Latest chemicals news for Northern Ireland - 24 February 2026
Date published:
Latest chemicals news for Northern Ireland - updated 24 February 2026.
18 February 2026 REACH update
Consultations on harmonised classification and labelling
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) are looking for comments on the harmonised classification and labelling (CLH) proposals for:
- N-ethyl-N-[2-[1-(2-methylpropoxy)ethoxy]ethyl]-4-(phenylazo)aniline (EC 252-021-1, CAS 34432-92-3)
- 1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triamine; melamine (EC 203-615-4, CAS 108-78-1)
Have your say until 17 April 2026.
Check also ECHA`s other open CLH consultations and submit your comments before the deadlines in March and April 2026.
For more information please see the following link:
11 February 2026 CLP update
Consultation on harmonised classification and labelling
ECHA are looking for comments on the harmonised classification and labelling proposal for:
- inpyrfluxam (ISO); 3-(difluoromethyl)-1-methyl-N-[(3R)-1,1,3-trimethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-4-yl]-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide (EC -, CAS 1352994-67-2)
Have your say until 10 April 2026.
For more information please see the following link:
11 February 2026 REACH update
Validity of 88 existing REACH authorisations to use chromium (VI) substances extended
The European Commission extended the deadline so that companies already authorised to use chromium (VI) substances do not have to prepare and submit review reports when a Commission decision is not expected before a new REACH restriction on these substances enters into force.
ECHA’s scientific committees are currently preparing their opinions on the Cr(VI) restriction. Their final opinion is expected by the end of 2026.
The Commission Regulation on the restriction, which will replace the current REACH authorisation for these substances, is expected by the end of 2028.
For more information please see the following link:
Consultations on applications for authorisation
- ECHA have launched consultations on two applications for authorisation and five review reports covering seven uses in total:
- Chromium trioxide (EC 215-607-8): Functional chrome plating of work rolls used in the steel and aluminium industry
- Strontium chromate (EC 232-142-6): Slurry coating for civil and military aerospace applications
- 4-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)phenol, ethoxylated (EC -): As a surfactant in diagnostic devices for clinical testing
- 4-Nonylphenol, branched and linear, ethoxylated (EC -): In manufacture of glass fibre articles for helicopter parts
- Dibutyl phthalate (EC 201-557-4):
- in manufacture of ceramic sheets for the production of multi-layer ceramic capacitors
- in propellants where the use of these articles is in manufacture of ammunition for military and civilian use
- Trichloroethylene (EC 201-167-4): Used as a solvent and recycling of trichloroethylene (TCE) in the production of Vlisco fabric
Have your say through our webform until 8 April 2026.
For more information please see the following link:
Deadline extended: call for evidence on restriction of PPDs and PDs in rubber tyres
The deadline to submit information in this call for evidence, launched by the Netherlands and Austria, has been extended to 6 March 2026.
A stakeholder workshop on this restriction is scheduled to take place on 24 March 2026 in Brussels. Save the date.
For clarifications, contact: AT-restriction(at)Umweltbundesamt.at
For more information please see the following link:
- Deadline extended: call for evidence on restriction of PPDs and PDs in rubber tyres - (ECHA website)
4 February 2026 REACH update
Consultation on recommending four substances for REACH authorisation
Send your comments to ECHA`s draft recommendation to add four substances to the REACH Authorisation List:
- Bumetrizole (UV-326) (EC 223-445-4)
- 2-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)phenol (UV-329) (EC 221-573-5)
- Triphenyl phosphate (EC 204-112-2)
- 2-(dimethylamino)-2-[(4-methylphenyl)methyl]-1-[4-(morpholin-4-yl)phenyl]butan-1-one (EC 438-340-0)
ECHA are looking for further information on the uses and volumes of these substances, their possible exemptions from the authorisation requirement and on the structure and complexity of the supply chains.
Registrants and downstream users are, in addition to commenting, invited to ensure that the use information is up to date in the REACH registration dossiers.
Have your say until 2 May 2026.
ECHA have launched 16 new consultations on testing proposals.
Have your say until 16 March 2026.
