Cobalt and its Compounds

Netherlands Court Upholds Penalty Order for Unpermitted Discharge of Metals to Surface Water (ECLI:NL:RBNHO:2026:2478)

A Dutch District Court has upheld a €20,000 penalty order against a waste recycler for discharging metals not explicitly authorized in its water permit, reinforcing strict compliance with the Water Act. This ruling confirms that operators must proactively identify and permit every individual substance in their effluent; relying on broad permit categories or claiming technical difficulty in characterization will not prevent enforcement.

26 Mar 2026, 19:26uitspraken.rechtspraak.nlNetherlands

Ateios Systems and Kodak Expand RaiCore™ Platform to Major Battery Chemistries and Earn PFAS-Free Verification

Ateios Systems and Kodak expanded their RaiCore™ battery electrode platform to major chemistries in March 2026, securing independent verification of PFAS-free status. This provides a viable technical route for battery manufacturers to de-risk supply chains and ensure compliance with tightening global PFAS restrictions and reporting thresholds.

26 Mar 2026, 12:25markets.ft.comUnited States

EU Parliament's Committee on Industry, Research and Energy Proposes Amendments to Critical Raw Materials Act

The EU Parliament’s ITRE Committee has proposed tightening Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) rules, expanding mandatory labeling to all products containing permanent magnets and refining recycled-content definitions. Manufacturers must prepare for stricter disclosure of magnet composition by 2027 and mandatory minimum recycled-content targets by 2031, necessitating deeper supply chain traceability for rare earth elements.

24 Mar 2026, 13:04europarl.europa.euEuropean Union

European Commission Issues Guidance On Evaluating Feed Homogeneity And Cross-Contamination

The European Commission has issued detailed guidance (March 2026) for national authorities on evaluating feed homogeneity and cross-contamination controls under EU feed hygiene and medicated feed regulations. Feed business operators should align internal testing protocols and documentation with the Commission's new statistical benchmarks and frequency recommendations to ensure compliance during future regulatory audits and official controls.

21 Mar 2026, 18:36ec.europa.euEuropean Union

Japan Adopts Ministerial Ordinance on Collection and Recycling of Used Mobile Batteries

Japan has finalized mandatory criteria for the collection and recycling of mobile lithium batteries, effective April 1, 2026. Producers and importers must implement free take-back schemes, achieve a 30% material recovery target, and comply with new labeling and annual reporting mandates.

19 Mar 2026, 19:33kanpo.go.jpJapan

EU Subsidiarity Opinion on Proposal to Amend Critical Raw Materials Act

The European Commission has proposed strengthening the Critical Raw Materials Act, introducing stricter supply chain mapping and recycled-content disclosure obligations for permanent magnets starting as early as May 2027. Large companies in strategic sectors must prepare for centralized EU oversight of supply chain vulnerabilities and mandatory reporting on material recovery to mitigate geopolitical and resource risks.

9 Mar 2026, 16:59eur-lex.europa.euEuropean Union

Germany UBA and DERA Publish Fact Sheet on Metal Recycling Data Requirements for a Circular Economy

Germany’s environmental and raw materials agencies have released a strategic assessment of data gaps in metal recycling and circularity metrics (February 2026). While non-binding, this signals a shift toward more rigorous, data-driven reporting requirements for metal value chains to support resource efficiency and supply chain resilience.

5 Mar 2026, 09:12umweltbundesamt.deGermany

EU Parliament EMPL Draft Amendments To Directive 2004/37/EC On OELs For Cobalt, PAHs, Isoprene And 1,4-Dioxane

The EU Parliament’s EMPL Committee has advanced amendments to the 6th CMRD revision, proposing new binding occupational exposure limits for cobalt, PAHs, isoprene, and 1,4-dioxane. Impacted industries must prepare for stricter workplace monitoring and technical controls, with specific focus on transitional periods for high-exposure sectors and new inclusions for hazardous medicinal products.

1 Mar 2026, 11:39europarl.europa.euEuropean Union

EU EFSA FEEDAP Panel Issues Opinion on Renewal of Coated Granulated Cobalt(II) Carbonate Feed Additive

EFSA has published a scientific opinion on the renewal of cobalt(II) carbonate as a feed additive, noting data gaps regarding the safety of its coating agents for consumers and the environment. While efficacy is confirmed, the identified safety uncertainties and user-sensitization risks may lead to stricter handling requirements or delayed authorization renewals for specific formulations.

28 Feb 2026, 13:34efsa.europa.euEuropean Union

EU Parliament Petition 2171/2025 on LARCO Restructuring and Critical Raw Materials

A new EU Parliament petition calls for the reopening of Greece’s LARCO plant to secure domestic supplies of nickel and cobalt, classified as Critical Raw Materials. This highlights the growing tension between EU state aid enforcement and the strategic necessity of maintaining internal industrial capacity for the green transition.

