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Recently, the European Union's Rapid Alert System for non-food consumer products (Safety Gate) has reported multiple cases of non-compliance with the EU RoHS Directive, mainly involving restriction requirements for lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs). The non-compliant products listed below have been notified and subject to enforcement measures. CIRS Testing advises relevant manufacturers, exporters and supply-chain stakeholders to strengthen quality control in order to mitigate trade risks.

On 27 August 2026, the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) issued a notice announcing significant updates to the chemicals list under the GB Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Regulation. The new rules officially took effect on 28 August 2026.

On 30 April 2026, the Official Journal of the European Union published Decision (EU) 2026/878. The decision clearly states that the European Union, on behalf of its Member States, will submit a proposal to the Secretariat of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (hereinafter referred to as "the Convention") to recommend the listing of bis(2-ethylhexyl) tetrabromophthalate (abbreviated as TBPH) in Annex A (Elimination) of the Convention.

On June 20, 2023, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) announced that the European Union Enforcement Forum plans to carry out the 13th Joint Enforcement Project (REF-13) and the 3rd Major Enforcement Project on Biocides (BEF-3) within the EU by 2025.

On May 30, 2023, the European Commission announced its decision to adopt the proposal to amend Annex I of Regulation (EU) 2019/1021. This decision confirms the inclusion of PFHxS and its salts and related compounds in the list of banned substances under the POPs Regulation.

On May 12, 2023, the 11th Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention made a significant decision to eliminate the use of three persistent organic pollutants. These substances include the pesticide Methoxychlor, the industrial chemical Dechlorane Plus, and UV-328, and they have been added to Annex A of the Convention. In the near future, the Parties to the Convention will take action to regulate these three substances, and the European Union will also incorporate them into the EU POPs regulation.

Recently, several countries and regions have issued or drafted environmental regulations in succession, all of which aimed at restricting the use of one same hazardous substance - PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFCs). The frequent legislative and regulatory trends around the world have brought PFASs into the limelight once again.

24 May 2022, ECHA has consulted on listing 5 substances as POPs. These substances are expected to be or have already been proposed for listing as POPs under the Stockholm Convention. Deadline for the public consultation is 19 Jul. 2022. Detailed information of the 5 substances: Substance Name CAS Number Possible Applications 2-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4,6-ditertpentylphenol 25973-55-1 Commonly used as UV absorbers in surface coatings, plastic and ink additives, and personal ca