Nickel

ECHA Releases REF‑12 Enforcement Workshop Summary on Imported Substances, Mixtures and Articles

ECHA has published the workshop summary and materials from the REF‑12 enforcement project, revealing persistent non-compliance in REACH registration and restriction duties for imported mixtures and jewellery across the EU. The findings signal heightened enforcement focus on imports, e-commerce and jewellery, pushing importers, retailers and platforms to tighten REACH controls, improve customs data quality and ensure clear EU-based accountability for compliance.

21 Apr 2026, 11:00echa.europa.euEuropean Union

Bulgaria Amends Worker Protection Ordinances to Implement New Lead and Diisocyanate Limit Values

In April 2026 Bulgaria amended its worker protection ordinances to implement much lower occupational and biological limit values for lead and diisocyanates, and to introduce a new biological reference value for nickel, in line with Directive (EU) 2024/869. Employers with workplaces in Bulgaria using lead, nickel or diisocyanates must reassess exposure controls and health surveillance programmes ahead of the 9 April 2026 entry into force and the stricter 1 January 2029 thresholds to avoid non-compliance and worker health risks.

14 Apr 2026, 18:15dv.parliament.bgBulgaria

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

The EU Parliament is advancing stricter rules for permanent magnets that would expand mandatory labeling to all containing products and clarify recycled-content reporting starting in 2027. Businesses should prioritize supply chain transparency and material efficiency to prepare for mandatory recycled-content targets and enhanced risk-assessment obligations for strategic minerals.

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

Germany Updates Assessment Basis for Metallic Materials in Contact With Drinking Water (7th Amendment)

Germany has implemented the seventh amendment to its assessment basis for metallic materials in contact with drinking water, effective March 12, 2026. Manufacturers must immediately validate alloy compositions against revised limits for lead, nickel, and other metals to maintain compliance for plumbing and water-supply components.

20 Mar 2026, 13:36umweltbundesamt.deGermany

Xunta de Galicia Orders One-Week Plan After Confirming Heavy Metals in Beade (Vigo) Drinking Water

Galician authorities have issued an urgent enforcement order following confirmed heavy metal contamination in municipal drinking water infrastructure. This action signals heightened regulatory scrutiny on the chemical safety of water-contact materials and increases liability risks for infrastructure operators and material suppliers.

9 Mar 2026, 18:10xunta.galSpain

EU Subsidiarity Opinion on Proposal to Amend Critical Raw Materials Act

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

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

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

A European Parliament petition calls for the reopening of Greece’s LARCO plant to secure domestic supplies of nickel and cobalt. This highlights the strategic tension between EU state aid enforcement and the urgent need to maintain internal industrial capacity for critical raw materials.

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

Slovenia ARSO Publishes 2025 Soil Monitoring Results for Five Koroška Municipalities

Slovenia has released 2025 soil monitoring data for the Koroška region, confirming widespread heavy metal contamination exceeding regulatory safety thresholds. This triggers mandatory remediation for public sites and signals heightened scrutiny for construction material sourcing and land management in contaminated zones.

24 Feb 2026, 19:21gov.siSlovenia

China Implements Chemical Industry Standard HG/T 6378‑2025 On Determining Phosphite and Total Phosphorus in Electroless Nickel Plating Waste Liquor

China has introduced industry standard HG/T 6378-2025, establishing standardized analytical methods for measuring phosphorus content in electroless nickel plating waste liquor effective February 2026. Industrial facilities must update waste monitoring and discharge testing protocols to ensure technical alignment with these new requirements for environmental compliance and reporting.

17 Feb 2026, 13:38hbba.sacinfo.org.cnChina

China Industry Standards Platform Lists New Chemical and Green Transport Standards

China formalized new industry standards in February 2026 covering chemical waste analysis, tyre manufacturing GHG accounting, and green transport infrastructure. These updates increase technical requirements for environmental monitoring and sustainability reporting, necessitating alignment of waste management and carbon accounting with new national benchmarks.

13 Feb 2026, 14:44hbba.sacinfo.org.cnChina

Netherlands District Court Seeks Expert Review in Essure Product Liability Mass-Claim Case (ECLI:NL:RBMNE:2026:356)

A Dutch court has ordered an expert review and extensive document disclosure in a major product liability mass-claim regarding the Essure medical device. This development underscores the increasing litigation risk for manufacturers and reinforces strict judicial expectations for ongoing safety monitoring and transparent risk disclosure.

13 Feb 2026, 12:01deeplink.rechtspraak.nlNetherlands

EU Corrigendum to Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/1987 on Maximum Nickel Levels in Certain Foodstuffs

The European Union published a corrigendum in February 2026 correcting maximum nickel thresholds for various food categories under the Contaminants Regulation. Impacted businesses should immediately update testing and quality control protocols to align with these corrected limits and ensure continued market compliance.

7 Feb 2026, 08:37eur-lex.europa.euEuropean Union

EU Commission Adopts Implementing Regulation Renewing Fumaric Acid Feed Additive Authorisation

The European Union has renewed the authorization of fumaric acid as a feed additive for all terrestrial species until 2036, effective February 16, 2026. Companies must ensure product formulations and labeling comply with updated conditions while maintaining strict occupational safety controls for this sensitizing substance.

29 Jan 2026, 08:47eur-lex.europa.euEuropean Union

EU Commission Renews Authorisation of Clinoptilolite of Sedimentary Origin as a Feed Additive for All Animal Species

The European Commission has renewed the authorization of clinoptilolite of sedimentary origin as a feed additive for all animal species, maintaining existing usage limits. Businesses must ensure formulations adhere to the 10,000 mg/kg maximum level while updating occupational safety protocols to mitigate risks from its classification as a skin and respiratory sensitizer.

29 Jan 2026, 08:31ec.europa.euEuropean Union

EU Authorises Sepiolitic Clay Feed Additive And Raises Maximum Levels For Salmonids And Chickens

The EU has expanded the authorization of sepiolitic clay to all animal species and increased maximum inclusion limits to 20,000 mg/kg, effective February 2026. Operators must update product formulations and labels by mid-2026 while implementing mandatory occupational safety controls to address risks from crystalline silica and nickel impurities.

27 Jan 2026, 12:18eur-lex.europa.euEuropean Union

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

Denmark has confirmed the technical and economic viability of recovering critical metals from electroplating waste and concentrated industrial wastewater. This shift toward waste-to-resource models offers manufacturers a pathway to reduce hazardous waste liabilities while securing secondary raw materials for supply chain resilience.

22 Jan 2026, 14:48mst.dkDenmark

Great Britain Issues Product Safety Report On Nickel Non-Compliant Lost Souls 'S' Initial Necklace

UK authorities have enforced the destruction of consumer jewelry found to exceed nickel release limits under UK REACH. This enforcement action signals intensified market surveillance on skin-contact articles and reinforces the need for rigorous supply chain testing to ensure compliance.

13 Jan 2026, 12:13gov.ukUnited Kingdom

GB OPSS Rejects Import Of Shop TJC Diamond Silver Bracelet Over Excess Nickel, Cadmium And Lead

UK authorities blocked a jewellery import in early 2026 after testing confirmed hazardous levels of restricted heavy metals exceeding UK REACH limits. This enforcement action signals heightened border scrutiny for consumer goods, requiring manufacturers to ensure rigorous chemical compliance and supply chain transparency to avoid market exclusion.

13 Jan 2026, 11:22gov.ukUnited Kingdom

EFSA Publishes Scientific Opinion on Safety and Efficacy of Perlite as Feed Additive

EFSA has validated the safety of perlite as a feed additive for specific poultry and pig categories while highlighting data gaps for other species. Manufacturers should review inclusion levels and strengthen workplace safety protocols to manage risks from nickel sensitization and respirable silica.

17 Dec 2025, 14:20efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.comEuropean Union

EU Authorises Copper(II)-Betaine Complex as Feed Additive

The European Union has authorised copper(II)-betaine complex as a nutritional feed additive for all animal species effective January 2026. Operators must implement strict purity controls for nickel and adhere to species-specific copper limits to ensure product compliance and user safety.

12 Dec 2025, 12:27eur-lex.europa.euEuropean Union