26 Feb 2026, 09:23europarl.europa.euEuropean UnionGreece

European Parliament EMPL Rapporteur Presents Draft Sixth Revision of the Carcinogens and Mutagens Directive

The European Parliament's EMPL Committee has advanced the sixth revision of the CMRD, supporting new occupational exposure limits for cobalt, PAHs, 1,4-dioxane, and welding fumes. Industrial operators must prepare for stricter workplace exposure controls and potential operational shifts as the EU continues to expand the scope of regulated occupational carcinogens.

26 Feb 2026, 09:22europarl.europa.euEuropean Union

Netherlands (Zuid-Holland) Proposes Cobalt Limit In Lanxess Wastewater Permit

Dutch authorities have proposed a new 0.05 mg/L cobalt discharge limit for industrial wastewater at the Lanxess Rotterdam facility, with a consultation period ending March 2026. This move signals tightening regional enforcement of heavy metal discharge standards, requiring chemical manufacturers to reassess effluent treatment capabilities and compliance monitoring for CMR substances.

18 Feb 2026, 19:57zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nlNetherlands

China NHC Approves Six New Food-Contact Additives and Resins (Announcement 2026 No. 1)

China’s National Health Commission has expanded its positive list for food-contact materials, approving six new additives and resins effective February 2026. This update provides manufacturers with new formulation options for plastics and coatings, provided they adhere to specific concentration and migration limits under GB standards.

17 Feb 2026, 13:31zwfw.nhc.gov.cnChina

Taiwan Requires 2026 SDS Reporting for 20 Priority-Managed Chemicals

Taiwan's OSHA has mandated supplementary SDS reporting for 20 priority-managed chemicals and their mixtures by March 31, 2026. Impacted companies must ensure PRoChem platform data is updated to support regulatory exposure assessments and mitigate risks associated with high-priority hazardous substances.

6 Feb 2026, 08:49prochem.osha.gov.twTaiwan

Brazilian Chamber Mines and Energy Committee Approves Rules for Seabed Mineral Exploration

Brazil's Mines and Energy Committee has approved a regulatory framework for seabed mineral exploration, targeting critical materials like cobalt and rare earths. This development signals a strategic push to secure domestic supplies for the energy transition while introducing stringent environmental licensing and continuous monitoring requirements for offshore operations.

30 Jan 2026, 13:29camara.leg.brBrazil

EU Commission Adopts Directive (EU) 2026/192 Amending Toy Safety Directive Appendix A for Cobalt

The EU has published Directive (EU) 2026/192, establishing specific permitted uses for cobalt in toys with national application starting August 29, 2026. Companies must ensure cobalt use is restricted to exempted categories like stainless steel and magnets, as non-exempt applications face a total market prohibition.

29 Jan 2026, 20:23eur-lex.europa.euEuropean Union

Denmark Publishes MUDP Report on Recovery of Metals From Discarded Electroplating Baths and Concentrated Wastewater

Denmark's EPA has validated the technical and economic feasibility of recovering nickel, copper, and molybdenum from electroplating waste streams. This signals a shift toward waste-to-resource models that can reduce hazardous waste liabilities while securing secondary raw materials for industrial supply chains.

22 Jan 2026, 14:48mst.dkDenmark

DRC Minister Of Mines Suspends Small Cobalt And Copper Processing Entities For Compliance Review

The DRC has suspended small-scale copper and cobalt processing nationwide to enforce stricter traceability and compliance standards. Downstream manufacturers should prepare for immediate supply disruptions and intensified due diligence requirements for artisanal-sourced materials.

8 Jan 2026, 11:05fr.mongabay.comCongo - Kinshasa

Missouri House Bill 2737 Proposes Stricter Mining Standards And Silica Sand And Cobalt Impact Assessments

Missouri has introduced legislation (HB 2737) to significantly tighten environmental and public health standards for mining operations, specifically targeting silica sand and cobalt projects. If enacted, operators will face more rigorous permitting, mandatory environmental impact assessments, and increased local oversight, requiring enhanced compliance planning for critical mineral extraction in the state.

7 Jan 2026, 19:48documents.house.mo.govUnited States

EU Draft Report on Amending CMRD for Cobalt, 1,4-Dioxane, Isoprene and Welding Fumes

The European Parliament's EMPL Committee has advanced a draft report to introduce new binding occupational exposure limits (OELs) for Cobalt, 1,4-Dioxane, Isoprene, and welding fumes. Industrial operators should prepare for enhanced workplace monitoring and stricter exposure controls as the EU moves toward final adoption of these health-based limits.

18 Dec 2025, 09:51europarl.europa.euEuropean Union