EUROPEAN UNION
PFAS restriction under REACH – RAC opinion adopted, SEAC draft opinion agreed and public consultation launched. A major milestone has been reached in the EU generic restriction process for PFAS. On 2 March 2026, the European Chemicals Agency’s Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) adopted its final opinion, followed shortly after by the
EUROPEAN UNION
European Parliament debates ITRE-commissioned study on PFAS restriction. On 25 February, Members of the European Parliament debated a study commissioned by the Parliament’s Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) examining the potential economic impacts of the proposed universal PFAS restriction under Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (REACH).
The study, prepared by Risk &
EUROPEAN UNION
PFAS universal restriction under REACH – opinions expected in March. ECHA’s Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) is expected to adopt its Opinion on the proposed universal PFAS restriction under REACH during its meeting of 2–6 March 2026. The Committee for Socio-Economic Analysis (SEAC) is scheduled to discuss and
The European Parliament and the Council are shaping their positions on the Chemicals Omnibus simplification proposal published by the Commission on 8 July 2025.
Discussions on the text are expected to be heated, with an important involvement of civil society groups.
Certain political groups and Member States have notably been very vocal at the local
ECHA scientific committees on track to finalise opinions on the PFAS restriction. ECHA confirmed on 17 December that its two scientific committees, the Risk Assessment Committee (RAC) and the Socio-Economic Analysis Committee (SEAC), remain on schedule to deliver their opinions on the proposed PFAS restriction. The committees’ December meetings enabled the adoption
Universal PFAS Restriction. The minutes of ECHA’s 68th SEAC meeting (15–19 September 2025) outline that SEAC experts reached provisional conclusions for the lubricants and energy sectors, covering regulatory alternatives, substitution options, socio-economic impacts, potential sector-specific derogations and associated uncertainties. Discussions on the electronics and semiconductors sectors will continue in December, with further
The Battery Regulation ((EU) 2023/1542) (Regulation) entered into force on 17 August 2023, superseding the Battery Directive (2006/66/EC). The Regulation establishes a harmonised framework designed to strengthen the internal market, promote the circular economy and mitigate environmental and social impacts across the full battery life cycle.
As part of the implementation of this framework
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has launched a Call for Evidence to support the preparation of a study report under the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR, Regulation (EU) 2025/40). The study, as mandated in Article 5(2) PPWR, aims to map substances of concern (SoC) that are present in packaging and packaging components that