connecticut requires outdoor apparel for severe wet conditions containing intentionally added PFAS to bear a legible disclosure stating 'Made with PFAS chemicals' on the product and any online listings. Additionally, turnout gear manufacturers and sellers must provide written notice at time of sale indicating the gear contains intentionally added PFAS and the reason PFAS was added. These requirements are established under Public Act No. 24-59.
Southern Nevada Health District launches PFAS private well testing program
In 2026, the Southern Nevada Health District is providing free PFAS testing and resources to private well users, funded by the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP). Private well owners must register for testing, after which Health District staff contact them to gather information and schedule the test. Account setup is required to receive results. This program addresses gaps in public water system monitoring by extending PFAS surveillance to private wells.
IATA DGR 67th Edition expands mandatory 30% SoC limit to additional lithium battery configurations
The IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations 67th Edition (2026), effective January 1, 2026, makes the 30% state of charge (SoC) limit mandatory for additional lithium-ion battery configurations. Previously recommended, the SoC ≤ 30% requirement is now mandatory for UN 3481 (lithium ion batteries packed with equipment, cells/batteries > 2.7 Wh) and UN 3556 (vehicles, lithium ion battery powered, battery > 100 Wh). Shippers must implement internal controls for pre-shipment charge verification and documentation workflows. Special Provision A331 allows shipments exceeding 30% SoC with written approval from State of Origin and State of Operator.
Clean Truck Check annual compliance fee increases effective January 1, 2026
CARB announced an increase to the Clean Truck Check annual compliance fee used to satisfy requirements for vehicle compliance deadlines on and after January 1, 2026. Regulated fleet owners/operators should update budgeting and payment processes to reflect the updated fee for 2026 compliance cycles.
JRC publishes methodology for defining DPP data requirements under ESPR framework
The Joint Research Centre published a methodology document (JRC145830) for defining data requirements for the Digital Product Passport under the ESPR framework. The methodology provides step-by-step guidance for translating policy objectives and use cases into structured data needs, criteria for distinguishing essential, strongly recommended, and voluntary data elements, and guidance on granularity, access rights, lifecycle management, and interoperability. The document includes indicative timelines for product groups: Iron and steel (2026), Textiles and Tyres (2027), Aluminium (2027), Furniture (2028), Mattresses (2029), and ICT (2029).
ECHA Single Programming Document signals aim to finalise EU-wide PFAS restriction opinion-making in 2026
ECHA’s Single Programming Document 2026–2028 states that ECHA aims to finalise the opinion-making process on the proposed broad EU-wide PFAS restriction in 2026. This is not a binding restriction or a legal change by itself, but it is an authoritative planning/timeline signal that compliance teams can use to anticipate key milestones in the REACH restriction process and plan stakeholder engagement and internal readiness activities.
JRC publishes methodology to define Digital Product Passport data requirements under the ESPR framework
The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) published a technical methodology report for defining Digital Product Passport (DPP) data requirements under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) framework. The document provides an implementation-oriented approach intended to support ESPR preparatory studies and the development of product-specific delegated acts that will define whether a DPP is required, and what data must be included (content, granularity, access/governance, and related system considerations). Compliance and product data teams can use this methodology to design DPP data models and anticipate how future ESPR delegated acts may structure DPP data requirements.
NY Bill A.01053 clarifies PFAS firefighting foam recall requirements
Bill A.01053 clarifies that New York's PFAS firefighting foam law requires manufacturers to recall ALL class B firefighting foam containing PFAS, including products sold or distributed before the original law's effective date. The bill addresses uncertainty about whether the original prohibition applied retroactively.