Latest chemicals news for Northern Ireland - updated 28 November 2025
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Latest chemicals news for Northern Ireland - updated 28 November 2025.
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:
Current activities on restrictions: aromatic brominated and organophosphorus flame retardants
The European Commission has requested us to prepare:
- a restriction report on non-polymeric additive aromatic brominated flame retardants
- an investigation report on organophosphorus flame retardants and potential alternatives to certain aromatic brominated flame retardants
ECHA plan to submit the restriction proposal by 11 December 2026.
The investigation will result in two separate reports: the first one is due by December 2026 and the second by December 2027.
For more information please see the following link:
19 November 2025 CLP update
Consultations on harmonised classification and labelling
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) are looking for comments on the harmonised classification and labelling proposals for:
- sodium fluoride (EC 231-667-8, CAS 7681-49-4)
- quizalofop-P-ethyl (ISO); ethyl (2R)-2-{4-[(6-chloroquinoxalin-2 yl)oxy]phenoxy}propanoate (EC -, CAS 100646-51-3)
- 3,5,5-trimethylhexanoic acid and its salts, with the exception of those specified elsewhere in this Annex (EC -, CAS -)
Have your say until 16 January 2026.
For more information please see the following link:
12 November 2025 CLP update
Consultation on harmonised classification and labelling
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) are looking for comments on the harmonised classification and labelling proposal for:
- 2,4,6-tris(dimethylaminomethyl)phenol (EC 202-013-9, CAS 90-72-2)
Have your say until 9 January 2026.
For more information please see the following link:
12 November 2025 REACH update
Consultations on applications for authorisation
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) have launched consultations on five applications for authorisation covering five uses of Chromium trioxide (EC 215-607-8), used for functional chrome plating.
Details about the uses applied for are available online.
Submit your comments through ECHA`s web form by 7 January 2026.
For more information please see the following link:
5 November 2025 REACH update
One hazardous chemical added to the Candidate List
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) Member State Committee confirmed the addition of 1,1'-(ethane-1,2-diyl)bis[pentabromobenzene] (DBDPE) to the Candidate List of substances of very high concern in its October meeting.
The list now contains 251 entries for chemicals that can harm people or the environment. Companies are responsible for managing the risks of these chemicals and giving customers and consumers information on their safe use.
For more information please see the following link:
Consultation on harmonised classification and labelling
ECHA are looking for comments on the harmonised classification and labelling (CLH) proposal for:
- propaquizafop (ISO); 2-[(isopropylideneamino)oxy]ethyl (2R)-2-{4-[(6-chloroquinoxalin-2-yl)oxy]phenoxy}propanoate (EC -, CAS 111479-05-1)
Have your say until 2 January 2026.
For more information please see the following link:
22 October 2025 CLP 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:
- 1-methylimidazole (EC 210-484-7, CAS 616-47-7)
- imidazole hydrobromide (EC 483-310-2, CAS 101023-55-6)
Have your say until 19 December 2025.
For more information please see the following link:
8 October CLP update
Consultation on harmonised classification and labelling
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) are looking for comments on the harmonised classification and labelling (CLH) proposal for:
- flutolanil (ISO); N-[3-(propan-2-yloxy)phenyl]-2-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide; α,α,α-trifluoro-3′-isopropoxy-o-toluanilide (EC -, CAS 66332-96-5)
Have your say until 5 December 2025.
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:
18 June 2025 REACH update
Consultation on proposed restriction of certain chromium(VI) oxides, oxyacids and salts
ECHA has submitted a proposal to restrict the use of certain chromium(VI) oxides, oxyacids and salts with carcinogenic properties.
The consultation is open until 18 December 2025.
ECHA`s scientific committees welcome early comments by 18 September 2025 to assist them in first discussions of the proposal.
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: