REACH

ECHA raises environmental concerns over certain aromatic brominated flame retardants

Our investigation found that use of non-polymeric aromatic brominated flame-retardant additives pollutes the environment due to their persistence, bioaccumulation and toxicity. These substances are released to the environment throughout the product lifecycle, with waste stage being of particular concern. 

Member States plan to evaluate 28 substances in 2025-2027

We have listed 28 substances for evaluation by EU Member States under the Community Rolling Action Plan (CoRAP) for 2025-2027. Eight are planned to be evaluated in 2025, including two groups of two substances. 20 are listed for evaluation in 2026 and 2027.
 
We will adopt and publish the CoRAP for 2025-2027 in March 2025 following the opinion of the Member State Committee.

Registrants are encouraged to look at the draft list of substances planned for evaluation in 2025 and update their dossiers to include all relevant information before March 2025.

Consultation on reporting requirements under the REACH restriction on microplastics

We are collecting feedback on our proposal for implementing the reporting requirements regarding estimated emissions of synthetic polymer microparticles (SPM). The reporting obligations are detailed in paragraphs 11 and 12 of the microplastics restriction (Entry 78 of REACH Annex XVII).

Have your say until 20 January 2025.

Screening report published for 4-OPnEO and 4-NPnEO

We have published a screening report to assess whether the use of 4-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)phenol, ethoxylated and 4-Nonylphenol, branched and linear, ethoxylated in articles should be restricted in accordance with REACH Article 69(2).

New substance evaluation conclusions published

• N,N'-ethylenebis(3,4,5,6-tetrabromophthalimide) (EC 251-118-6, CAS 32588-76-4), evaluated by Norway; and
• 2-[(4-methoxy-2-nitrophenyl)azo]-N-(2-methoxyphenyl)-3-oxobutyramide (EC 229-419-9, CAS 6528-34-3), evaluated by Italy.

ECHA

ECHA closed at the end of the year

We wish you all a Happy Holiday Season and a Joyful New Year.

The Agency will be closed from 20 December 2024 (12:00 Helsinki time) until 2 January 2025 inclusive.

IT tools for submitting information will remain open. Enquiries submitted through the contact forms during this period are received but will not be processed until after 2 January.

The first Weekly bulletin in 2025 will be published on 8 January 2025.

Give us your feedback in January

In January 2025, we hope to hear your views in our stakeholder survey on how you perceive our collaboration and work for chemical safety. Thank you in advance for sharing your thoughts with us to help us improve our work and support to you.

Highlights from December Member State Committee meeting

In its December meeting, our Member State Committee agreed to identify Octamethyltrisiloxane as a substance of very high concern.

The Committee had agreed in written procedure on four further substances to be added to the Candidate List in January 2025. One substance will be included without the committee’s involvement.

Serious cross-border threats to health: tasks for ECHA

Have a look at our new web page that explains our tasks under the Regulation on serious cross-border threats to health.

Together with other European Agencies, we will perform a joint public health risk assessment if alerted of a serious cross-border threat to health. Our task will be to provide data if such threats originate from chemicals. 

Deepening cooperation with contract research organisations

We organised a workshop in November 2024 with contract research organisations about the testing of chemicals for REACH purposes. The aim of the dialogue was to ensure that the results of the requested studies are of high quality, reliable and useful.

You can now find the event summary on our website.

Assessment of regulatory needs reports published

Reports for the following substance groups are now available on our website:

• Salts of iodine and oxides with counterions of low hazard; and
• Esters from fatty acid oligomers.

If you have questions or feedback related to the assessment work, you can send them to us using this webform.

CLP

Consultations on harmonised classification and labelling

We are looking for comments on the harmonised classification and labelling (CLH) proposals for:

• 4,4'-methylene bis(dibutyldithiocarbamate) (EC 233-593-1, CAS 10254-57-6); 
  
• beflubutamid (ISO); N-benzyl-2-[4-fluoro-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy]butanamide; (RS)-N-benzyl-2-(α,α,α,4-tetrafluoro-m-tolyoxy)butyramide (EC -, CAS 113614-08-7);
  
• 2-amino-2-methylpropanol (EC 204-709-8, CAS 124-68-5); and
  
• Reaction mass of 2-amino-2-methylpropanol and (2-hydroxy-1,1-dimethylethyl)ammonium chloride [1] (2-hydroxy-1,1-dimethylethyl)ammonium chloride [2] (EC -[1] 221-713-5 [2], CAS -[1] 3207-12-3 [2]).

Have your say by 14 February 2025.

Batteries Regulation

Second workshop on battery materials

On 28-29 October 2024, we hosted the second workshop of Eurometaux’s Exchange & Capacity-building Group on Battery Materials (ECaBaM). The final report from the workshop is now published on Eurometaux’s REACH Metals portal.

The event provided an opportunity to collaborate with stakeholders in the battery industry. Key highlights were the discussions on identifying substances of concern, elements to be considered for potential risk management, waste and recycling strategies and socio-economic aspects.

The knowledge exchange through ECaBaM workshops supports our work under the Batteries Regulation.

Board of Appeal

Revised web pages and search tools launched 

The Board of Appeal’s web pages have been revised to make it easier to find decisions and other information on appeals.

• Latest developments: Information on recent appeal announcements and decisions, as well as upcoming hearings, is now available in a single view.
  
  
• Case search: Search for ongoing or closed cases, as well as cases concerning a particular substance, process, or appellant. Dedicated case cards contain all the available information and decisions on each case.
  
  
• Decision search: Find decisions of interest using detailed searches, for example, on words or phrases within a decision.   

EU Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON)

Nanopinion: Ensuring safe and sustainable material innovation through advanced materials

Read our latest Nanopinion guest column with Dr.-Ing. Kathrin Schwirn and Dr. Doris Völker. They explain the impact of advanced materials on addressing global issues like climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution while aligning with the European Green Deal and UN Sustainable Development Goals.