Standardisation

European Parliament Debates One Europe, One Market Roadmap and EU Inc 28th Regime

On 20 May 2026, the European Parliament held a high-profile debate where the European Commission outlined its “One Europe, One Market” roadmap, including plans for an EU-wide “EU Inc” company form, an Industrial Accelerator Act and other measures to complete the single market. This signals a coming wave of far-reaching proposals on corporate structures, product-market rules and enforcement, so legal and compliance teams should expect deeper EU-level harmonisation and start monitoring how these initiatives could reshape obligations and market access across sectors.

24 May 2026, 20:57europarl.europa.euEuropean Union

CIRPASS-2 Maps Global Digital Product Passport Standardisation Initiatives

An EU-funded CIRPASS-2 report consolidates global Digital Product Passport standardisation projects, including upcoming CEN/CENELEC JTC 24 DPP system standards and parallel work at ISO/IEC, UNECE, ETSI, IEEE, W3C and Chinese bodies, to support implementation of the EU DPP under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation. This landscape helps regulatory and product teams anticipate which international DPP frameworks and data models are likely to align with or diverge from the EU DPP, shaping future interoperability, supplier expectations, and system design choices.

24 May 2026, 20:56zenodo.orgEuropean UnionGlobal

Slovakia: Government Regulation 91/2026 Adds Emergency Procedures to EMC Regulation 127/2016

Slovakia has adopted Government Regulation 91/2026, amending its EMC Regulation 127/2016 to add emergency procedures for electrical apparatus designated as crisis-relevant goods under the EU internal market emergency framework, effective from 30 May 2026. This change lets manufacturers temporarily rely on EU emergency technical standards or common specifications to demonstrate EMC conformity during an internal market emergency, reshaping conformity planning and market-surveillance expectations for EMC equipment placed on the Slovak market.

23 May 2026, 19:12slov-lex.skSlovakia

Slovakia Adopts Government Regulation 94/2026 on Emergency Procedures for Low-Voltage Electrical Equipment

Slovakia has adopted Government Regulation 94/2026 to introduce emergency conformity assessment procedures for certain low-voltage electrical equipment, amending its existing low-voltage market rules in line with the new EU internal market emergency framework from late May 2026. Manufacturers and importers of crisis-relevant electrical products may need to adjust how they demonstrate conformity using EU common specifications during emergencies and prepare for intensified, coordinated market surveillance when an internal market emergency is declared.

23 May 2026, 19:11slov-lex.skSlovakia

US OSHA Seeks Comment on UL NRTL Scope Expansion and Addition of UL 2683 Test Standard

OSHA has published a Federal Register notice on UL LLC’s application to expand its NRTL recognition to cover three additional UL safety test standards and to add UL 2683 to the NRTL Program’s list of appropriate test standards, with a short public comment window. If confirmed, this will broaden the UL test standards OSHA recognises for demonstrating compliance of certain electrical machinery, water treatment appliances, and electric floor and ceiling heating systems, affecting which accredited routes manufacturers can use for OSHA product safety certification.

23 May 2026, 11:15public-inspection.federalregister.govUnited States

Ukraine Ministry of Economy Order No. 6035 (20 May 2026) Updates National Standards List Under Technical Regulation on Personal Protective Equipment

Ukraine’s Ministry of Economy has adopted Order No. 6035 (20 May 2026) updating the list of national standards used to apply the Technical Regulation on Personal Protective Equipment. PPE manufacturers, importers and conformity assessment bodies should verify that their products and certification reference the revised standards list, as it underpins market access and regulatory compliance in Ukraine.

23 May 2026, 09:09me.gov.uaUkraine

China MEM Consults on Mandatory Fireworks Safety Standards and Adopts Two Disaster Information Standards

In May 2026, China’s Ministry of Emergency Management launched consultation on two draft mandatory industry safety standards for fireworks retail operations and internal dangerous-goods transport, while also adopting two industry standards on natural disaster loss information to take effect from August 2026. These measures tighten expectations for high-risk fireworks activities and formalise how disaster-loss data are collected and coded, signalling stronger standardisation and data-driven oversight across China’s emergency management system.

