Endocrine Disruptors

U.S. Study Highlights PFAS and Other Contaminants in Drinking Water, Calls for Continuous Regulatory Reform

Environmental Health News highlights a 13 May 2026 open‑access article in Environmental Science and Pollution Research, "Addressing contaminants of emerging concern in the United States public water systems," which evaluates how all 50 U.S. states address PFAS and other contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in public drinking water.[^2^] The study finds that only a small group of states have strong, multi‑contaminant frameworks, while most focus narrowly on a few regulated PFAS and leave many pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, microplastics and personal‑care product ingredients weakly regulated or unregulated, reinforcing calls for more intentional, continuous reform of U.S. drinking water and chemical policy, including class‑based CEC regulation and stronger support for small and disadvantaged systems.[^1^][^2^]

18 May 2026, 17:47ehn.orgUnited States

Austria (AT CA) Supports Inclusion of RP‑HP in CLP Annex VI (Transfer ATP)

Austria’s chemicals authority has formally backed including the SVHC reaction products RP‑HP in Annex VI of the CLP Regulation via the forthcoming Transfer ATP, arguing there is no legal basis to exclude it simply because its hazards are driven by the 4‑HPbl constituent. This strengthens the signal that ED/PBT/vPvB Candidate List substances like RP‑HP will move into harmonised CLP entries, foreshadowing future EU‑wide labelling and risk‑management obligations once the delegated act is adopted.

18 May 2026, 11:56circabc.europa.euEuropean UnionAustria

PARC Advances Integrative Risk Assessment and Provides Rapid Response Data to EFSA

In May 2026, the EU Partnership for the Assessment of Risks from Chemicals (PARC) announced new integrative mixture risk-assessment deliverables, expanded training for regulators, and Rapid Response data used by EFSA in its assessment of Alternaria toxins in food and feed. These scientific outputs do not create new legal obligations but signal a stronger evidence base and tools that could shape future EU chemical and food-safety policies, especially around mixture exposures, human biomonitoring and natural toxins.

15 May 2026, 17:45eu-parc.euEuropean Union

EU / ECHA Delays Expected CLH Dossier Submission for 4,4'-Isopropylidenedi-2,6-xylol to December 2026

ECHA has updated its harmonised classification and labelling (CLH) registry so that Denmark’s CLH dossier on 4,4'-isopropylidenedi-2,6-xylol, proposed as an endocrine disruptor for human health and the environment, is now expected to be submitted in December 2026 rather than mid-2026. This pushes back the likely timing of any EU-wide harmonised classification while confirming sustained regulatory scrutiny of the substance, giving companies more time to prepare for potential future labelling, risk management, and substitution decisions.

15 May 2026, 14:59echa.europa.euEuropean Union

EU Competent Authorities Note on Endocrine-Disrupting Impurities in Biocidal Active Substances

In a joint note under the EU Biocidal Products Regulation, Member States’ competent authorities clarify that impurities with endocrine-disrupting properties are treated as part of the biocidal active substance and can in themselves trigger identification of the active substance as an endocrine disruptor. This interpretation removes any generic concentration threshold for endocrine-disrupting impurities, making impurity profiles and representative ED testing critical for active substance approval, substitution status, risk assessment, and long-term portfolio planning for biocidal products.

15 May 2026, 12:59circabc.europa.euEuropean Union

ECHA RAC CLH Working Group Prepares RAC-77 A-List For Harmonised Classification Of Nine Substances

In April 2026 ECHA’s RAC CLH working group agreed preliminary harmonised classification recommendations for nine substances, including trifluoroacetic acid, its inorganic salts, di(morpholin-4-yl) disulphide, N,N'-hexane-1,6-diylbis[2,2-dimethyl-3-(morpholin-4-yl)propan-1-imine], propyl 4-hydroxybenzoate, l-carvone, spearmint oil, fenazaquin and resorcinol, to be taken forward to RAC-77 for adoption. If confirmed, these classifications would tighten labelling and risk management duties, introduce or confirm ED and PMT/vPvM concerns for key substances, and foreshadow CLP Annex VI updates that chemical manufacturers, agrochemical and fragrance suppliers, and downstream users need to anticipate in product portfolios, SDSs and supply-chain communication.

