During the RAC-77 meeting, ECHA’s Risk Assessment Committee recommended new classifications for key substances. These recommendations confirm the direction of EU policy aimed at expanding the scope of hazard classifications and strengthening regulations for persistent, mobile substances and substances posing risks to human health and the environment, which will require companies to actively adapt their regulatory compliance strategies.
During its June meeting (1–5 June 2026), the Risk Assessment Committee (RAC) operating under ECHA adopted a number of important opinions concerning the classification and restriction of chemicals, which may soon translate into specific regulatory changes under CLP and REACH.
New classification proposals
a) One of the most important topics was the assessment of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and its salts. RAC recommended the classification of TFA as a substance toxic for reproduction (Repr. 1B), as well as a PMT and vPvM substance, indicating its persistence, mobility and potential to cause long-term and diffuse contamination of water resources.
b) In parallel, the committee proposed for the first time the classification of resorcinol as an endocrine disruptor for human health (ED HH 1). This constitutes an important precedent, reflecting the growing role of new hazard classes within the CLP system.
c) RAC also adopted opinions concerning restrictions on the use of selected substances, including chromium(VI) compounds. In the case of chromium(VI), the committee considered that an EU-wide restriction is, in principle, an appropriate risk management tool, while indicating the need for further refinement of the conditions to ensure its effectiveness and enforceability.
d) At the same time, an opinion concerning the restriction of octocrylene was adopted, highlighting its persistence and potential impact on the marine environment.
e) An important element of the meeting was also the launch of work on the re-assessment of glyphosate. The European Commission requested ECHA and EFSA to analyse new data concerning the potential carcinogenic properties of this substance, presented in the Ramazzini Institute study (Global Glyphosate Study).
RAC initiated the first discussion on the study results, and the adoption of an opinion is planned by 1 January 2027.
Significance for industry
The decisions and recommendations of RAC-77 confirm a clear direction of European chemicals policy: expanding the scope of classifications (including ED and PMT/vPvM), strengthening the approach towards persistent and mobile substances, and placing greater emphasis on the protection of human health and the aquatic environment.
For companies, this means the need to closely monitor developments, prepare for new classifications and potential restrictions that may affect both product portfolios and regulatory compliance strategies.
Source: https://www.actu-environnement.com/media/pdf/depeches/1131.pdf
Ekotox website: https://ekotox.eu/