23 May 2026, 08:49mem.gov.cnChina

EU Council Presidency Proposes ESPR Transitional Extension in Omnibus IV Digitalisation Discussions

The EU Council Presidency has issued a March 2026 working note on the Omnibus IV digitalisation and common specifications package, flagging a possible two-year extension of the ESPR transitional period and negotiated compromises on paper instructions, telephone contact options and the governance of common specifications across key product regulations. If agreed in trilogue, these changes would delay some digital product passport timelines and reshape how manufacturers provide safety and compliance information under EU product law, requiring forward planning by companies placing a wide range of goods on the EU market.

22 May 2026, 19:03data.consilium.europa.euEuropean Union

Netherlands Publishes New NEN Standards and Drafts on Environment, Packaging and Product Safety

On 21 May 2026 the Dutch Official Gazette published a comprehensive NEN notice listing new and draft NEN/EN/ISO standards across water, environment, packaging, machinery, electrical installations and healthcare, many with public comment deadlines from late May to early August 2026. Companies operating in the Netherlands that rely on standards to demonstrate regulatory conformity should review the list, identify relevant drafts and new texts (especially on drinking water, workplace exposure, plastic packaging recyclability and hazardous equipment), and decide whether to align designs or submit comments within the specified deadlines.

22 May 2026, 19:01zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nlNetherlands

UNECE Publishes Revision 1 of Mutual Resolution No. 3 on Vehicle Interior Air Quality

UNECE’s vehicle regulations forum has published Revision 1 of its global Mutual Resolution No. 3 on vehicle interior air quality under the 1958 and 1998 agreements, consolidating updated technical guidance and test procedures in document ECE/TRANS/WP.29/1143/REV.1. While non-binding, this revised standard will shape how regulators and OEMs approach interior materials, emissions testing and future VIAQ rules worldwide, so automotive compliance teams should track its content as a forward indicator of emerging requirements.

21 May 2026, 08:57docs.un.orgGlobal

UK OPSS Publishes Research On Evolution Of EU Construction Product Regulation And CPR 2024

In May 2026 the UK Office for Product Safety and Standards published an OPSS‑commissioned research report analysing how the EU construction products regime has evolved from the original Construction Products Directive through CPR 2011 to the newly adopted CPR 2024, and how these changes affect regulators, manufacturers and users. The findings highlight structural weaknesses in standards and enforcement, UK testing and knowledge‑network gaps, and far‑reaching CPR 2024 shifts on environmental performance, product requirements and digital product passports, providing an evidence base for adjusting construction‑product compliance and surveillance strategies over the coming years.

20 May 2026, 19:24assets.publishing.service.gov.ukEuropean UnionUnited Kingdom

Finland, Netherlands, Portugal And Sweden Issue Non-Paper On European Product Act

In May 2026 Finland, the Netherlands, Portugal and Sweden issued a joint non-paper setting out priorities for an EU-wide European Product Act and broader product-law reforms. If taken up by the Commission and co-legislators, these ideas could reshape product compliance, digital product passports, market surveillance and e-commerce obligations across the Single Market.

20 May 2026, 19:23zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nlEuropean UnionNetherlandsFinlandPortugalSweden

Egypt Notifies Draft Small Craft Hull Construction Standard (G/TBT/N/EGY/590)

In May 2026 Egypt notified the WTO of a draft national standard setting structural design and safety requirements for small sailing craft hulls and appendages. This could tighten market access conditions for small craft exported to Egypt, so designers and manufacturers may need to review ISO-aligned requirements and respond before the July 2026 comment deadline.

