CMR Substances

EU Parliament EMPL Committee Reports On Negotiations For CMRD 6 Proposal Amending Directive 2004/37/EC

The EU’s CMRD 6 proposal would add welding fumes to the Carcinogens, Mutagens and Reprotoxic Substances Directive and introduce new binding occupational exposure limits, transitional limits and a biological limit value for cobalt compounds, PAH mixtures and 1,4-dioxane. An EMPL committee report-back on negotiations signals that trilogue talks are advancing but the file remains at proposal stage, so companies should monitor the emerging OEL package and prepare for potentially stringent EU-wide limits once adopted.

23 May 2026, 09:09eur-lex.europa.euEuropean Union

EU Parliament EMPL Committee Schedules Report-Back On CMRD 6 Proposal Amending Directive 2004/37/EC

The European Parliament’s EMPL Committee will on 2 June 2026 review negotiations on the CMRD 6 proposal to amend Directive 2004/37/EC by adding cobalt compounds, PAH mixtures, 1,4-dioxane and welding fumes with new EU-wide occupational exposure limits and related notations. While this agenda point does not yet adopt the directive, it signals that harmonised OELs and transitional periods for high-exposure sectors are progressing towards agreement, giving companies early visibility to plan monitoring, engineering controls and substitution strategies.

23 May 2026, 09:08eur-lex.europa.euEuropean Union

EU SCCS Adopts Corrigendum to Final Opinion on Silver in Cosmetic Products

EU scientific experts have finalised and corrected their opinion on the safe use of micron-sized silver in cosmetics, confirming specific maximum concentrations and updating exposure calculations for hand creams. This guidance will steer how the EU Cosmetics Regulation is applied to silver ingredients, shaping formulation limits and future regulatory decisions for cosmetics manufacturers.

22 May 2026, 18:49health.ec.europa.euEuropean Union

Netherlands RIVM Publishes Framework To Prioritise Substances For Health-Based Workplace Exposure Limits

In May 2026, RIVM published a framework and priority list of 49 groups of carcinogenic, mutagenic and reproduction-toxic substances for which the Dutch Health Council may develop health-based workplace exposure limits. This signals which chemicals are most likely to face early attention in future Dutch occupational exposure limit proposals, helping companies anticipate stricter controls, data needs and potential SZW limit-setting.

21 May 2026, 12:20rivm.nlNetherlands

EU Notifies WTO of Draft REACH Annex XVII Restriction on CMR 1A/1B Substances in Childcare Articles

In May 2026, the European Union notified the WTO of a draft REACH Annex XVII restriction that would sharply limit CMR 1A/1B substances in childcare articles, with WTO comments due by 7 July 2026. If adopted, this measure will force global manufacturers and importers of childcare products to audit materials against CLP CMR classifications and the proposed Appendix thresholds, substitute hazardous chemistries, and align supply chains ahead of a three-year transition period.

21 May 2026, 06:30ec.europa.euEuropean Union

Germany (BAuA) Assesses Substitutes for Oxime Uses in Paints, Varnishes and Sealants

Germany’s occupational safety institute has issued a detailed 2025 report evaluating alternatives to carcinogenic oxime antiskinning and curing agents in paints, varnishes and silicone sealants. While not legally binding, the findings show that oxime-free systems are technically feasible for most applications but involve performance trade-offs, signalling likely future regulatory pressure and helping manufacturers plan substitution and R&D priorities.

20 May 2026, 19:22baua.deGermany

ECHA Moves Tebufenpyrad CLH Proposal to Opinion Development Phase

ECHA has moved the Tebufenpyrad harmonised classification proposal under the EU CLP Regulation from public consultation into the Opinion Development phase, with France as dossier submitter and the consultation now closed. If confirmed, the proposed classification would tighten skin sensitisation and repeated-dose toxicity categories, add carcinogenicity and reproductive toxicity, and maintain very high aquatic hazard, signalling potentially stricter labelling and risk controls for plant protection products using this active substance.

