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The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has introduced a new tool called B-Risk to facilitate the assessment of risks that biocidal products may pose to bees. The tool is aligned with ECHA’s 2024 Bee Guidance, which will apply as of February 2026. It should be noted that this will not apply to active substances in the review programme. According to ECHA, B-Risk was developed in line with the “one substance, one assessment” approach. It is essentially an extension of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), originally designed for plant protection products, but adapted to meet the specific requirements of biocidal products, particularly insecticides. What Does B-Risk Do? With B-Risk, users can carry out the environmental risk assessments required under the Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR). The tool is particularly valued for its contribution to protecting bee health and supporting the EU’s biodiversity goals. Key features of B-Risk for biocides include: How Can You Access B-Risk? B-Risk is accessible via ECHA’s Support page. From there, users are directed to EFSA’s R4EU platform, where the tool is hosted. B-Risk operates entirely online. To access it, users must register on R4EU and accept EFSA’s terms of use. Click here to access the original source and learn more.

As you may know, the EU-wide restriction on microplastics, which entered into force in October 2023, prohibits the intentional use of microplastics in products such as cosmetics, detergents, and certain agricultural products, as well as in some processes where these microplastics are released into the environment. According to ECHA, the Regulation introduces reporting obligations for manufacturers, importers, downstream users, and suppliers placing SPMs or products containing SPMs on the market for certain exempted uses, with the aim of helping monitor and reduce microplastic emissions. Reporting Process for SPMs Has Opened In an article published on its website, ECHA announced that companies can now begin reporting their annual releases under the microplastics restriction. This obligation applies to exempted uses of synthetic polymer microparticles (SPMs), and the deadlines for submitting reports are specified as follows: for manufacturers and industrial downstream users of SPMs in the form of pellets, flakes and powders, used as raw material in plastic production at industrial sites; and 31 May 2026 for all other manufacturers and industrial downstream users of SPMs at industrial sites, as well as for suppliers placing products containing SPMs on the market for the first time for specific exempted uses by professionals or the public   31 May 2027 ECHA notes that examples of exempted SPM uses include veterinary and human medicinal products, food additives, in vitro diagnostic devices, and certain uses at industrial sites. Who is subject to the obligation? The obligation applies to manufacturers, importers, and downstream users alike. In addition, suppliers of SPMs and products containing SPMs are subject to the requirements under certain conditions, particularly when placing such products on the market for the first time. How should the reports be prepared? Companies must prepare annual release reports in IUCLID format and submit them to ECHA via REACH-IT. It should be noted that for now, only initial submissions are possible in REACH-IT. Updates will be allowed from Q2 2026. During this process, companies may use ECHA’s guidance and informational materials, as well as the IUCLID dataset prepared to support users. Click here to access the relevant documents and the source of the news.

On 5 November 2025, the following substance was added to the Candidate List of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC): Substance name 1,1′-(ethane-1,2-diyl)bispentabromobenzene (DBDPE) EC number 284-366-9 CAS number 84852-53-9 Reason for inclusion Very Persistent and Very Bioaccumulative, vPvB (Article 57e) Example uses Flame retardant Substances added to the Candidate List may also be included in the Authorisation List in the future. If a substance appears on this list, companies can only continue using it after applying for and obtaining authorisation from the European Commission. What should companies do? According to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), the following obligations apply to companies: Click here to reach the Candidate List. For more information and to benefit from our registration services, you may fill out the form below:

The European Commission has adopted a revised REACH Fee Regulation, introducing significant changes to chemical registration and authorisation procedures. The new regulation includes innovations such as a mandatory pre-verification for SMEs and increased fees for large companies. The regulation will enter into force 20 days after its publication in the Official Journal of the EU. The ex-ante verification system will become applicable 15 months after the entry into force. Until that date, the current SME verification procedure will remain valid. Fee Increase According to the revised REACH Fee Regulation, standard fees and charges for large companies will increase by 19.5%. This increase is based on the average annual inflation rate in Europe for 2021–2023 and applies only to large enterprises to preserve the competitiveness of SMEs. The updated fees will take effect on 5 November 2025. While reflecting overall economic conditions, the fee increase also aims to reduce the financial burden on smaller businesses. This approach maintains SMEs’ market position while increasing the expected contribution rate from large companies. New Requirements for SMEs Starting from 5 February 2027: The new pre-verification system will clarify a company’s status in advance, simplifying ECHA’s evaluation process and reducing administrative burdens caused by incorrect declarations. Validity and Renewal of SME Status This system eliminates the need for SMEs to submit extensive documentation for each application, saving both time and costs. To facilitate the transition to the new system, ECHA will gradually publish guidance documents to support companies in preparing for the SME verification process. These guides are expected to provide practical information on required documentation, timelines, and common mistakes.  You can review the REACH Fee Regulation here. Fill out the form to start preparing your documentation. Related Services REACH Registration Product Stewardship Only Representation

