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Structured regulatory updates — not a blog. Each entry carries jurisdiction, regulation, dates, impact, affected parties and the CHEMREG solutions that help.
CHEMREG Regulatory Watch
Detected changes that need attention
CHEMREG Regulatory Watch
Asia-Pacific
K-REACH — Act on Registration and Evaluation of Chemical Substances (South Korea)
K-REACH: annual registration tonnage band deadlines approaching
Effective: Phase-in deadlines already passed: 31 December 2021 (≥ 1,000 t/y and CMR substances ≥ 1 t/y) and 31 December 2024 (100–1,000 t/y). Remaining bands: 31 December 2027 (10–100 t/y) and 31 December 2030 (1–10 t/y).Impact: HighKorean manufacturers and importers · EU, US and global exporters supplying substances to South Korea · Formulators selling mixtures containing reportable substances, and Only Representatives
Action required
Canada
Hazardous Products Regulations (HPR) / WHMIS
Hazardous Products Regulations alignment with a newer GHS revision
Effective: In force since 15 December 2022 (published Canada Gazette Part II, 4 January 2023); based on GHS Revision 7, plus the Chemicals Under Pressure physical hazard class from GHS Revision 8Impact: HighCanadian manufacturers of hazardous workplace products · Importers into Canada, and US/EU exporters selling into Canada · Formulators, distributors and private-label suppliers
New CLP hazard classes: the next important deadline is approaching
Effective: In force since 20 April 2023; applied to new substances from 1 May 2025 and new mixtures from 1 May 2026Impact: HighSubstance registrants with products already on the EU market before 1 May 2025 · Mixture producers approaching the 1 May 2026 / 1 May 2028 dates · SDS and label owners managing EU CLP alongside other jurisdictions' GHS systems
Action required
Recommended action — Review affected products and plan the required updates before the deadline. Open Regulatory Intelligence →
Asia-PacificK-REACH — Act on Registration and Evaluation of Chemical Substances (South Korea)UPCOMINGImpact: High
Under South Korea's K-REACH (Act on Registration and Evaluation of Chemical Substances), existing substances register in phased tonnage bands. The next major deadline is 31 December 2027, for substances manufactured or imported at 10 t/y or more and less than 100 t/y — often lower-visibility specialty chemicals, additives and intermediates. Pre-registration is not the same as final registration; companies should confirm tonnage bands, importer/Only Representative responsibility and joint-registration status well before the deadline.
Published16 Sept 2026EffectivePhase-in deadlines already passed: 31 December 2021 (≥ 1,000 t/y and CMR substances ≥ 1 t/y) and 31 December 2024 (100–1,000 t/y). Remaining bands: 31 December 2027 (10–100 t/y) and 31 December 2030 (1–10 t/y).Compliance deadline31 Dec 2027Next deadline: 31 December 2027, for existing substances manufactured or imported in South Korea at 10 t/y or more and less than 100 t/y. The following band, 1 t/y up to 10 t/y, is due 31 December 2030.
Health Canada amended the Hazardous Products Regulations to align WHMIS supplier requirements with GHS Revision 7, plus the Chemicals Under Pressure physical hazard class from GHS Revision 8. The amendments took effect 15 December 2022, and the 3-year transition period for updating classifications, SDSs and labels ended 14 December 2025. Suppliers into Canada should treat the amended HPR as the active compliance baseline now, while checking Canada/US variances rather than assuming one North American SDS satisfies both jurisdictions.
Published16 Sept 2026EffectiveIn force since 15 December 2022 (published Canada Gazette Part II, 4 January 2023); based on GHS Revision 7, plus the Chemicals Under Pressure physical hazard class from GHS Revision 8Compliance deadlineThe 3-year transition period ended 14 December 2025 — suppliers should no longer rely on it for covered products. Health Canada has said it will focus on compliance promotion until the end of the aligned US OSHA HCS 2024 mixtures compliance date (currently 19 November 2027), after which risk-based enforcement applies; this is compliance-promotion context, not an extension of Canada's own HPR transition deadline.