15 May 2026, 12:20echa.europa.euEuropean Union

France ANSES Issues Expert Assessments on Lithium Endocrine Disruption and Exposure Risks

In April 2026, France’s ANSES published two expert assessments confirming lithium’s endocrine-disrupting and aquatic toxicity hazards and setting new chronic reference exposure values for human health. These findings signal likely tightening of French and EU controls on lithium use, requiring battery, chemicals and other manufacturers to integrate the new endpoints and reference values into regulatory risk assessments and prepare for potential SVHC identification and stricter exposure-data expectations.

15 May 2026, 09:30anses.frFrance

Netherlands RIVM Publishes Report on Obesogenic Substances in Cosmetics and Detergents

RIVM’s report 2025-0111 defines obesogenic chemicals and applies a new GC–MS method to measure 18 potential obesogens (bisphenols, phthalates, parabens, octocrylene, BHT, TPP, 4-nonylphenol and styrene) in cosmetics, a lubricating medical device and detergents, detecting 16 substances in real products and occasionally finding traces of prohibited phthalates and 4-nonylphenol.[^2^](https://www.rivm.nl/bibliotheek/rapporten/2025-0111.pdf) By comparing obesity‑relevant effect levels with existing EU points of departure and mapping exposure across consumer products, food, dust and air, RIVM highlights seven priority obesogens — BPA, BPF, BPS, DEHP, MeP, TPP and 4NP — as candidates for further research that could inform future restrictions on cosmetic and detergent ingredients, especially where prenatal and early‑life exposures are concerned.[^2^](https://www.rivm.nl/bibliotheek/rapporten/2025-0111.pdf)

14 May 2026, 06:14rivm.nlNetherlands

Illinois HB3409: Senate Amendment Sets 2028 Start Date for Cosmetic Chemicals and PFAS Ban

Illinois is advancing HB3409 (Chemicals in Cosmetic Products Act), which would ban a defined list of hazardous chemicals and PFAS in cosmetic products, with a new Senate floor amendment proposing an effective date of 1 July 2028. If adopted, companies selling cosmetics into Illinois will need to audit formulations against the banned list, substitute affected ingredients such as PFAS, phthalates, formaldehyde releasers and mercury, and align product and supply-chain planning with the 2028 start date.

14 May 2026, 06:07ilga.govUnited States

Great Britain Decides To Withdraw Approval Of Pesticide Active Substance Mepanipyrim

Great Britain has notified a WTO decision document that will withdraw approval of the pesticide active substance mepanipyrim under the UK Plant Protection Products Regulation, triggering withdrawal of authorisations for mepanipyrim-containing plant protection products in Great Britain. Authorisation holders and users of mepanipyrim-based products should prepare for loss of GB market approval, monitor forthcoming implementation dates and grace periods, and plan substitutions or reformulations where necessary.

13 May 2026, 19:15track.pstmrk.itUnited Kingdom

California DPR PREC Reviews Draft Linuron Risk Assessment and Air Monitoring Network Expansion

At its 20 March 2026 PREC meeting, California’s Department of Pesticide Regulation presented a draft human health risk assessment for the herbicide linuron and plans to expand its pesticide Air Monitoring Network, with public consultation running from March to May 2026. These steps signal heightened regulatory scrutiny of occupational and community pesticide exposures in California, suggesting linuron registrants and agricultural users may face future mitigation requirements and closer monitoring of applications in high-use areas.

12 May 2026, 14:27cdpr.ca.govUnited States

EU Council Presidency Sets Out Omnibus X Compromise on Pesticide MRLs and Biocidal Products

The EU Council Presidency has issued a steering note on the Omnibus X food and feed safety package setting out compromise amendments to tighten pesticide MRL rules for non-approved hazardous substances and to shift most biocidal active substance approvals to unlimited duration. If agreed, these changes would move EU import standards closer to a zero-tolerance approach for high-risk pesticides while reshaping biocides approval and renewal strategies, raising future compliance stakes for agri-food exporters, pesticide manufacturers, and biocides companies.

11 May 2026, 12:03data.consilium.europa.euEuropean Union

European Commission Conference On Animal-Free Chemical Safety Assessment Roadmap Implementation

In June 2026 the European Commission and EPAA will host a three-day conference in Brussels to advance implementation of the EU roadmap to phase out animal testing in chemical safety assessments. The event will influence how regulators and industry use safe-space dialogues, AI tools and EPAA collaboration to accelerate regulatory acceptance of non-animal methods over the next five years.

