All regulatory updates
1373 results found
OEHHA request for relevant information on carcinogenicity of ethoprop (potential delisting review)
OEHHA issued a request for relevant information regarding the carcinogenicity of ethoprop in connection with a Carcinogen Identification Committee (CIC) review that could result in a potential delisting under Proposition 65. Compliance teams should monitor this proceeding because a delisting could change warning/settlement exposure for products/operations involving ethoprop; however, no delisting decision is indicated in the provided sources.
European Commission publishes updated “RoHS exemptions list – validity and rolling plan” (Dec 2025)
The European Commission (DG Environment) posted an updated RoHS exemptions tracking document titled “Exemptions list – validity and rolling plan” (Dec 2025). The document consolidates RoHS Annex III/IV exemption entries along with validity and rolling-plan information, serving as an authoritative operational reference for compliance teams to monitor exemption expiry/renewal status and plan design or sourcing changes ahead of phase-outs.
UK publishes Year 2 illustrative waste disposal fees with RAG eco-modulation
UK government published Year 2 illustrative waste disposal fees under the Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging scheme. The fees introduce eco-modulation using Recycling Assessment Methodology (RAM) with Red/Amber/Green (RAG) ratings: Green fees offer ~9% discount for recyclable materials, Amber represents base rate, and Red fees carry a 20% premium for less recyclable materials (increasing to 2x by Year 4). Confirmed Year 2 fees are expected to be published in June 2026 following the April 1, 2026 reporting deadline.
OEHHA Seeks Public Input on Ethoprop Carcinogenicity for Prop 65
OEHHA has issued a data call-in for ethoprop, seeking relevant scientific information on whether the chemical has been clearly shown to cause cancer. Ethoprop was added to the Proposition 65 list on February 27, 2001 based on EPA's classification as a 'likely' human carcinogen. In 2020, EPA revised this classification, prompting OEHHA to seek public input to determine if ethoprop should remain on the Prop 65 list. This affects companies with products containing ethoprop, including pesticide manufacturers and agricultural suppliers.
European Commission publishes updated RoHS exemptions “validity and rolling plan” (Dec 2025)
The European Commission published an updated “Exemptions list – validity and rolling plan” document page (with an associated XLSX download) for RoHS Annex III/IV exemptions. While not itself a legal amendment, this Commission-hosted tracker is an authoritative compliance management resource for monitoring exemption validity periods, expirations, and the rolling plan of exemptions under review—supporting 2026 redesign/substitution planning, documentation updates, and exemption renewal tracking.
NY prohibits PFAS and toxic chemicals in menstrual products
New York enacted legislation (S.1548/A.1502) prohibiting the sale and distribution of menstrual products (pads, tampons, liners, sponges) containing PFAS 'forever chemicals,' heavy metals (lead, mercury), hormone-disrupting parabens, carcinogens (formaldehyde, toluene), triclosan, talc, phthalates, and synthetic fragrances. The law is among the most stringent menstrual product regulations in the United States.
EPA Proposes Changes to TSCA Risk Evaluation Procedures
EPA released a proposal to increase efficiency in TSCA chemical reviews. Key revisions include: procedures for revising or supplementing risk evaluation documents to meet statutory deadlines; adjustments to information collection obligations for manufacturers requesting agency-conducted TSCA risk evaluations; and improvements to accountability in conducting risk evaluations. The proposal has a 45-day comment period in docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2025-0260.
ECHA December 2025 RAC/SEAC meeting highlights: PFAS restriction evaluation progressing; RAC opinion expected March 2026; SEAC draft opinion to follow
ECHA reported progress by the REACH committees (RAC and SEAC) on the proposed EU-wide PFAS restriction, indicating that RAC was expected to adopt its opinion in March 2026 and that SEAC would move toward agreeing a draft opinion for subsequent consultation. For compliance teams, this is a procedural milestone indicating when the proposal may advance to the next stage (consultation and eventual Commission decision), supporting planning for potential future PFAS restrictions across multiple sectors.
ECHA reports RAC/SEAC progressed EU-wide PFAS restriction evaluation; RAC opinion expected March 2026 and SEAC draft opinion to proceed to consultation
ECHA reported progress by its Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) and Committee for Socio-Economic Analysis (SEAC) in evaluating the proposed EU-wide PFAS restriction under REACH. ECHA indicated RAC is expected to adopt its opinion in March 2026 and SEAC is expected to agree a draft opinion to be followed by a stakeholder consultation. Compliance teams should treat this as a timeline signal for when the restriction proposal could move closer to a Commission decision and begin preparing supply-chain use information and substitution planning for potentially affected PFAS uses.
ECHA December 2025 RAC/SEAC progress update: RAC opinion expected March 2026; SEAC draft opinion to proceed to consultation
ECHA’s meeting highlights report that RAC and SEAC continued evaluating the proposed EU-wide PFAS REACH restriction. ECHA indicated RAC was expected to adopt its opinion in March 2026, and SEAC was expected to agree a draft opinion intended for stakeholder consultation. Compliance teams should treat this as an important signal on the restriction’s procedural timeline and prepare for upcoming consultation inputs and potential downstream restriction scenarios.