20 May 2026, 17:55echa.europa.euEuropean Union

EU/ECHA CLH Intention: Spain Plans Repr. 1B (H360F) Classification for Padimate A and Related Dimethylaminobenzoate Esters

ECHA’s CLH registry confirms that Spain maintains an intention to classify padimate A and related dimethylaminobenzoate esters as Repr. 1B (H360F), with the CLH dossier expected by 31 May 2026. This early-stage signal indicates these substances may receive an EU-wide reproductive toxicity classification, so companies using them should closely track the upcoming dossier and be ready for potential changes to labelling and downstream regulatory duties.

20 May 2026, 10:04echa.europa.euEuropean Union

EU Commission Corrects Annex III Entry 380 in Cosmetics CMR Omnibus VIII Regulation (EU) 2026/78

In May 2026 the EU published a corrigendum to Commission Regulation (EU) 2026/78 (the CMR Omnibus VIII Cosmetics Regulation) clarifying the Annex III product-type description for entry 380 in the Cosmetics Regulation. The change confirms that body care products for children under three are explicitly covered alongside other listed cosmetics, so companies using the affected substances should check that their formulations and labelling remain aligned with the corrected Annex III conditions.

20 May 2026, 10:01eur-lex.europa.euEuropean Union

Bulgaria Adopts Decree No. 60/2026 Implementing EU Cobalt Rules in Toy Safety Ordinance

In May 2026 Bulgaria adopted Decree No. 60/2026 to amend its toy safety ordinance and implement new EU cobalt requirements in toys. This tightens control of cobalt-classified CMR uses in children’s toys, requiring manufacturers and importers to review stainless steel parts, electrical components and neodymium magnets for compliance ahead of an August 2026 application date.

20 May 2026, 08:29dv.parliament.bgBulgaria

Cefic Amines Sector Group Challenges ECHA Response On Diethanolamine (DEA) CLP Classification

In April 2026 Cefic’s Amines Sector Group formally challenged ECHA’s response to the RAC opinion classifying diethanolamine (DEA) as Carc. 2 and Repr. 1B under the CLP Regulation, arguing that rodent-based choline depletion mechanisms are not relevant to humans. This challenge does not itself change obligations but could still influence the final harmonised classification and resulting labelling and risk management duties for DEA-containing products, so companies using DEA should monitor the 25th ATP outcome and plan for both stricter and more lenient classifications.

20 May 2026, 06:53circabc.europa.euEuropean Union

EUROTALC‑Funded Bayesian Bias Analysis Reassesses Talc–Ovarian Cancer Evidence

A EUROTALC-funded study in a medical research journal uses Bayesian quantitative bias analysis to show that reported links between genital talc use and ovarian cancer weaken to include no effect once recall bias is modelled. While it does not change existing IARC or ECHA classifications, this work provides a high-profile industry-backed challenge that regulators and litigants may cite in future reviews of talc cancer risk.

20 May 2026, 06:53link.springer.comGlobalEuropean Union

EUROTALC Requests RAC Reassessment of Talc Classification Under REACH

In April 2026, EUROTALC submitted a detailed letter to CARACAL urging the ECHA Risk Assessment Committee to reassess its proposed harmonised classification of talc, based on a newly published quantitative bias analysis showing recall bias likely explains observed associations between genital talc use and ovarian cancer. If regulators accept this analysis and reopen the weight-of-evidence review under Article 77(3)(c) REACH, the final EU classification outcome for talc—and therefore labelling, use conditions and potential restrictions across cosmetics and other applications—could change materially, so companies relying on talc should closely monitor the process.

20 May 2026, 06:53link.springer.comEuropean Union

Austria Supports RAC Opinion on Diethanolamine Classification Under 25th CLP ATP

Austria’s competent authority has formally backed the ECHA Committee for Risk Assessment proposal to classify diethanolamine (2,2'-iminodiethanol) as a carcinogen category 2 and reproductive toxicant category 1B, alongside existing acute and repeated-dose toxicity classifications, under the planned 25th adaptation to technical progress of the EU CLP Regulation. This non-binding but authoritative support makes it more likely that a stringent CMR classification for DEA will be retained in the final CLP ATP, so EU manufacturers and downstream users should prepare for tighter labelling, risk management and potential knock-on regulatory impacts once the amendment is adopted and in force.