28 January 2026 CLP update
Consultations on harmonised classification and labelling
ECHA are looking for comments on the harmonised classification and labelling proposals for:
- prohexadione-calcium (ISO); calcium 3-oxido-5-oxo-4-propionylcyclohex-3-ene-1-carboxylate (EC -, CAS 127277-53-6).
- butane-1,4-diol (EC 203-786-5, CAS 110-63-4).
- Mono- and di-ortho-phthalate esters with at least one of the following: a linear or branched alkyl moiety with a C4-C6 backbone* with possible substitution by methyl and/or ethyl groups; a benzyl moiety with methylene possibly substituted by methyl and/or ethyl groups; a cyclopentyl or cyclohexyl moiety with possible substitution by methyl and/or ethyl groups [*The backbone is defined as the longest linear carbon chain from the ester function.] (EC -, CAS -)
- 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, dipentyl ester, branched and linear [1]; n-pentyl-isopentyl phthalate [2]; di-n-pentyl phthalate [3]; diisopentyl phthalate [4] (EC 284-032-2 [1]; - [2]; 205-017-9 [3]; 210-088-4 [4], CAS 84777-06-0 [1]; 776297-69-9 [2]; 131-18-0 [3]; 605-50-5 [4])
- diisohexyl phthalate (EC 276-090-2, CAS 71850-09-4)
- dihexyl phthalate (EC 201-559-5, CAS 84-75-3)
- 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, di-C6-8-branched alkyl esters, C7-rich (EC 276-158-1, CAS 71888-89-6)
- 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, dihexyl ester, branched and linear (EC 271-093-5, CAS 68515-50-4)
- diisooctyl phthalate (EC 248-523-5, CAS 27554-26-3)
- dibutyl phthalate; [DBP] (EC 201-557-4, CAS 84-74-2)
- benzyl butyl phthalate; [BBP] (EC 201-622-7, CAS 85-68-7)
- dicyclohexyl phthalate (EC 201-545-9, CAS 84-61-7)
- bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate; di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate; [DEHP] (EC 204-211-0, CAS 117-81-7).
Have your say until 27 March 2026.
26 November 2025 REACH update
REACH-IT ready to receive reports on microplastics emissions
Companies can start reporting us their annual microplastics releases under the EU’s microplastics restriction.
These reporting obligations apply to uses that are exempt from the EU-wide ban. The first reports must be submitted by 31 May 2026 covering estimated emissions for year 2025.
The report on annual releases will be prepared in IUCLID format and submitted it to us through REACH-IT.
For more information please see the following link:
24 September 2025 REACH update
Consultation on the proposed restriction of octocrilene
France has submitted a proposal to restrict the placing on the market of finished cosmetic products containing octocrilene in a concentration equal to or greater than 0.001% w/w.
Have your say until 24 March 2026.
The European Chemicals Agency`s scientific committees welcome early comments by 23 January 2026 to assist them in the preliminary discussions of the proposal.
For more information please see the following link:
14 May 2025 - REACH update
New guideline for measuring formaldehyde releases and concentrations
The European Commissions Agency (ECHA) have published a guideline which explains how to measure formaldehyde releases from articles and its concentrations inside vehicles, following the requirements set out in Appendix 14 of the EU-wide restriction of formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasers. The restriction starts applying in August 2026.
The guideline was prepared at the request of the European Commission.
For more information please see the following link:
ECHA's completed activities on restriction - (ECHA website)
2 April 2025 - REACH update
European Commission restricts PAHs in clay targets
On 1 April 2025, the Commission adopted an EU-wide restriction on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in clay targets for shooting. Each year, it is estimated that at least 270 tonnes of these toxic, persistent and bioaccumulative substances are released into the environment from clay target shooting. The new restriction is expected to reduce these emissions by 99%.
In addition to environmental benefits, the restriction will also reduce the exposure for workers and the public handling or shooting clay targets, lowering the associated cancer risk. It will start applying from 22 April 2026.
PAHs are found in binders, such as petroleum pitch, which are used to produce clay targets.
The restriction proposal was prepared by ECHA in October 2021. ECHA`s scientific committees for Risk Assessment and Socio-Economic Analysis supported the proposal in their 2022 opinions.
For more information please see the following link: