All regulatory updates
1479 results found
ECHA Weekly highlights progress in RAC/SEAC evaluation of proposed EU-wide PFAS restriction (RAC opinion expected 2026)
ECHA reported (via its December 2025 RAC/SEAC meeting highlights) continued committee evaluation of the proposed EU-wide REACH restriction covering PFAS. This is a process milestone for stakeholders tracking the restriction: it signals the committees’ expected timing for adoption of opinions (including an expected RAC opinion in 2026 as stated in the ECHA update), which will inform later European Commission decision-making and any eventual compliance timelines.
Connecticut releases PFAS Reporting Form for Manufacturers; due July 1, 2026
Connecticut DEEP has released the PFAS Reporting Form for Manufacturers under CGS section 22a-903c. Manufacturers of consumer products containing intentionally added PFAS—including apparel, carpets/rugs, cleaning products, cookware, cosmetic products, dental floss, fabric treatments, juvenile products, menstruation products, textile furnishings, ski wax, and upholstered furniture—must submit the form with an $800 fee by July 1, 2026. Required information includes product descriptions, purpose of PFAS addition, and amount of PFAS by CAS number.
Connecticut issues order approving PFAS label language for products
On December 1, 2025, the Connecticut DEEP Commissioner issued an order pursuant to CGS section 22a-903c(c)(3) approving specific label phrases for products containing intentionally added PFAS. Approved phrases include: 'Contains PFAS,' 'Made with PFAS,' 'Made with PFAS chemicals,' 'Made with intentionally added PFAS,' and 'This product contains PFAS chemicals.' Manufacturers or producers may petition DEEP to approve alternative words or symbols by emailing DEEP.PFASInProduct@ct.gov.
CARB pauses SB 261 enforcement pursuant to court order
CARB announced it will not enforce Health and Safety Code section 38533 against covered entities for failing to post and submit climate-related financial risk reports by the January 1, 2026 statutory deadline, pursuant to a Ninth Circuit Court order. SB 261 applies to entities with over $500 million annual revenue doing business in California. CARB issued an enforcement advisory and is accepting voluntary report submissions.
NYSDEC proposes DER-24 policy revisions for PFAS-impacted private water supply assistance
NYSDEC has proposed revisions to DER-24 policy, which provides guidance on when the Department will provide alternate water supplies for private wells impacted by PFAS contamination. The proposed updates address conditions under which DEC will assist communities and property owners affected by PFAS contamination in their drinking water sources. Public comments are due by February 10, 2026.
Directive (EU) 2025/2456 reattributes RoHS scientific tasks to ECHA
Directive (EU) 2025/2456, adopted on 26 November 2025, amends Directive 2011/65/EU (RoHS) to reattribute scientific and technical assessment tasks to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). This change implements the 'One Substance, One Assessment' approach, centralizing hazardous substance evaluation under ECHA's expertise. Compliance teams should note that future RoHS substance assessments and exemption evaluations will follow ECHA procedures.
Illinois EPA issues health advisory for 6:2 Fluorotelomer Sulfonic Acid (6:2 FTS)
Illinois EPA issued a new health advisory for 6:2 Fluorotelomer Sulfonic Acid (6:2 FTS), adding this PFAS compound to the state's list of regulated substances. Health advisories provide guidance levels for drinking water concentrations at which no adverse health effects are expected and remain in effect until enforceable groundwater quality standards are established. Illinois now has health advisories for nine PFAS compounds total. Compliance teams should monitor for future transition to enforceable groundwater standards.
COP-6 Grants First Exemption Extensions for Annex A Phase-Out Dates
At its sixth meeting (COP-6), the Conference of the Parties granted the first-ever extensions to exemptions from phase-out dates listed in Annex A. Decision MC-6/7 addressed extension requests from three Parties (Bangladesh, Thailand, and one other) pursuant to paragraph 6 of Article 6 of the Convention. Revised exemption extension requests from two of the three Parties were approved after they provided additional information demonstrating the basis for extension. This decision establishes precedent for how the Convention handles exemption extension requests from Parties requiring additional time to comply with phase-out requirements. Compliance teams should verify whether their operating jurisdictions have registered exemptions or received extensions that affect their product compliance timelines.
EPA Publishes Default Values for New Chemicals Risk Assessments
EPA published the key default values (assumptions) used in its risk assessments of new chemicals under TSCA. These default values are assumptions used by EPA in environmental release and occupational exposure assessments. The agency made these assumptions available in the New Chemicals Division Reference Library to increase transparency and efficiency in the TSCA New Chemicals Program.
EPA Publishes Default Values for New Chemicals Risk Assessments
EPA published the key 'default values' (assumptions) used in its risk assessments of new chemicals under TSCA. These default values are assumptions used by EPA in environmental release and occupational exposure assessments. The agency made these assumptions available on its website in the New Chemicals Division Reference Library. This transparency initiative enables manufacturers and submitters to better understand how EPA conducts risk assessments and to prepare more informed submissions.
Illinois EPA issues health advisory for 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonic acid (6:2 FTS)
On November 24, 2025, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency issued a health advisory for 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonic acid (6:2 FTS), CASRN 27619-97-2. This PFAS substance was designed as a replacement for PFOS in fire-fighting foam and other uses. The health advisory provides guidance on potential adverse health effects and is part of Illinois EPA's ongoing PFAS monitoring program. Community water supplies should be aware of this advisory when testing for PFAS contamination. The statewide PFAS investigation has detected 6:2 FTS in some community water supply groundwater.
