Sensitisation

EU ECHA Updates CLH Dossier For N-ethyl-N-[2-[1-(2-methylpropoxy)ethoxy]ethyl]-4-(phenylazo)aniline (CAS 34432-92-3) With Consultation Comments

In May 2026 ECHA added the compiled consultation comments (RCOM) document for the ongoing CLH proposal to classify N-ethyl-N-[2-[1-(2-methylpropoxy)ethoxy]ethyl]-4-(phenylazo)aniline (CAS 34432-92-3) as a severe human-health hazard under CLP. This confirms strong member state support for harmonised Acute Tox. 4, Skin Sens. 1B, Repr. 1B and STOT RE 2 classifications, signalling likely future tightening of labelling and risk-management duties for fuel markers and related uses once a RAC opinion and legal act are adopted.

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

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

EU: Netherlands Supports Classifying Methyl Methacrylate as Respiratory Sensitiser in CLP 25th ATP

The Netherlands has submitted comments on the EU’s proposed 25th Adaptation to Technical Progress to the CLP Regulation, supporting classification of methyl methacrylate as a respiratory sensitiser on the basis of multiple human case reports and weight-of-evidence considerations. If this view is carried through into the final ATP, EU users of methyl methacrylate may face tighter CLP classification, labelling, and workplace risk-management obligations and should monitor the file closely.

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

ECHA Further Assessment Finds No Immediate REACH Restriction Needed for Benzene-1,2,4-tricarboxylic Acid 1,2-anhydride Uses

In May 2026 ECHA completed a further assessment of regulatory needs for a group of phthalic anhydrides, including benzene-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid 1,2-anhydride, and concluded that a REACH restriction on professional, consumer and article uses is not currently warranted. This reduces near-term risk of new REACH restrictions on these uses while signalling that regulatory attention will focus instead on harmonised classification and existing controls, allowing companies to prioritise monitoring over immediate reformulation or phase-out.

15 May 2026, 15:06echa.europa.euEuropean Union

ECHA Concludes No REACH Restriction Needed for PMDA Professional and Consumer Uses

In May 2026 ECHA published a further assessment of regulatory needs for a group of phthalic anhydrides, including benzene‑1,2:4,5‑tetracarboxylic dianhydride (PMDA), and updated its ARN entry without proposing a REACH restriction on professional or consumer uses or articles. This shifts near term regulatory risk for PMDA away from broad REACH restrictions toward harmonised CLP classification actions, so companies should focus on classification, labelling and worker protection while monitoring for any future restriction proposals.

15 May 2026, 15:06echa.europa.euEuropean Union

EU ECHA Further Assesses Regulatory Needs for Benzophenone-3,3':4,4'-tetracarboxylic Dianhydride and Does Not Propose Immediate REACH Restriction

ECHA has completed a further assessment of regulatory needs for benzophenone-3,3':4,4'-tetracarboxylic dianhydride and related phthalic anhydrides and, as of May 2026, does not consider a REACH restriction on professional, consumer, or article uses necessary. This lowers near-term restriction risk for BTDA uses in high-performance resins while keeping the substance under close scrutiny via harmonised classification work and potential future reassessment if new information emerges.

15 May 2026, 15:06echa.europa.euEuropean Union

ECHA Further Assessment Finds No REACH Restriction Needed for Phthalic Anhydrides

In May 2026 ECHA published a further assessment of regulatory needs for phthalic anhydrides, concluding that a REACH restriction targeting professional, consumer and article uses is not currently necessary. This reduces the short-term risk of broad EU use restrictions on these substances, but expanded harmonised classifications remain likely so companies should focus on exposure control, labelling and monitoring classification outcomes.

15 May 2026, 15:06echa.europa.euEuropean Union

ECHA Further Assessment Finds No Need for REACH Restriction on 1,2,3,6‑Tetrahydrophthalic Anhydride

In May 2026, ECHA published a further assessment of phthalic and hydrogenated phthalic anhydrides and updated its Assessment of Regulatory Needs entry for 1,2,3,6‑tetrahydrophthalic anhydride, concluding there is currently no need to initiate a REACH restriction on professional uses, consumer uses or the presence of this substance in articles. For compliance teams this signals that earlier expectations of a REACH restriction on tetrahydrophthalic anhydride have been de‑prioritised for now, while harmonised classification as a respiratory and skin sensitiser remains the main regulatory lever, so monitoring CLH developments and managing sensitisation risks at workplaces stay important.

15 May 2026, 15:06echa.europa.euEuropean Union

ECHA Concludes No Immediate REACH Restriction Needed for Chlorendic Anhydride

In May 2026 the European Chemicals Agency concluded, based on new evidence, that a REACH restriction on professional and consumer uses or presence in articles of chlorendic anhydride is not currently warranted, as exposure from cured resins and articles appears limited. This shifts near-term regulatory focus away from restriction towards harmonised classification and labelling, so companies should prioritise tracking CLH dossiers, updating classifications, and maintaining robust worker and consumer exposure controls for existing uses.

15 May 2026, 15:06echa.europa.euEuropean Union

EU ECHA Assessment Finds No Need for REACH Restriction on Cyclohexane-1,2-Dicarboxylic Anhydride

In May 2026 ECHA completed a further regulatory-needs assessment for cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylic anhydride within a wider group of phthalic anhydrides and concluded that a REACH restriction on professional, consumer and article uses is not currently necessary. This eases near-term restriction risk for this group but keeps pressure on companies to manage sensitisation hazards through harmonised classification, Candidate List status and robust worker and consumer protection, while monitoring any future changes in regulatory priorities.

