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Between July and September 2026, new EU regulations significantly reshaped compliance for food contact materials (FCM). Key changes include a full ban on bisphenol A in single-use FCM, PPWR restrictions limiting PFAS in food packaging, updated purity rules for plastic FCM, and formal PET bottle recycled-content calculation guidelines including chemical recycling. Exporters must now back every shipment with updated Declarations of Conformity, mandatory BPA test reports (1 µg/kg detection limit), and documented PFAS screenings. Furthermore, recent RASFF data highlights bisphenol S, mineral oil, formaldehyde, and primary aromatic amine migrations as top compliance risks requiring routine testing.

The European Commission’s updated REACH Restrictions Roadmap outlines the EU’s accelerating efforts to phase out high-risk chemicals via grouped control and rolling reviews. Covering 15 adopted measures, 9 pending decisions, and dozens of prospective restrictions—including PFAS, CMRs, and heavy metals—it signals a crucial shift toward substitution-first strategies for industry compliance.

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 June 3, 2026, ECHA released a briefing on the SEAC consultation for the PFAS restriction proposal, receiving 3,511 comments within a 60-day period.

In June 2026, ECHA released the operation report on REACH and CLP regulations, summarizing the five-year effectiveness of EU chemicals legislation.

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), commonly known as "forever chemicals", feature extremely stable carbon-fluorine bonds, high bioaccumulation potential and suspected endocrine disrupting properties, leading to stringent regulatory restrictions worldwide. According to OECD statistics, the PFAS family comprises over 10,000 substances. Fluoropolymers including Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), FEP, PFA, PVDF and PCTFE are widely applied in cardiovascular catheters, implant coatings, pacemaker wire insulation, as well as sterile high-barrier packaging for medical devices.

RAPEX, as the EU's rapid alert system for non-food dangerous products, has issued multiple notification cases for fluorinated compounds such as PFAS, PFOA and PFCAs, covering clothing, textiles, outdoor equipment and other product categories. These notifications reflect the EU's strict regulatory requirements and high-intensity law enforcement for PFAS residues in consumer products, and also bring clear compliance challenges to global manufacturers, exporters and cross-border e-commerce platforms.

On March 30, 2026, the European Commission released the guidance document and accompanying Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for the PPWR.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are increasingly becoming a focal point of global concern due to their potential long-term impacts on the environment and human health. As a class of synthetic chemicals characterized by high stability and widespread applications, PFAS are facing increasingly stringent regulatory scrutiny in the cosmetics sector. This article explores the physicochemical properties and potential health risks of PFAS, and systematically reviews the evolving global regulatory landscape related to their use in cosmetics. It aims to help cosmetic enterprises gain a comprehensive understanding of regulatory requirements, mitigate compliance risks, enhance product safety, and strengthen competitiveness in international markets.

On November 5, 2025, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) published mapping of PFAS uses, serving as an industry support document for the upcoming public consultation on PFAS restrictions. The mapping systematically outlines PFAS applications across 14 major industrial, professional, and consumer sectors, including battery manufacturing, textiles, electronics, and PFAS production.