Chemicals and hazardous substances

Key developments

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EU environment tracker 2025—chemicals and hazardous substances—this tracker tool covers key new and upcoming EU legislation and consultations linked to the regulation of chemicals and hazardous substances, including pesticides, biocides, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and PFAS. It also summarises the main strategies, roadmaps and policy measures linked to and driving these changes. Key tracked initiatives include revisions to EU REACH, announced as part of the EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability. To review developments from 2024, see Practice Note EU environment tracker 2024—chemicals and hazardous substances [Archived]

Chemicals

This subtopic includes the following content relevant to the regulation of chemicals at EU level:

REACH

Regulation (EC) 1907/2006 of 18 December 2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (EU REACH) requires manufacturers and importers of chemicals to evaluate the risks resulting from the use of those chemicals and to take the necessary steps to manage any identified risk. The aim of REACH is to ensure a high level of protection of human health and the environment through the better and earlier assessment of hazards of chemical substances.

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