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/707 introduced four new CLP hazard classes — endocrine disruption (human health and environment), PBT/vPvB and PMT/vPvM. They already apply to new substances and mixtures placed on the market. The next deadline is 1 November 2026, when substances already on the EU market before 1 May 2025 must meet the new criteria; mixtures already on the market follow on 1 May 2028.
Published16 Sept 2026EffectiveIn force since 20 April 2023; applied to new substances from 1 May 2025 and new mixtures from 1 May 2026Compliance deadline01 Nov 2026Substances already on the EU market before 1 May 2025: 1 November 2026. Mixtures already on the market: 1 May 2028.
ECHA updated the XML-based PCN format to Version 8 (27 April 2026, released with IUCLID 6 version 10), the format used to structure Poison Centre Notifications for hazardous mixtures under CLP Article 45 and Annex VIII. This is a format and validation update, not a new legal obligation by itself — but a 2026 ECHA enforcement pilot found 19% of inspected mixtures had no PCN submitted and 15% of labels were missing the UFI, so companies should treat format and UFI/composition consistency as an active compliance risk, not routine housekeeping.
Published16 Sept 2026EffectiveHarmonised Annex VIII format mandatory EU-wide since 1 January 2025; PCN format Version 8 in effect since 27 April 2026Compliance deadlineFormat and validation updates apply on an ongoing basis — align internal PCN generation and validation against format Version 8 before your next dossier submission.
The EU-wide proposal to restrict per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) under REACH Annex XVII — prepared by Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden, and one of the broadest restriction proposals ever assessed under REACH — is still moving through ECHA's committees. RAC adopted its opinion on 3 March 2026; SEAC's sector-by-sector socio-economic assessment (14 sector modules) is ongoing, with a final opinion expected by the end of 2026. This is not yet an adopted restriction, but companies should not wait for final adoption before mapping PFAS uses and alternatives.
Published16 Sept 2026EffectiveNot yet adopted — RAC opinion adopted 3 March 2026; SEAC's draft-opinion consultation (14 sector-specific modules) closed 25 May 2026Compliance deadlineSEAC's final opinion is expected by the end of 2026. The European Commission then drafts a specific restriction proposal from the RAC/SEAC opinions for the REACH Committee to vote on.
ECHA is advancing a restriction proposal for certain chromium(VI) oxides, oxyacids and salts under REACH Annex XVII, covering electroplating, surface treatment, primers/slurry coatings and related use categories. The SEAC draft-opinion consultation closed on 17 August 2026; SEAC's final opinion is expected before the file goes to the European Commission. This is not yet a binding restriction, but affected companies should start mapping exposure, emissions and substitution options now.
Published16 Sept 2026EffectiveRestriction proposal under REACH — not yet adoptedCompliance deadlineSEAC's final opinion is expected around end of 2026; the joint RAC/SEAC opinions then go to the European Commission, which decides whether to add the restriction to REACH Annex XVII.
The 2027 dangerous-goods transport cycle is moving from technical drafting into implementation planning. UNECE notified ADR/ADN 2027 amendments to Contracting Parties on 1 July 2026, with entry into force expected 1 January 2027 absent objections by 1 October 2026 — including new provisions for lithium-ion, sodium-ion and hybrid batteries and emerging hydrogen transport. Air (ICAO TI / IATA DGR) and sea (IMDG Amendment 43-26) modes are on their own, related cycles. Companies should treat SDS Section 14, transport master data and logistics rule sets as three places that can drift out of sync if not updated together.
Published16 Sept 2026EffectiveADR/ADN 2027 amendments formally notified to Contracting Parties 1 July 2026; expected in force 1 January 2027 unless rejected under the treaty objection procedure by 1 October 2026. Air and sea modes follow their own parallel cycles (see below).Compliance deadline01 Jan 2027Main operational date: 1 January 2027 for ADR/RID/ADN. IMDG Amendment 43-26 is the next maritime cycle item, typically available for voluntary use before a later mandatory date. Confirm mode-specific dates before activating new rule sets in production, and test shipping scenarios before 1 January 2027.
Two active TSCA data-submission obligations need attention. Under Section 8(d), EPA extended the health and safety study reporting deadline for 16 listed chemicals to 21 May 2027. Under Section 8(a)(7), EPA's PFAS reporting rule covers manufacturing and import activity from 2011 through 2022; the reporting period's start has been postponed to 31 January 2027 or 60 days after a forthcoming rule revision takes effect, whichever is earlier — the obligation itself has not been cancelled.
