The European Union (EU) has recently adopted a restriction regulating Synthetic Polymer Microparticles (SPMs) intentionally added to products under the EU chemical legislation REACH.
The aim of this restriction is to prevent the release of SPMs into the environment .
This restriction prohibits the sale of SPMs as such, as well as of products to which SPMs have been intentionally added. Where justified, derogations apply to users of SPMs affected by these new rules.
Although derogations for SPMs users exist, reporting obligations to both clients and authorities are still required.
European Commission published Explanatory Guide
The purpose of the Explanatory Guide is to explain the provisions and facilitate the implementation of entry 78 of Annex XVII of REACH (as introduced by Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2055) restricting synthetic polymer microparticles (commonly known as “the microplastics restriction”).
The document includes a narrative part (Part I), a set of ‘questions and answers’ (Q&As) (Part II) and several Annexes (Part III) with workflows and illustrative examples.
Part II compiles responses (in the form of Q&As) provided to Member States and stakeholders during the 5 ½ year-long process leading up to the adoption of the restriction on 25 September 2023, as well as the 3 months following its adoption.
The document was prepared by the Commission´s technical services in consultation with the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and the Member States. As such, it does not necessarily represent the views of the European Commission.
It has been endorsed by Member States by consensus, except on the issue of whether the articles with glitter affixed on their surface fall within the scope of the restriction (see Part I, Section 5; Part II, Q&A 2.25, 17.2, 17.6, 17.7, 17.8, 19.1, 19.3; Part III, Annex 3, A3.3), where AT, BE, DE and NL expressed the position that the restriction applies to glitter not permanently affixed on the surface of articles.
The European Chemicals Agency brings forward a proposal for an EU-wide restriction on certain hexavalent chromium, Cr(VI), substances. The aim is to reduce the harmful effects of these carcinogenic chemicals for both workers and the public.
Helsinki, 29 April 2025 – At the request of the European Commission, ECHA has assessed the risks posed by certain Cr(VI) substances to workers and the public as well as the socio-economic impacts of potential restrictions.
The Agency concluded that an EU-wide restriction is justified as Cr(VI) substances are among the most potent workplace carcinogens and pose a serious risk to workers’ health. People living near industrial sites that release these substances into the environment are also at risk of lung and intestinal cancers.
ECHA proposes to introduce a ban on Cr(VI) substances, except in the following use categories when they meet defined limits for worker exposure and environmental emissions:
Formulation of mixtures
Electroplating on plastic substrate
Electroplating on metal substrate
Use of primers and other slurries
Other surface treatment
Functional additives/process aids
Chromium(VI) compounds are known carcinogens and pose severe risks to respiratory health, skin, and internal organs, especially in workplaces with prolonged exposure.
Industry Impact
These proposed restrictions will significantly affect sectors such as:
Metallurgy & Surface Treatment: Use in electroplating and metal finishing.
Paints & Pigments: Use as pigment components in coatings.
Aerospace & Automotive: Use in part manufacturing and corrosion protection.
Companies using Chromium(VI) should begin reviewing their supply chains and identifying safer alternatives.
The European Parliament voted to postpone the application dates for new EU laws on due diligence and sustainability reporting requirements.
The new due diligence rules require companies to mitigate their negative impact on people and the planet. Companies subject to the CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive) have to report according to European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS).
Member states will have an extra year – until 26 July 2027 – to transpose the rules into national legislation.
The one-year extension will also apply to the first wave of businesses to be affected, namely: EU companies with over 5,000 employees and net turnover higher than €1.5 billion, and non-EU companies with a turnover above this threshold in the EU. These companies will only have to apply the rules from 2028.
The date of application will be the same for the second wave of companies: those in the EU with over 3,000 employees and net turnover higher than €900 million, and non-EU companies with turnover above that threshold in the EU.
Application of the sustainability reporting directive will also be delayed by two years for the second and third waves of companies covered by the legislation.
Large companies with more than 250 employees will be required to report on their social and environmental measures for the first time in 2028 for the previous financial year, while listed small and medium-sized enterprises will have to provide this information one year later.
On 31 March 2025, the European Parliament debated and then voted on the “one substance, one assessment” solution. This approach aims to increase the simplicity and transparency of European Union legislation, as well as to improve the safety assessment of chemicals and increase the availability of data on the same chemical substance.
The debate touched on the following issues:
Creation of a one big common platform that provides a database on chemicals,
Increase cooperation between different entities such as ECHA and EFSA,
Transfer of the task of assessing harmful substances in electrical equipment to the European Chemicals Agency.
Negotiations and finalisation of the legal text will soon begin, which is to ensure transparent rules of cooperation, division of duties, better flow and access to data, as well as faster reactions in the event of risks posed by chemicals.
The ‘one substance, one assessment’ approach is part of the European Union’s 2020 Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability.
The Forum’s subgroup on Biocidal Products Regulation (BPRS), agreed the major enforcement project on biocides (BEF-3) which will focus on controlling the correctness of product labels for biocidal products.
Inspectors in 2025 will check that the information on the labelling of biocides corresponds to that what has been authorised and included in the Summary of Product Characteristics. Inspectors may also check the presence and quality of information in the Safety Data Sheets, where it is required for biocidal products.
The goal is to harmonise the enforcement of biocidal products available on the EU market. This enforcement project is run by the ECHA Enforcement Forum’s BPR Subgroup.
The Enforcement Forum, which is responsible for coordinating the enforcement of REACH, CLP and biocidal products, held a meeting on 18-20 March to discuss the details of the REF-14 project. The REF-14 project includes controls on the legal requirements for the correct classification, labelling and packaging of hazardous mixtures and chemical products. The inspectors will carry out inspections of products available on the European Union market. The inspections will particularly cover nicotine products, as well as fragrances and air fresheners that contain irritant substances.
The inspections will also cover additional requirements set out in the updated CLP regulation – the use of fold-out labels, the use of digital labelling or the use of refill stations.
Currently, inspectors are preparing and materials useful to inspectors during inspections are being developed. Inspections at entrepreneurs are to start in 2026.
Below you will find materials and information that will allow you and your company to prepare for the inspection and minimize the risk of errors or penalties.
Cefic’s analysis of the 2023 EU Safety Gate Report has revealed an urgent need to enhance enforcement of EU chemicals legislation, particularly concerning imported goods and online sales. The report, which serves as the EU’s rapid alert system for unsafe products, highlights a surge in chemical non-compliance, raising concerns about consumer safety and regulatory integrity.
Key Findings:
Increase in Chemical Non-Compliance: The proportion of chemical non-compliance cases in products surged from 35% in 2022 to 51% in 2023, making it the most reported risk for the second consecutive year.
Significant Rise in Non-Compliant Cosmetics: A 12-fold increase in non-compliant cosmetics played a major role in this trend.
Growing Non-Compliance with REACH and RoHS: Instances of REACH non-compliance doubled, while violations of RoHS in electronics tripled in 2023.
Imported Goods as the Primary Source: Non-compliance in imported goods with REACH regulations nearly doubled, reaching 901 instances in 2023.
Concerns Over Endocrine Disruptors: The number of products containing endocrine-disrupting chemicals has been rising for three consecutive years. Notably, 419 out of 427 recorded cases originated from outside the EU/EEA or from unknown sources.
Cefic’s Call for Action:
“The rise in chemical non-compliance, particularly in imported goods and online sales, highlights the urgent need to strengthen enforcement of EU chemicals legislation. With over half of reported product risks now linked to chemical safety – and a significant share stemming from non-EU countries – it is clear that improved market surveillance and more coordinated oversight across member states are essential to protect European consumers and uphold the integrity of EU regulations.”
– Steven Van de Broeck, Cefic Executive Director Product Stewardship
The sharp increase in chemical non-compliance raises questions about whether this trend is a short-term anomaly or a deeper issue requiring stronger enforcement measures. Cefic’s analysis underscores the importance of targeted enforcement actions and enhanced oversight, particularly for imported goods and online sales, to ensure consumer safety and regulatory compliance across the EU.
On 23 May 2024, the European Critical Raw Materials Act entered into force, addressing resources and rules for the sourcing of critical chemical raw materials of a strategic nature. The main objective of the act is to ensure that by 2030 European extraction, processing and recycling of raw materials meet an adequate level of demand in the European Union.
Based on the presented act, the European Commission has drawn up a list of projects for the extraction, processing, recycling and substitution of critical raw materials. The list has been consulted by the Member States’ Critical Raw Materials Board composed of Member States and the European Parliament. Following the discussions, the Commission adopted a list of 47 projects to increase the availability of raw materials and diversify the supply chain. Through these projects, the EU will be able to fully meet its 2030 lithium and cobalt mining, processing and recycling targets, while making significant progress for graphite, nickel and manganese. In addition, other strategic projects on magnesium and tungsten will contribute to the resilience of the EU’s defence industry, which relies on the use of these materials.
Total capital investment in the 47 strategic projects is expected to be €22.5 billion. The projects provide for the possibility of using simplified regulations on permits, as well as shortening the time of their issuance to 15 or 27 months (currently the issuance of permits takes up to 10 years).
At the end of the summer, the Commission will launch a new call for proposals for strategic projects on critical raw materials.
Part of the Clean Industrial Deal will also be to make key industries in Europe more circular and sustainable, while facilitating administration and reducing compliance costs to boost competitiveness. A chemicals industry package will boost the competitiveness of the EU chemicals industry and provide a simpler regime for the registration, evaluation and authorisation of chemicals and clarity on ‘forever chemicals’. The targeted revision of the EU’s rules on chemicals (REACH) will contribute to simplifying rules for the chemicals industry without compromising on safety and environmental protection. https://commission.europa.eu/topics/eu-competitiveness/clean-industrial-deal_en
We do expect that details will be communicated before summer 2025 and legal text will be available in September 2025, so that will be presented on the REACH Conference 2025 to be held in Katowice-Chorzow, Poland on September 22-23, 2025.
Commission Regulation (EU) 2025/351 amends several existing EU regulations on food contact materials, including Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 on plastic materials and Regulation (EU) 2022/1616 on recycled plastics. It also modifies Regulation (EC) No 2023/2006 on good manufacturing practices, with a focus on recycled plastics and quality control in production.
Purity Requirements
Substances used in plastic manufacturing are required to meet high purity standards. They must match their identity, contain only minimal non-intentionally added substances (NIAS), and undergo risk assessments. These substances must either comply with specifications or restrictions, pass toxicological assessments, or ensure migration limits are not exceeded. Documentation confirming purity must be available to competent authorities.
Natural substances, such as UVCB materials (substances of unknown or variable composition, complex reaction products or biological materials), may be used in their original form, provided they do not contain substances that alter their identity.
Biocidal Substances
Biocidal substances authorised under Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 for product-type 4 (products for food and feed area) may be used as additives in plastic materials intended for food contact, as a derogation from the Union list of authorised substances.
Recycled Plastics and Repeated Use
Recycled plastics can be used in food contact materials if they meet strict conditions, including proper collection and compliance with migration limits. For materials intended for repeated food contact, their design must prevent increased migration over time.
New Labelling Requirements
The regulation introduces new labelling rules, including instructions to prevent deterioration and misuse for repeated-use articles. Additionally, materials not yet in contact with food must include usage instructions detailing restrictions on food types, contact time, temperature, or heating conditions. National laws may set migration limits for materials not covered by this regulation.
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