15 May 2026, 15:06echa.europa.euEuropean Union

ECHA Further Assessment Finds No REACH Restriction Needed For Phthalic Anhydrides Group Including Hexahydromethylphthalic Anhydride

In May 2026, ECHA issued a further assessment concluding that no REACH restriction is currently needed for the group of phthalic anhydrides and hydrogenated phthalic anhydrides, including hexahydromethylphthalic anhydride. This reduces near-term restriction risk for users of these respiratory-sensitising intermediates, while reinforcing that harmonised classifications and existing worker protection measures remain the primary tools for managing exposure.

15 May 2026, 15:05echa.europa.euEuropean Union

ECHA Concludes No REACH Restriction Currently Needed for Tetrachlorophthalic Anhydride Uses

In May 2026, ECHA published a further assessment of regulatory needs for a group of phthalic anhydrides, concluding that no REACH restriction is currently needed for tetrachlorophthalic anhydride’s professional, consumer, or article uses. This reduces near-term risk of a broad restriction on these applications but keeps regulatory focus on harmonised classification and worker protection, so companies should continue monitoring CLH outcomes and managing sensitisation risks in their value chains.

15 May 2026, 15:05echa.europa.euEuropean Union

ECHA Concludes No REACH Restriction Needed for Tetrahydro-4-Methylphthalic Anhydride

In May 2026 ECHA issued a follow-up assessment for the phthalic anhydrides group, concluding that no REACH restriction is currently needed for tetrahydro-4-methylphthalic anhydride or the other group members. This reduces near-term risk of a group REACH restriction on these anhydrides, but harmonised classification proposals are still progressing, so users of these resins and coatings should monitor CLH outcomes and maintain robust exposure controls.

15 May 2026, 15:05echa.europa.euEuropean Union

ICCS Makes Skin Sensitisation NAMs Best Practice Guidance and Webinar Recording Available

International industry consortium ICCS has made a best practice guide and recorded webinar on non-animal skin sensitisation assessment for cosmetic ingredients publicly available, with UK trade association CTPA signposting companies to these resources. While not legally binding, this guidance is emerging as a de facto standard for NAM-based skin sensitisation workflows, so R&D and product safety teams may wish to align their safety assessment practices with it ahead of wider regulatory adoption.

11 May 2026, 11:45iccs-cosmetics.orgGlobal

Netherlands RIVM Publishes Report on (Meth)acrylates in Nail Products

In May 2026 the Dutch RIVM published an inventory showing that (meth)acrylate ingredients in gel and acrylic nail products continue to drive significant allergy risks despite existing restrictions on HEMA and di-HEMA TMHDC. The report is being used to inform EU Cosmetics Regulation discussions and signals likely pressure for clearer labelling and tighter controls on methacrylate use in nail and other cosmetic products, affecting formulations, professional-only segmentation, and compliance strategies.

10 May 2026, 19:07rivm.nlNetherlands

New Hampshire Senate Tables HB 1544 Scented Products Ban in State Buildings

In May 2026 the New Hampshire Senate tabled HB 1544, a bill that would require fragrance-free cleaning and personal-care products and ban fragrance-dispensing devices in public areas of state-owned or operated buildings. This pause in the bill’s progress removes any immediate compliance obligations but signals rising occupational health and indoor air-quality scrutiny of fragranced products used in government facilities and potentially by contracted service providers.

9 May 2026, 14:09gc.nh.govUnited States

European Commission Requests SCCS Opinion on Hydroxycitronellal in Cosmetic Products

The European Commission has mandated the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety to assess QRA2-derived safe use levels for the fragrance ingredient Hydroxycitronellal in cosmetic products, on the basis of an updated exposure and sensitisation dossier and with a 12‑month deadline. This review will determine whether current EU Cosmetics Regulation conditions for this fragrance allergen remain sufficiently protective and will give manufacturers an early signal on whether adjustments to permitted concentrations or labelling might be needed in future.

7 May 2026, 07:45health.ec.europa.euEuropean Union

ECHA RAC Adopts Harmonised CLP Classification Opinion for Bis(pentane-2,4-dionato)calcium

ECHA’s CLH registry shows that its Risk Assessment Committee has adopted a harmonised classification opinion for bis(pentane-2,4-dionato)calcium under the EU CLP Regulation, covering acute oral toxicity, serious eye damage and strong skin sensitisation hazards. Although this classification is not yet implemented in Annex VI, companies using this substance in the EU should expect a future ATP and begin aligning internal classification, labelling and worker-protection measures to reflect the forthcoming harmonised hazards.

3 May 2026, 14:43echa.europa.euEuropean Union

ECHA RAC Adopts CLH Opinion for Cinnamaldehyde (CAS 104-55-2)

In April 2026, the European Chemicals Agency’s Risk Assessment Committee adopted a harmonised classification opinion for cinnamaldehyde, backing broader CLP hazard classes including skin irritation, eye irritation, strong skin sensitisation at a 0.01% specific concentration limit, and acute and chronic aquatic toxicity. This opinion, ahead of a formal CLP Annex VI amendment, signals likely tighter EU classification, labelling and safety data sheet duties for mixtures and products containing cinnamaldehyde, so formulators and downstream users should anticipate reclassification and related risk-management updates.

3 May 2026, 09:18echa.europa.euEuropean UnionNetherlands

EU RAC Adopts Opinion on CLP Harmonised Classification of Phenyl(methylethylketoxime)silane

In March 2026 ECHA’s Committee for Risk Assessment adopted its opinion on Germany’s proposal to strengthen the CLP harmonised classification of phenyl(methylethylketoxime)silane, including carcinogenicity and additional target organ toxicity. If the European Commission follows this in a future CLP Annex VI amendment, companies using the substance in the EU will face tighter labelling and risk-management duties and should plan for updated SDS and downstream use controls.

3 May 2026, 09:18echa.europa.euEuropean Union