On 22 October 2025, a draft titled “On Amendments to the Resolutions of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine of May 10, 2024, No. 539 and of July 23, 2024, No. 847” was published. In the draft that is published by Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture (MEEA) the amendments primarily extend timelines to align with the phased for giving industry additional time for dossier preparation and labelling updates. Please note that these amendments are still draft and not in force. The main amendments introduced by this draft regulation are as follows: Process Previous Deadline Updated Deadline UA REACH Pre-registration Deadline 26 January 2026 26 January 2027 UA REACH Registration Deadlines     Substances classified as CMR (Cat. 1A and Cat. 1B) in quantities of ≥ 1 ton/year Substances classified as H400 and H410 (Cat. 1) in quantities of ≥ 100 ton/year 26 January 2026 1 October 2028 Substances manufactured or imported ≥ 1000 tonnes/year 1 October 2026 1 October 2029 Substances manufactured or imported between 100–1000 tonnes/year 1 June 2028 1 June 2031 Substances manufactured or imported between 1–100 tonnes/year 1 March 2030 1 March 2033 Please note that in this draft, A six-month extension could be assumed for C&L Notification, potentially indicating a new deadline around 15 May 2026. Since the currently in-force deadline remains 15 November 2025, preparing a C&L Notification in advance would be an important step to ensure regulatory compliance and market safety. The draft has been published on the official website of the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine for public consultation, and the approval process of the decree has not yet been finalized. Click here to access the official announcement and share your comments on the draft. Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter for future updates on the subject. You can review the related documents through the links below: Related Services Only Representation UA REACH Pre-registration UA C&L Notification

On 3 October 2025, the European Commission adopted new measures restricting the use of PFAS in firefighting foams. PFAS use is one of the major sources of environmental pollution in the European Union. To protect human health and the environment, the Commission introduced new measures to restrict the use of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) under the REACH Regulation. This restriction aims to minimise PFAS emissions and prevent the release of approximately 470 tonnes of PFAS into the environment each year. According to the Commission’s announcement, this measure will help reduce soil and water contamination while also protecting firefighters from exposure to PFAS-containing foams. Based on the scientific assessment of the European Chemicals Agency’s (ECHA) committees, the restriction includes specific transition periods to allow industry to switch to PFAS-free alternatives, which are stated in the related Regulation. The new regulation will officially enter into force 20 days after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. It will become applicable following transition periods ranging from 12 months to 10 years, depending on the use, providing sufficient time for the replacement with safer and more effective alternatives. You can review the Comission Regulation (EU) 2025/1988 below. Click here to access the official source of the news.

