Non-food legislation – October 2025
Hazardous substances – rules and regulations
UNECE has published the 24th revised edition of its UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods – also known as the UN Model Regulations. UNECE has also published the eleventh revision of its Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS).
EU: ECHA has launched a call for evidence to identify substances of concern in packaging for a EC report under the PPWR.
SGS reports the publication of Regulation (EU) 2025/1930 that adds Dechlorane Plus to the POPs Regulation.
In August, five countries (Denmark, Germany, The Netherlands, Norway and Sweden) submitted the updated restriction proposal for PFAS in Europe. The five countries have now published a summary (3.03 MB) of the proposal that you can find via the website of the Swedish Chemicals Agency. ECHA has announced that it plans to launch a consultation in spring 2026 on the draft opinion of the SEAC on the PFAS restriction proposal.
ECHA has expanded the chemicals database ECHA CHEM to include regulatory data on REACH, CLP, POPs and drinking water. The EU Chemicals Legislation Finder EUCLEF has also been updated (133 kB).
UK: SGS reports that HSE has published the sixth edition of its GB mandatory classification and labelling list (GB MCL-list) for substances and mixtures. This latest edition entered into force on 23 September 2025.
Pharmaceutical products
EU: The EC has published new Variations Guidelines which define the detailed rules for pharmaceutical companies for modifying and updating their marketing authorisations.
US: The FDA has published draft guidance on the implementation of the statutory provision that authorises the FDA to require application holders to make labelling changes based on new safety information that becomes available after approval of the drug.
Labelling and packaging of other non-food products
EU: The Council has given its final approval on the proposed toy safety regulation. The proposal contains a digital product passport (DPP) to show that the toy is compliant.
NL: Draft regulations introducing standard packaging for cigars and electronic vaping products has been sent to the EC.
Spain: In June, draft legislation making it mandatory to use accessible labels (Braille or QR code with tactile mark) for certain products was sent to the EC. The end of the standstill period has now been postponed to 23 December due to submitted comments.
Plastic and health hazards
In a study supported by FAPESP, Brazilian researchers analysed over 60 scientific articles and found that the microplastics negatively affect bone tissue.
University of Rhode Island researchers have found links between micro- and nanoplastics and Alzheimer's disease in mice. Scientists at the University of New Mexico have found that there is a lot more plastic in the brains of demented people than in the brains of non-demented subjects.
Childhood exposure to chemicals used to make plastic household items presents growing health risks that can extend long into adulthood, experts from NYU Langone Health report.
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