Non-food legislation – March 2026

Hazardous substances – Rules and regulations in the EU
On 3 March 2026, ECHA announced that the Risk Assessment Committee (RAC) has adopted its opinion on the PFAS restriction proposal. Eight days later, ECHA announced that the Committee for Socio-Economic Analysis (SEAC) has agreed its draft opinion on the proposal. The proposal was submitted by five countries (Denmark, Germany, The Netherlands, Norway and Sweden) in January 2023. RAC and SEAC are ECHA’s two scientific committees responsible for evaluating EU-wide restriction proposals under REACH. RAC evaluates the risks to human health and the environment while SEAC evaluates the socio-economic impacts.
The results (496 kB) of an ECHA enforcement project show that one in five hazardous mixtures is not reported to the national poison centres. These notifications, regulated under CLP, are crucial for poison centres to provide an adequate medical response in case of exposure to hazardous mixtures.

Hazardous substances – Rules and regulations in the US
An analysis by Safer States shows that at least 33 states will be considering toxic chemicals and plastics legislation in 2026. 31 states are likely to consider additional PFAS legislation. Also, at least fifteen major state laws and regulations will take effect, with nine of these policies directly targeting PFAS.

United States Pharmacopeia (USP)
AIMPLAS has published an article on the changes (163 kB) to the Regulations for Pharmaceutical Plastic Packaging (USP 661). Chapter <661> has been reorganised into two independent chapters. Chapter <661.1> focuses on “what” the plastic is and how it behaves as a material. Chapter <661.2> validates the finished container.

Spain: draft legislation on Braille or QR code with tactile mark withdrawn
In June 2025, draft legislation making it mandatory to use accessible labels (Braille or QR code with tactile mark) for certain products was sent to the EC. First the end of the standstill period was postponed to 23 December due to submitted comments and now the draft legislation has been withdrawn.

Research
Reducing pollution, in line with the EU Zero Pollution action plan, could improve mental health across Europe, according to an briefing published by EEA. The publication covers the links between mental health issues and air pollution, noise and chemical pollution, as well as opportunities for action.
EFSA recently published an article (346 kB) about a workshop on the latest advancements of PFAS risk assessment that EFSA organised in November 2025.
Scientists at the University of Bath have developed a new photocatalyst that uses sunlight to degrade PFAS.
Researchers at NYU Langone Health have found microplastics in 9 out of 10 patients with prostate cancer, and in higher levels inside tumours than in nearby noncancerous tissue.
Duke University researchers have reviewed emerging evidence linking nanoplastics to neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s disease and dementia. The study (1.26 MB) is published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
 

NVC members receive this information with all the relevant links in the monthly NVC Members-only Update. If you have any questions, please contact us: info@nvc.nl, +31-(0)182-512411