1. REACH: Proposal to Restrict PFAS
In recent months, the process for the planned EU-wide restriction of PFAS (“forever chemicals”) has taken further shape.
On March 3, the RAC (Committee for Risk Assessment) completed its evaluation of the general proposal to restrict PFAS. The report confirms that a comprehensive re-striction of PFAS is generally considered an appropriate means of reducing environ-mental and health risks. The draft opinion on the PFAS restriction proposal published by the SEAC (Socio-Economic Analysis Committee) on March 26 generally supports a comprehensive PFAS restriction, while acknowledging the need for targeted exemp-tions to ensure the measures remain proportionate and enforceable. At the same time, the Committee considers the originally proposed complete restriction with an 18-month transition period (RO1) to be disproportionate. In particular, in applications with low substitution potential, the costs and benefits would not be in reasonable propor-tion. The SEAC concurs with the RAC’s recommendation to implement additional risk management measures for exemptions granted in the future. In addition, a reporting requirement is viewed as a useful tool for better monitoring PFAS use and the effec-tiveness of the restriction in the future. Overall, the SEAC assesses the planned re-striction—taking certain exemptions into account—as fundamentally implementable and enforceable. According to the committee, appropriate guidelines could help clarify open questions regarding practical implementation. The 60-day consultation on the draft ended on May 25, 2026. The adoption of the SEAC opinion is expected by the end of 2026.
Further information on this can be found at: All news – ECHA
2. REACH: Annex XVII
a) Inclusion of 2,4-dinitrotoluene
On April 20, 2026, the substance 2,4-dinitrotoluene (CAS No.: 204-450-0) was includ-ed in Annex XVII of the REACH Regulation. The substance had already been includ-ed in Annex XIV of the REACH Authorization List in August 2015. Since the authori-zation requirements do not apply to imported articles, a loophole arose, allowing these substances to continue entering the market via imports from third countries. With Amending Regulation 2026/859, the EU now aims to close this regulatory loophole, granting transition periods of 12 to 36 months for certain automotive components. 2,4-dinitrotoluene is used in fire-resistant products, in airbags for motor vehicles, in seat-belt pretensioners, in plastic bottles for industrial sampling purposes, as a propellant for ammunition for military and civilian small arms, and as a chemical agent for gelati-nization and plasticization in explosive compositions.
For more information, see: Regulation – EU – 2026/859 – EN – EUR-Lex
2. New Formaldehyde Restrictions
The European Union has expanded Annex XVII of the REACH Regulation to include new restrictions on formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing substances. The regu-lation takes effect on August 12, 2026, and applies to articles from which formalde-hyde may be released. The focus is on further reducing emissions and enhancing the protection of consumers and workers. In the future, binding limits will apply to formal-dehyde release, particularly for indoor products.
For more information on this topic, please visit:: https://www.tec4u-solutions.com/en/new-formaldehyde-restrictions/
3. Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI): Update to Reporting Templates
On April 17, the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI) published new versions of its minerals reporting templates. The Extended Minerals Reporting Template (EMRT 2.11), Conflict Minerals Reporting Template (CMRT 6.6), and Additional Minerals Re-porting Template (AMRT 1.31) were updated.
The most significant changes to the three templates include:
a. Improvements that do not conflict with IPC-1755
• Updated ISO country codes and region names
b. Adjustments to the smelter reference lists
c. Correction of an error in date entry in the Declaration tab.
In addition, the CMRT includes an improvement to the product list, specifically the ad-dition of the “Requester Product Number” and “Requester Product Name” fields. These enhancements are designed to make CMRT declarations for specific products easier for downstream customers to understand. Furthermore, they reduce the need for repeated follow-ups with suppliers. Companies must promptly integrate the new templates into their compliance and supplier processes to continue reliably meeting current requirements for Responsible Minerals Reporting and regulatory due dili-gence obligations.
The next updates for EMRT and CMRT are scheduled for spring 2027. A new version of AMRT is expected as early as fall 2026.
The current templates and further information can be found at: https://www.responsiblemineralsinitiative.org/reporting-templates/mrt-introduction/
4. Discharge limits for PFOA and PFOS in Sichuan – People’s Republic of China
With the entry into force of the local standard “Water Pollutant Discharge Standard for Chemical Industrial Parks in Sichuan Province (DB51/3202—2024)” on July 1, 2025, specific discharge limits for the PFAS compounds perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) were established for the first time in the Chi-nese province of Sichuan. This regulation thus represents significant progress in the regulation of so-called “new pollutants.”
To learn how this relates to the already established POP Regulation in the EU and how our material data software DataCross can support you with these topics, visit: https://www.tec4u-solutions.com/en/pfoa-and-pfos-in-sichuan/
5. “VS 2026”: New EU reporting standard for voluntary sustainability reporting
With the draft of the new Voluntary Sustainability Reporting Standard (VS 2026), the European Commission is establishing a uniform framework for voluntary sustainabil-ity reporting by companies outside the scope of the CSRD. The standard is aimed in particular at companies with up to 1,000 employees and is based on the existing VSME standard. A key change is the introduction of a so-called “value chain cap”: In the future, larger companies subject to reporting requirements may only request sus-tainability information from smaller business partners that is specified in VS 2026. This is intended to significantly reduce administrative burdens and duplicate requests along the supply chain. For SMEs, this means greater planning certainty, a Europe-wide harmonized reporting framework, and the opportunity to present sustainability performance in a structured manner to customers, banks, and investors.
If you would like to learn more about the current Commission draft and the potential implementation of sustainability reporting for SMEs, please feel free to contact Ms. Gülistan Dar: g.dar@tec4U-solutions.com
