In September 2025, the Committees for Risk Assessment (RAC) and for Socio-Economic Analysis (SEAC) of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) advanced their work on several key issues, including the EU-wide restriction proposal for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), occupational exposure limits, and the harmonised classification of chemicals.
PFAS, a large group of persistent chemicals used in multiple industrial sectors, remain under close scrutiny due to their environmental and health risks. During their recent meetings, SEAC reached provisional conclusions for PFAS uses in the energy and lubricants sectors, while RAC focused on applications in electronics and semiconductors. Both committees also began assessing PFAS manufacturing processes and continued work on horizontal topics such as concentration limits, hazard assessments, and risk management measures aimed at reducing emissions to the environment.
Looking ahead, RAC and SEAC outlined their next steps. In December 2025, discussions will continue on electronics, semiconductors, and PFAS manufacturing. The committees also plan to finalise RAC’s opinion and discuss SEAC’s draft opinion by March 2026, with a 60-day stakeholder consultation to follow. SEAC is expected to adopt its final opinion by the end of 2026, marking a major milestone in the EU’s comprehensive approach to addressing PFAS risks.
Beyond PFAS, the committees agreed that France’s proposal to restrict Octocrilene, a UV filter commonly used in cosmetics, meets the requirements of Annex XV under REACH, allowing the opinion development process to begin. A six-month consultation on this proposal is open until 24 March 2026.
RAC also adopted its opinion on the occupational exposure limit for N-(hydroxymethyl)acrylamide (NMA), recommending a non-cancer 8-hour time-weighted average limit to protect workers from neurotoxic and reproductive effects. The committee’s evaluation also provided an exposure-risk relationship (ERR) to assess excess cancer risks associated with NMA exposure.
In addition, both committees reviewed several applications for authorisation related to chromium trioxide and chromic acid, substances widely used in surface treatment and electroplating. RAC agreed on seven, and SEAC on nine draft opinions, while both committees adopted 14 final opinions, including those related to the major upstream CTAC Sub2 application.
Finally, RAC adopted eight opinions on harmonised classification and labelling (CLH), contributing to the continued effort to ensure consistent hazard communication across the EU.