Published16 Sept 2026EffectiveTSCA 8(d): submission deadline extended to 21 May 2027 for all 16 covered chemicals (final rule, 22 May 2026). TSCA 8(a)(7) PFAS: reporting period start postponed to 31 January 2027, or 60 days after the effective date of a forthcoming rule revision — whichever is earlier.Compliance deadline21 May 2027TSCA 8(d) health and safety study submissions are due 21 May 2027. TSCA 8(a)(7) PFAS reporting opens no later than 31 January 2027, with a 6-month submission window once it opens.
Environment and Climate Change Canada and Health Canada published two section 71 notices under CEPA 1999 in the Canada Gazette on 29 August 2026, together covering about 200 substances. Response is mandatory for anyone who manufactured, imported or used a listed substance above the reporting threshold in 2025. Phase 1 (184 substances) closes 3 March 2027; Phase 2 (16 substances) opens the next day and closes 8 September 2027. This is an information-gathering action, not a WHMIS reclassification or a restriction.
Published10 Sept 2026EffectiveNotices in force 29 August 2026Compliance deadline03 Mar 2027Phase 1 (184 substances) closes 3 March 2027; Phase 2 (16 substances) runs 4 March – 8 September 2027
Regulation (EU) 2024/2865 changed the CLP framework and, together with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/707, brought in new hazard classes (ED, PBT/vPvB, PMT/vPvM). Regulation (EU) 2025/2439 ("stop the clock") then postponed the label-format and advertising provisions to 1 January 2028. The classification duties for the new hazard classes were not postponed: substances already on the market are due on 1 November 2026, mixtures already on the market on 1 May 2028. The transition rules are not only about dates — placing a reformulated mixture on the market can end the grace period the original mixture relied on.
Published10 Sept 2026Effective2024/2865 in force 10 December 2024; 2025/2439 ("stop the clock") in force 23 December 2025Compliance deadline01 Nov 2026New hazard classes for substances already on the market: 1 November 2026. Label-format and advertising rules: postponed to 1 January 2028. A reformulation can remove a mixture's transitional protection.
EPA's New Chemicals Program status pages show a familiar pattern: cases sitting in risk assessment, and cases waiting on the submitter to sign a consent order. The useful takeaway for companies is that regulatory delay is not always EPA's doing. Incomplete information, unresolved exposure data and slow internal order-signature workflows can add weeks or months to a launch. New-chemical approval is best run as a launch-readiness discipline, not a filing you hand off and wait on.
Published10 Sept 2026EffectiveObservation from EPA New Chemicals Program status pages, September 2026. No fixed date — review time depends on submission completeness and internal order-signature turnaround.
OSHA's updated Hazard Communication Standard (aligned to GHS Revision 7) had its compliance dates pushed back four months in January 2026. Chemical manufacturers, importers and distributors had to update substance SDSs and labels by 19 May 2026. Employers now have until 20 November 2026 to update workplace labels, the written HazCom programme, and training where new hazard information applies. Mixtures follow on 19 November 2027. This is no longer only a supplier SDS exercise — employers must turn the new hazard information into workplace communication.
Published10 Sept 2026EffectiveHCS 2024 in force since 19 July 2024; compliance dates extended four months in January 2026Compliance deadline20 Nov 2026Employers — substances: 20 November 2026. Manufacturers/importers/distributors — substances: 19 May 2026 (passed). All parties — mixtures: 19 November 2027.
EPA has refreshed its guidance for chemical importers. The core message for compliance teams: customs clearance is not the same as TSCA compliance. Before a chemical substance — on its own, in a mixture, or in some articles — enters US commerce, the importer needs to have checked TSCA Inventory listing and active/inactive status, any section 5 PMN or Significant New Use Rule, section 6 restrictions, Title VI formaldehyde requirements for composite wood, and the TSCA import certification. These checks belong in the import process, not after the goods arrive.
Published10 Sept 2026EffectiveOngoing obligation; EPA import guidance refreshed September 2026. No fixed deadline — the checks belong before each shipment and customs entry.
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