20 May 2026, 17:48eping.wto.orgEgypt

Uganda Notifies WTO of Draft African Standards for Paints and Lip Cosmetics (G/TBT/N/UGA/2365–2371)

Uganda has notified seven draft African standards for paints and lip cosmetics to the WTO, opening a 60-day comment period to 12 July 2026 ahead of their adoption as national product standards. These proposals would tighten and harmonise performance and safety specifications for architectural paints and lip products in Uganda, so manufacturers and importers will need to review formulations, heavy metal limits, labelling and testing against the new drafts in preparation for future compliance.

20 May 2026, 17:48eping.wto.orgUganda

OECD Opens First Commenting Round On Draft DRP For In Vitro Mammalian Cell Genotoxicity Methods (γH2AX, pH3)

The OECD has opened a public consultation from 15 May to 26 June 2026 on a draft Detailed Review Paper assessing in vitro mammalian cell genotoxicity assays based on the γH2AX and pH3 phosphorylated histone biomarkers. This review sits within the OECD Test Guidelines Programme and may shape future genotoxicity test guidelines, so companies relying on in vitro genotoxicity testing should track its outcomes and consider providing input via their National Coordinators.

20 May 2026, 07:09oecd.orgGlobal

China SAMR Announces Publication of ISO/IEC 17007:2026 Conformity Assessment Standard and Starts National Conversion

International standard ISO/IEC 17007:2026 on drafting normative documents for conformity assessment has been published, and China’s SAMR has begun converting it into a corresponding national standard. While it does not itself impose new product or chemical requirements, it will guide how future testing, inspection and certification rules are written, influencing accreditation frameworks and the design of conformity assessment schemes.

20 May 2026, 06:07samr.gov.cnGlobalChina

China NMPA Incorporates Three Revised Standards Into Cosmetics Safety Technical Specification (Announcement No.48 of 2026)

China’s NMPA has issued Announcement No.48 (15 May 2026) incorporating revised standards for o-phenylphenol and its salts, Acid Violet 43 (CI 60730) and mercury compounds into the national Cosmetics Safety Technical Specification, with implementation dates in July 2026 and June 2028. Cosmetics registrants and manufacturers should review formulations and testing for these substances and plan to implement the new standards ahead of the respective 2026 and 2028 effective dates to avoid non-compliance.

19 May 2026, 15:28nmpa.gov.cnChina

Brazil (Anvisa) Approves 8th Edition of the Brazilian Pharmacopoeia and Related Formularies

In May 2026 Anvisa approved the 8th edition of the Brazilian Pharmacopoeia and updated the national, homeopathic and herbal formularies, significantly refreshing Brazil’s official pharmaceutical standards. These changes will drive medicine manufacturers and pharmacies to review quality control methods and formulations, ahead of closer international scrutiny of products placed on the Brazilian market.

18 May 2026, 16:07gov.brBrazil

China MEE Issues Technical Guideline HJ 1467-2026 for Basin Water Eco-Environmental Quality Standards

China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment has adopted national standard HJ 1467-2026, a technical guideline that governs how basin-level water eco-environment quality standards are to be developed and it will take effect on 1 September 2026. This will standardise the methods, indicators, and justification used in watershed water quality standards across China, shaping future basin management rules and the thresholds regulators apply to industrial discharges and other activities.

15 May 2026, 16:18mee.gov.cnChina

Great Britain Proposes Amended Designated Standard For Overfill Prevention Devices In Explosive Atmospheres (Notice 0138/26)

The UK Department for Business and Trade has proposed to designate EN 13616-1:2025 as the Great Britain standard for overfill prevention devices in explosive atmospheres from mid-June 2026, while phasing out EN 13616-1:2016 by 5 October 2027, subject to any objections. Manufacturers of ATEX equipment and fuel storage installations should prepare to align designs, conformity assessment and documentation with the 2025 edition and plan for the loss of presumption of conformity under the 2016 standard after the 2027 withdrawal date.

15 May 2026, 13:40assets.publishing.service.gov.ukUnited Kingdom