Non-food legislation – February 2026

Hazardous substances – Rules and regulations in the EU
ECHA has added two substances to the Candidate List of substances of very high concern (SVHCs). The list now contains 253 entries for chemicals that can harm people or the environment.
The EC has published a study (8.29 MB) on the cost of PFAS pollution under four hypothetical scenarios: 1) business as usual; 2) full compliance with the Drinking Water Directive (DWD); 3) full compliance with Environmental Quality Standards (EQS); and 4) a total ban on PFAS.

Hazardous substances – Rules and regulations outside the EU
Canada: On 31 December 2025, the government published the Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations, 2025. The substances prohibited were declared toxic to the environment and/or human health under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA).
Singapore: The National Environment Agency NEA (175 kB) has announced an update on the phase-out of three POPs. As of 16 December 2026, the manufacture, import and export of Chlorpyrifos, MCCPs and LC-PFCAs, as well as products containing these chemicals, will not be allowed in Singapore in alignment with the Stockholm Convention.
Switzerland: Draft legislation limiting the use of PFAS in consumer goods that are intended for single use (as well as in food contact packaging) has been sent to the EC.
UK: The government has published a policy paper on reducing and minimising the harmful effects of PFAS while transitioning to safer alternative substances.
US: New Jersey: SGS reports that the government has published S 1042 regulating PFAS in several product categories. Food packaging composed, in substantial part, of paper or paperboard, or other materials originally derived from plant fibres, is included in the scope.

Tobacco products
Finland: Draft legislation introducing plain packaging for all types of tobacco products has been sent to the EC.

Research
A recent Systemiq report (12.35 MB) evaluates the health and ecological impacts of synthetic pesticides, bisphenols, phthalates, and PFAS in food systems. The authors estimate a total of $3 trillion annually in preventable costs. The report that includes contributions from FPF offers measures to reduce the costs by $1.9 trillion per year.
Researchers from INRAE, CNRS, and the University of Lille studied how low dietary doses of nanoplastics affected mice. Mice received one of three doses in their drinking water while consuming either a standard or a "Western-style" diet (high fat + high sugar). The results show that exposure to low doses of nanoplastics can alter gut barrier integrity, gut microbiota composition, and liver function. These effects were strongly influenced by diet type.
 

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