EPA publishes TSCA New Chemicals Program risk assessment default values used in new chemical reviews
EPA published the key default values used in its risk assessments for new chemicals (TSCA section 5 reviews). This transparency update can affect how submitters and compliance teams prepare PMNs, exemption submissions, and supporting exposure/hazard arguments because EPA’s default assumptions influence risk determinations and potential TSCA orders/SNUR conditions. Companies should align dossiers and internal modeling with EPA’s published defaults and document any proposed alternative values with supporting rationale.
EPA announces intent to reconsider the TSCA §8(d) health and safety study reporting rule for 16 chemicals and signals potential action on the May 22, 2026 reporting deadline
EPA posted an update stating it intends to reconsider the December 13, 2024 final TSCA Section 8(d) rule requiring manufacturers/importers of 16 chemicals to submit unpublished health and safety studies. EPA indicates reconsideration topics may include additional exemptions, a reporting threshold, and changes to the lookback period, and notes it anticipates appropriate action regarding the reporting deadline currently identified as May 22, 2026. Compliance teams subject to the 8(d) rule should monitor for subsequent rulemaking that could alter applicability or timing and should plan around the currently stated deadline until changes are finalized.
European Commission opens 'Have your say' consultations on draft delegated acts to add chlorpyrifos, MCCPs, and LC‑PFCAs to Annex I
The European Commission launched public consultations ('Have your say' initiatives) on draft delegated acts proposing to amend Annex I of Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 (EU POPs Regulation) to address Stockholm Convention COP-12 listings by adding chlorpyrifos, medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCPs), and long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids (LC‑PFCAs), their salts and related compounds. For compliance teams, this signals pending EU-wide prohibitions/restrictions and associated trace contaminant limit-setting for substances/mixtures/articles once adopted; companies should consider submitting comments and beginning impact assessments for materials, product portfolios, and supply chains.
European Commission opens public consultations on draft delegated acts to add chlorpyrifos, MCCPs and LC‑PFCAs (C9–C21) to Annex I (including proposed UTC limits)
The European Commission launched three “Have your say” consultations on draft delegated regulations intended to amend Annex I of the EU POPs Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 to implement Stockholm Convention COP‑12 listings for (1) chlorpyrifos, (2) medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCPs), and (3) long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids (LC‑PFCAs, C9–C21), their salts and related compounds. These drafts are expected to set or clarify unintentional trace contaminant (UTC) limits for substances/mixtures/articles and may include specific exemptions/derogations (details summarized in secondary sources). Compliance teams should track these consultations as they signal upcoming binding Annex I restrictions/UTC thresholds and potential transitional provisions once adopted and published in the Official Journal.
European Commission opens consultation on draft initiative to add LC‑PFCAs (C9–C21), their salts and related compounds to Annex I (Part A) (consultation-stage)
The European Commission opened a 'Have Your Say' consultation (initiative page) related to a draft delegated amendment to the EU POPs Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 concerning long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids (LC‑PFCAs; described in secondary sources as C9–C21 PFCAs), their salts and related compounds, with the objective of listing them in Annex I (Part A) (prohibited POPs). Compliance teams should monitor the final delegated act text once adopted/published for specific unintentional trace contaminant limits, any exemptions, and application dates affecting substances/mixtures/articles containing LC‑PFCAs and related substances.
EU adopts Delegated Directive 2025/1802 for lead exemption in high melting temperature solders
Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2025/1802, adopted on 8 September 2025 and published on 21 November 2025, renews and amends the RoHS exemption for lead in high melting temperature solders (lead-based alloys containing 85% or more lead by weight). The exemption renewal is recorded in Annex III of Directive 2011/65/EU and applies to electrical and electronic equipment placed on the EU market. Manufacturers using high-temperature lead-based solder alloys should verify their compliance status against the updated exemption terms and any new expiry dates.
RoHS Annex III entry 7(c)-I split into 7(c)-V and 7(c)-VI for lead exemptions
Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2025/2363 has restructured the RoHS Annex III exemption for lead in glass and ceramic components. The original broad exemption Entry 7(c)-I has been split into two separate entries: 7(c)-V for lead in glass applications and 7(c)-VI for lead in ceramic applications. This restructuring provides more precise scope definitions for each exemption category, improving clarity for compliance determinations. Manufacturers using lead in glass or ceramic components must verify which specific sub-exemption applies to their products.
European Commission draft delegated regulation proposes adding MCCPs to Annex I (Part A) with 0.1% w/w UTC limit and time-limited exemptions (consultation-stage)
A draft Commission Delegated Regulation (consultation-stage) proposes amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 to add medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCPs) to Annex I (Part A), aligning with Stockholm Convention COP-12 Decision SC‑12/10. The draft proposes an unintentional trace contaminant (UTC) limit of 0.1% by weight (1,000 mg/kg) for MCCPs in substances, mixtures and articles, and describes time-limited exemptions (5 years, with a possible additional 5-year extension) for certain uses (e.g., metalworking fluids in professional/industrial settings, aerospace/defence applications, medical/IVD devices, and certain spare-parts/repair contexts). Compliance teams should begin supplier engagement and material verification planning for MCCP presence and evaluate whether any exempted uses apply to their products and lifecycle/spare parts obligations if/when the amendment is finalized.
EU adopts Delegated Directive 2025/2363 for lead exemption in glass and ceramic components
Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2025/2363 amends Annex III of Directive 2011/65/EU (RoHS) to renew the exemption for lead in glass and ceramic components. The exemption covers point 7(c)-I of Annex III, which includes components containing lead in glass or ceramic (other than dielectric ceramic in capacitors), such as piezoelectronic devices or items in a glass or ceramic matrix. Manufacturers using these materials must ensure continued compliance with exemption conditions and monitor for any scope or expiration changes.