9 May 2026, 18:56single-market-economy.ec.europa.euEuropean Union

EU Commission Updates Chemicals Strategy Implementation: Governance Acts and Chemicals Data Platform

The European Commission has refreshed its Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability implementation page to highlight that three governance acts on one substance, one assessment and the common chemicals data platform are now in force, alongside workstreams on essential uses, PFAS, endocrine disruptors, mixtures and indicators. For companies this confirms that the EU chemicals governance and data infrastructure is largely in place, so compliance teams should focus on the underlying 2025 acts and ongoing revisions of REACH, CLP and related sectoral legislation rather than expecting new obligations from this update itself.

9 May 2026, 14:17environment.ec.europa.euEuropean Union

EU Corrigendum Corrects Annex II Entry Number for Triphenyl Phosphate Ban in Cosmetics

In May 2026 the European Commission published a corrigendum to Commission Regulation (EU) 2026/909, correcting the Annex II reference number for the new prohibition of Triphenyl Phosphate in cosmetic products under the EU Cosmetics Regulation. This administrative fix ensures Annex II entry 1767 is clearly associated with Triphenyl Phosphate, leaving the underlying ban and phase-out deadlines unchanged but reducing the risk of misapplication by regulatory, labelling and product development teams.

9 May 2026, 14:15eur-lex.europa.euEuropean Union

EU JRC EURL FCM Publishes Proficiency Test Report on Bisphenols for BPA Food-Contact Regulation Enforcement

In May 2026 the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre published an EURL FCM proficiency-test report on bisphenols, showing that EU reference and control laboratories can meet the analytical sensitivity required to enforce Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/3190 on bisphenol A in food-contact materials. This strengthens confidence that current BPA restrictions and possible future measures on other bisphenols will be enforceable in practice, signalling tighter scrutiny of bisphenol use in food-contact packaging and higher compliance expectations for supply-chain and laboratory operators across the EU.

9 May 2026, 07:05publications.jrc.ec.europa.euEuropean Union

ECHA To Host Online Workshop On New CLP Hazard Classes For Endocrine Disruptors, 16–17 June 2026

ECHA’s CLP guidance team is organising an online stakeholder workshop in mid-June 2026 to explain how the new CLP hazard classes for endocrine disruptors should be applied in practice and to gather industry views on assessment challenges. For companies placing chemicals on the EU market, attending offers early insight into classification expectations under the updated CLP framework, helping align internal processes before guidance is finalised and widely enforced.

8 May 2026, 09:02assets-eur.mkt.dynamics.comEuropean Union

ECHA Assessment of Regulatory Needs for 2,6-di-tert-butyl-p-cresol (BHT)

ECHA has issued a group Assessment of Regulatory Needs (ARN) for tert‑alkyl hindered phenols and created a dedicated ARN entry for 2,6‑di‑tert‑butyl‑p‑cresol (BHT), identifying it as part of a priority group with potential endocrine‑disrupting, reproductive and PBT/PMT concerns and widespread uses as an antioxidant in fuels, lubricants, plastics, coatings, adhesives and cosmetics. While no binding measure has yet been proposed, ECHA explicitly foresees harmonised classification followed by a REACH restriction if the hazards are confirmed, so companies using BHT at scale should monitor this file closely and consider substitution or risk‑reduction options in affected formulations and articles.

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

Philippines FDA Issues Circular 2026-0001 Implementing ASEAN Cosmetic Directive Ingredient Amendments

In May 2026, the Philippine FDA issued Circular No.2026-0001 to implement ASEAN Cosmetic Directive ingredient and labelling amendments from recent ACC meetings, introducing new bans and stricter limits for UV filters, preservatives and other CMR or endocrine-active substances. Cosmetics manufacturers, importers and brands selling into the Philippines now face staged reformulation and withdrawal deadlines through 2025–2028, making early portfolio impact reviews and supplier alignment critical to avoid non-compliant products remaining on the market.

7 May 2026, 20:10fda.gov.phPhilippines

Global Scientific Review Links Chemicals And Climate Change To Fertility Declines

An April 2026 Nature review concludes that PFAS, microplastics, pesticides and other endocrine-disrupting chemicals, together with climate change, are measurably reducing fertility and fecundity across humans and wildlife. This cross-species evidence is likely to strengthen demands for class-based regulation of hazardous chemicals, shape the design of a global plastics treaty, and raise expectations for tighter reproductive-health and biodiversity protections over the coming decade.

7 May 2026, 05:45nature.comGlobal