European Commission publishes First CPR Working Plan 2026–2029 (COM(2025) 772) outlining rollout of harmonised specifications that will operationalise environmental sustainability declarations (EPD/EN 15804-based)
The European Commission published the First CPR Working Plan for 2026–2029 (COM(2025) 772 final). The Working Plan is an implementation roadmap under the revised Construction Products Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2024/3110) describing how harmonised technical specifications will be developed/updated and made mandatory via implementing acts. For EPD/ISO 14025/EN 15804 stakeholders, this is a key compliance-planning signal because it frames how ‘environmental sustainability characteristics’ will be integrated into construction-product documentation and declarations through the CPR acquis process and related standardisation work, which is expected to rely on EN 15804-based methods for environmental performance declaration. Compliance teams should use this to anticipate timing and prioritisation of product-family standard updates that will drive when EPD-derived data becomes required within CPR declarations for specific construction product categories.
UN Depositary Notification communicates amendments to Annex A listing chlorpyrifos, MCCPs, and LC‑PFCAs
A UN Depositary Notification (C.N.672.2025.TREATIES-XXVII.15) communicates the COP-12-adopted amendments to Annex A of the Stockholm Convention to list chlorpyrifos, MCCPs, and LC‑PFCAs (their salts and related compounds). For compliance teams, this notification is a key procedural milestone for the amendments’ treaty lifecycle (including objection/non-acceptance procedures and entry-into-force mechanics) and should be monitored because national/regional implementing measures may reference the notification date and resulting timelines.
EU adopts Battery Booster Strategy with €1.5B facility for battery cell producers
Commission Communication C(2025) 8950 establishes the Battery Booster Strategy to support the European battery industry. Includes €1.5 billion Battery Booster Facility from the Innovation Fund providing interest-free loans to battery cell producers during ramp-up phase. Reinforces that waste lithium-ion batteries and black mass will be classified as hazardous waste from December 2026, with exports to non-OECD countries prohibited thereafter.
UK enacts Control of Mercury Amendment Regulations 2025 implementing Minamata COP-4 and COP-5
The UK has enacted the Control of Mercury (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (SI 2025/1255), implementing decisions from COP-4 and COP-5 of the Minamata Convention on Mercury. The regulations phase out various mercury-added products including compact fluorescent lamps, linear fluorescent lamps, cold cathode fluorescent lamps, strain gauges, mercury vacuum pumps, and tyre balancers with staggered deadlines through December 31, 2027. The regulations apply to England, Wales, and Scotland, with Northern Ireland following EU Mercury Regulation under the Windsor Framework.
EPA Finalizes 1,3-Butadiene Risk Evaluation under TSCA
EPA completed the final risk evaluation for 1,3-Butadiene (CAS 106-99-0) under TSCA in December 2025. The risk evaluation determines whether the chemical presents unreasonable risk to health or the environment under its conditions of use, which will inform potential risk management actions under TSCA Section 6.
Washington updates PFAS drinking water regulations effective January 15, 2026
The Washington State Board of Health adopted changes to WAC 246-290-315 and WAC 246-290-71006 on December 15, 2025. The updated rules maintain current protections related to PFAS in drinking water until new federal regulations are effective, and align State Action Levels (SALs) with federal Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs). The rules are effective January 15, 2026, and establish monitoring requirements transitioning from confirmed detection to running annual average (RAA) methodology.
ECHA Member State Committee agrees to identify n-hexane as an SVHC (precursor to Candidate List inclusion)
ECHA reported that its Member State Committee agreed to identify n-hexane as a Substance of Very High Concern (SVHC). This committee agreement is a formal REACH SVHC process milestone that precedes Candidate List inclusion and signals that downstream obligations (e.g., article communication/notification once listed) are expected to follow when ECHA updates the Candidate List accordingly.
ECHA Member State Committee meeting highlights: n-hexane agreed as SVHC (precursor to Candidate List inclusion)
ECHA published highlights from its Member State Committee (MSC) December meeting noting agreement to identify n-hexane as a substance of very high concern (SVHC). This is a formal step in the SVHC identification process under REACH and signals likely downstream Candidate List inclusion, which is relevant for companies to anticipate future Article 33 communication and related supply-chain compliance impacts once formally listed.
NYSDEC issues final wastewater treatment plant guidance for PFAS protection
NYSDEC issued final wastewater treatment plant guidance to protect drinking water and other surface waters from PFAS contamination. The guidance is part of a comprehensive suite of PFAS response actions intended to protect communities. This complements the TOGS 1.3.14 permitting strategy for Publicly Owned Treatment Works implementing guidance values for PFOA, PFOS, and 1,4-dioxane.
NYSDEC Issues Final Wastewater Treatment Plant PFAS Guidance and Draft Policies
NYSDEC released a suite of PFAS response actions including finalized wastewater treatment plant guidance designed to protect drinking water and surface waters, and proposed new policies directing facilities that handle biosolids to sample for PFAS and report results. The draft policies would extend current sampling and reporting requirements to soil products produced from biosolids, such as compost and heat-dried products. The expanded data collection will inform development of biosolid analytical and operating limits.