20 May 2026, 06:52echa.europa.euEuropean UnionAustria

UK OPSS Recalls Multiple Savers Fragrances Containing Prohibited Cosmetic Allergens

In May 2026, the UK Office for Product Safety and Standards published a recall notice for 15 branded fragrances sold by Savers Health and Beauty after they were found to contain banned fragrance allergens presenting a serious chemical risk. Retailers and brand owners should check for overlap with the recalled SKUs, remove any affected stock, and strengthen controls on cosmetic ingredient compliance under the Cosmetics Regulation to avoid similar enforcement action.

20 May 2026, 06:22gov.ukUnited Kingdom

ECHA Launches CLH Public Consultations on OptiCHOS and Gibberellins GA4/7

ECHA has launched EU public consultations from 18 May to 17 July 2026 on harmonised CLP classifications for the plant protection active substances OptiCHOS and gibberellins GA4/7. If adopted, these broad hazard classifications would feed into CLP Annex VI and significantly influence labelling, risk assessments and substitution pressure for products using these actives in EU markets.

20 May 2026, 06:19echa.europa.euEuropean Union

EU/ECHA Starts CLH Consultation On Harmonised Classification Of Simple Cobalt Compounds

ECHA has opened an EU CLP public consultation from 11 May 2026 on a harmonised classification proposal for cobalt dihydroxide, cobalt(2+) propionate and cobalt(II) 4-oxopent-2-en-2-olate as part of a wider group of simple cobalt compounds. If adopted, the classification would place these cobalt compounds under stringent CMR and aquatic hazard labelling, driving tighter REACH risk management, possible restrictions and strengthened workplace controls across coatings, polymers, batteries and other cobalt-using applications.

18 May 2026, 17:44echa.europa.euEuropean Union

EU CLP – Swedish Chemicals Agency Supports RAC Opinions on Draft ATP 25 and Additivity Notes for Cyclamal and Bourgeonal Groups

Sweden’s Chemicals Agency has formally backed ECHA’s RAC opinions and the proposed harmonised classifications in the draft 25th Adaptation to Technical Progress to the EU CLP Regulation, including additive treatment of certain cyclamal and bourgeonal fragrance groups for reproductive toxicity. If these CLP changes are adopted, mixtures containing multiple substances from these groups may more often require classification and labelling as reproductive toxicants, tightening risk management obligations for EU chemical and product suppliers.

15 May 2026, 17:46circabc.europa.euEuropean UnionSweden

Industry Response to RAC Opinion on Harmonised Classification of 1,3‑Diphenylguanidine (CAS 102‑06‑7)

An industry association led by Draslovka has submitted a detailed position paper to EU CARACAL challenging ECHA’s RAC opinion that 1,3-diphenylguanidine should be classified as a Category 1B reproductive toxicant and skin sensitiser, arguing instead for a less severe Repr. 2 classification and no sensitisation hazard. If regulators accept some or all of these arguments, the final CLP harmonised classification for this accelerator could be softened, easing future labelling, risk-management and substitution pressures for manufacturers and downstream users while signalling how much weight regulators give to industry weight-of-evidence challenges.

15 May 2026, 17:46circabc.europa.euEuropean Union

ATC/EPPA Challenges CLP 25th ATP Classification of C4:C8 and C9 Substituted Diphenylamine Antioxidants

In early 2026, ATC/EPPA submitted new reproductive and aquatic toxicity analyses arguing that ECHA/RAC’s proposed CLP 25th ATP classifications for C4:C8 and C9 substituted diphenylamine antioxidants overstate both reproductive and aquatic hazards. If regulators accept these arguments and downgrade the classifications (for example from Repr. 1B to Category 2 and from Aquatic Chronic 1 to weaker or no aquatic hazard), SDPA-containing lubricants and related products would face significantly reduced labelling, SVHC and downstream risk-management pressure in the EU.

15 May 2026, 17:46circabc.europa.euEuropean Union