At its September meeting, which took place on 9–11 September 2025, the Biocidal Products Committee (BPC) of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) adopted four opinions on active substances and six on Union authorisations. Adopted Opinions on Active Substances Regarding carbon dioxide, ECHA made the following statement: “Supporting the amendment of the inclusion of Carbon dioxide (CO₂) in Annex I of the Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR). This inclusion in Annex I is restricted to: ‘Only for use in ready-for-use gas canisters functioning together with a trapping device.’” At the meeting, a request was made to revise the existing restrictions on CO₂, upon which the BPC proposed the following: “For product authorisations it shall be ensured that the exposure for professional users remains below the acceptable exposure concentration (AEC): 1.5% v/v carbon dioxide for the STEL (short-term exposure limit) 15 minutes, and 0.5% v/v carbon dioxide for the TWA (time-weighted average) 8 hour.” ECHA stated that this new restriction would enable broader authorisation of CO₂-based products while ensuring safe use within the defined exposure limits. Non-approval of Poly(dimethyloctadecyl[3-(trihydroxysilyl)propyl]ammonium chloride) Poly(dimethyloctadecyl[3-(trihydroxysilyl)propyl]ammonium chloride) generated from di-methyloctadecyl[3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl]ammonium chloride (DMOAP)was proposed for use in the following product-types: Product-type 2 – Disinfectants and algaecides not intended for direct application to humans or animals, Product-type 7 – Film preservatives, Product-type 9 – Fibre, leather, rubber and polymerised materials preservatives. However, the BPC recommended non-approval for all three product types, as no safe use was identified. Six Union Authorisations Supported At the September BPC meeting, the following Union authorisations were supported: A biocidal product containing active chlorine generated from sodium chloride by electrolysis for product-types 2 and 4 (food and feed area); A biocidal product containing Alkyl (C12–16) dimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride (ADBAC/BKC (C12–16)) and Glutaral (Glutaraldehyde) for product-types 3 (veterinary hygiene) and 4; A biocidal product containing Peracetic acid for product-type 2; A biocidal product family containing L-(+)-lactic acid for product-types 2 and 4; A biocidal product family containing Peracetic acid for product-types 2, 3 and 4; and A biocidal product family containing Glutaral (Glutaraldehyde) for product-types 6, 11 and 12. Decisions and Competent Authorities The ECHA annex provides information on Commission decisions and competent authorities. These are summarised in the table below: Topic Product-Types Decision Rapporteur Member State Opinion on approval of DMOAP 2, 7, 9 Not approved Spain CO₂ Annex I inclusion – Approved Netherlands Biocidal product containing active chlorine generated from sodium chloride by electrolysis 2, 4 Approved (simple majority) France Biocidal product containing ADBAC/BKC and Glutaraldehyde 3, 4 Approved Belgium Biocidal product containing Peracetic acid 2 Approved Germany Biocidal product family containing L-(+)-lactic acid 2, 4 Approved Germany Biocidal product family containing Peracetic acid 2, 3, 4 Approved (simple majority) Netherlands Biocidal product family containing Glutaraldehyde 6, 11, 12 Approved Netherlands Questions on the risks of exposure of workers to corrosive particles during the use of biocidal products by coarse spraying – Approved France and Belgium Examination of alternatives to cholecalciferol and its possible use by the general public 14 Approved (simple majority) Sweden The opinions discussed and adopted at the meeting will be published on ECHA’s website. ECHA also announced that the next meeting will be held on 24–28 November 2025. For questions on this topic or to receive support with your biocidal products, you can contact us. This article was originated from ECHA. Contact with our experts

On 24 July 2025, the European Commission published a Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) in the Official Journal. This regulation amends Regulation (EU) No 564/2013 to adjust ECHA’s fees in line with inflation. According to Article 17 of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 564/2013, fees must be reviewed annually based on inflation. In this context, a cumulative inflation rate of 19.5% was determined by taking into account the average annual inflation rates for the years 2021, 2022, and 2023, and a decision was made to increase the fees accordingly. What does the fee update cover? The amendment solely concerns the adjustment of fees based on inflation and affects the fees related to applications for the placing on the market and use of biocidal products. The new fees will also apply within the European Economic Area starting from 14th August. New Fees Effective from August The updated fees, as determined by the European Commission, are as follows: In Annex I, Table 1 is replaced with the following: Table 1: Standard Fees General description of task; relevant provision in Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 Specific condition or task description Fee (EUR) Approval of an active substance; Article 7(2) Fee for the first product-type for which that active substance is approved 143 400 Additional fee per additional product-type 47 800 Additional fee per product-type (for both the first product-type and any additional product-type) if the active substance is a candidate for substitution in accordance with Article 10 of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 23 900 Fee for the amendment of an approval, other than the addition of a product-type 23 900 Renewal of an approval; Article 13(3) Fee for the first product-type for which renewal of that active substance is sought 17 925 Additional fee per additional product-type 1 793 Additional fee for the first product-type for which renewal of that active substance is sought in case a full evaluation is found necessary in accordance with Article 14(1) of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 29 875 Additional fee per additional product-type in case a full evaluation is found necessary in accordance with Article 14(1) of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 2 988 Additional fee per product-type (for both the first product-type and any additional product-type) if the active substance is a candidate for substitution in accordance with Article 10 of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 23 900 Inclusion in Annex I of an active substance; Article 28 Fee for the first inclusion in Annex I of an active substance 11 950   Fee for the amendment of an inclusion of an active substance in Annex I   Notification in accordance with Article 17(4) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1062/2014 Fee per substance/product-type combination. The fee for the notification shall be deducted from the subsequent application for approval 11 950 In Annex II, Table 1 is replaced with the following: Table 1: Standard Fees General description of task; relevant provision in Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 Specific condition or task description Fee (EUR) Granting of Union authorisation, single product; Article 43(2) Fee per product not identical with (one of) the representative product(s) assessed for the purpose of the substance approval 95 600   Fee per product identical with (one of) the representative product(s) assessed for the purpose of the substance approval 47 800   Additional fee per product when comparative assessment in accordance with Article 23 of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 is required 47 800   Additional fee per product when the requested authorisation is provisional in accordance with Article 55(2) of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 11 950 Granting of Union authorisation, biocidal product family; Article 43(2) Fee per family 179 250   Additional fee per family when comparative assessment in accordance with Article 23 of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 is required 71 700   Additional fee per family when the requested authorisation is provisional in accordance with Article 55(2) of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 17 925 Notification to the Agency of an additional product within a biocidal product family; Article 17(6) Fee per additional product 2 390 Union authorisation of a same biocidal product; Article 17(7) Fee per product constituting a ‘same product’ within the meaning of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 414/2013  (2) 2 390 Major change of an authorised product or product family; Article 50(2) Fee per application 47 800 Minor change of an authorised product or product family; Article 50(2) Fee per application 17 925 Administrative change of an authorised product or product family; Article 50(2) Fee per notification 2 390 Recommendation on the classification of a change of an authorised product or product family; Article 50(2) Fee per request in accordance with Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 354/2013 (3) If the recommendation is to classify the change as an administrative or minor change, the fee for the request shall be deducted from the subsequent application or notification in accordance with Implementing Regulation (EU) No 354/2013 2 390 Renewal of Union authorisation, single product; Article 45(3) Fee per product 5 975   Additional fee per product in case a full evaluation is found necessary in accordance with Article 14(1) of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 17 925   Additional fee per product when comparative assessment in accordance with Article 23 of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 is required 47 800 Renewal of Union authorisation, biocidal product family; Article 45(3) Fee per product family 8 963   Additional fee per product family in case a full evaluation is found necessary in accordance with Article 14(1) of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 26 888   Additional fee per product family when comparative assessment in accordance with Article 23 of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 is required 71 700 ANNEX II ‘ANNEX III Other fees General description of task; relevant provision in Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 Specific condition or task description Fee (EUR) Technical equivalence; Article 54(3) Fee, when difference between the active substance sources is limited to a change in manufacturing location, and application is based solely on analytical data 5 975 Fee, when difference between the active substance sources goes beyond a

The UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is considering postponing the transitional registration deadlines for chemical substances under UK REACH. A public consultation, launched on 14 July 2025 and open until 8 September 2025, is currently gathering stakeholder feedback on the proposed changes. As is well known, UK REACH (the United Kingdom’s chemical registration system) requires the registration of chemical substances placed on the GB market. However, following the UK’s departure from the European Union, the chemical data sets collected under EU REACH were not transferred to the UK’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE). As a result, many chemical substances on the GB market still require registration under UK REACH. The government continues to work on a new model called the Alternative Transitional Registration model (ATRm). Preliminary drafts of the ATRm were shared with the public during a previous consultation in 2024. However, since the details of the model have not yet been finalized, it remains unclear what data must be submitted and when. According to DEFRA, the government does not anticipate that the data requirements will exceed those proposed in 2024. Given that the legislation needed to implement the ATRm will not be in force in time, it will not be feasible to meet the current registration deadlines of October 2026, October 2028, and October 2030. Therefore, three alternative sets of new deadlines have been proposed for public consultation: Option 1 is the government’s preferred choice as it provides an estimated two-year transition period for finalizing the ATRm and allowing industry time to adapt. Additionally, shortening the gap between registration deadlines from two years to one would still offer adequate time for data collection and submission, while enabling regulators to access information more rapidly and efficiently. The consultation also includes a proposal to extend the deadlines for compliance checks that HSE is required to conduct on 20% of incoming registration dossiers, as stipulated in Article 41(5) of UK REACH. Click here to access DEFRA’s official statement and related documents. For any questions regarding UK REACH, please fill out the form.

On 5 June 2025, the draft Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers and the accompanying Rules for Joint Submission of Information in Registration Applications under Ukraine REACH were published. These rules were prepared in accordance with Article 38 of the Law of Ukraine “On Ensuring Chemical Safety and Management of Chemical Products” (LCS). According to the announcement published on the MEPR website, the aim of this draft regulation is to establish the procedure for the joint submission of information in registration applications for the same chemical substance under UA REACH. For details, you can visit the announcement page by clicking here. What Does “Draft Rules for Joint Submission of Information” Introduce? Would You Like to Submit Feedback? The Ministry invites feedback from companies, NGOs, academics, experts, and other stakeholders regarding the published draft regulation. All submitted comments will be considered in the preparation of the final version of the text, and revisions may be made accordingly. You can submit your feedback on the draft rules published under UA-REACH to info@mepr.gov.ua by 5 July 2025. Do You Have Questions? For any inquiries on the topic, you may contact info@chemleg.com. Related Services UA REACH Only Representation UA REACH Pre-registration and Registration UA CLP Stewardship