EU: Update REACH 2026.01

Current developments November 2025 - January 2026

From the perspective of companies manufacturing articles, REACH Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006 consists primarily of the three core elements of the candidate list (information obligation) and Annexes XIV (authorization obligation) and XVII (restrictions). Below you will find the latest developments on these three substance lists, which directly trigger obligations, as well as on the upstream lists, which evaluate the substances for inclusion in REACH.


Restriction intentions - preliminary stage Annex XVII

List of substances proposed by Member States or ECHA for restriction under REACH (Annex XVII).

Development of opinion:

  • Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) General
  • Creosote and Creosote related substances in treated wood
  • Certain non-polymeric aromatic brominated flame retardants in electrical and electronic products, construction products and textiles (Call for Evidence: January 21 – March 18, 2026)
  • Octocrilene (EC: 228-250-8; CAS: 6197-30-4) in cosmetic products: 0.001% (w/w)
  • Certain chromium(VI) oxides, oxyacids and salts [possibly update of the existing Annex XVII entry 47 on chromium VI; reason: authorization requirement according to Annex XIV generated unplanned many applications for authorization]
    • Cr VI: Sodium chromate (EC: 231-889-5; CAS: 7775-11-3)
    • Cr VI: Pentazinc chromate octahydroxide (EC: 256-418-0; CAS: 49663-84-5)
    • Cr VI: Potassium chromate (EC: 232-140-5; CAS: 7789-00-6)
    • Cr VI: Strontium chromate (EC: 232-142-6; CAS: 7789-06-2)
    • Cr VI: Ammonium dichromate (EC: 232-143-1; CAS: 7789-09-5)
    • Cr VI: Chromium trioxide (EC: 215-607-8; CAS: 1333-82-0)
    • Cr VI: Chromic acid (EC: 231-801-5; CAS: 7738-94-5)
    • Cr VI: Barium chromate (EC: 233-660-5; CAS: 10294-40-3)
    • Cr VI: Sodium dichromate (EC: 234-190-3; CAS: 10588-01-9)
    • Cr VI: Potassium hydroxyoctaoxodizincatedichromate(1-) (EC: 234-329-8; CAS: 11103-86-9)
    • Cr VI: Dichromic acid (EC: 236-881-5; CAS: 13530-68-2)
    • Cr VI: Dichromium tris(chromate) (EC: 246-356-2; CAS: 24613-89-6)
    • Cr VI: Potassium dichromate (EC: 231-906-6; CAS: 7778-50-9)

 

Annex XVII Restricted substances - to be observed immediately

List of substances that may only be used under certain conditions or are subject to other restrictions

 

Classification as substances of very high concern - preliminary stage Candidate list

List of substances proposed by member states or ECHA for classification as "Substances of Very High Concern" and subsequently for inclusion in the Candidate List

 

Candidate list - preliminary stage Annex XIV; information obligation

List of substances of very high concern eligible for authorization. These substances trigger the information obligation under REACH Article 33 and entry in the SCIP database.

  • - n-hexane (EC: 203-777-6; CAS: 110-54-3); used in adhesives, sealants and fillers, coating products, non-metallic surface products and  others
    -    4,4'-[2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)ethylidene]diphenol and its salts; used in polymers, manufacture of rubber products
    o    Group members:
    o    4,4'-[2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)ethylidene]diphenol (bisphenol AF) (EC: 216-036-7; CAS: 1478-61-1)
    o    Reaction mass of 4,4'-[2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)ethylidene]diphenol and benzyl(diethylamino)diphenylphosphonium 4-[1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane -2-yl]phenolate (1:1) (EC: - ; CAS: - )
    o    Reaction mass of 4,4'-[2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)ethylidene]diphenol and benzyltriphenylphosphonium, salt with 4,4'-[2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)ethylidene]diphenol (1:1) (EC: - ; CAS: - )
    o    disodium 4,4'-[2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)ethylidene]diphenolate (EC: 425-060-9; CAS: - ) 
    o    Benzyltriphenylphosphonium, salt with 4,4'-[2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)ethylidene]bis[phenol] (1:1) (EC: 278-305-5 ; CAS: 75768-65-9)
    o    Phosphonium, tributyl(2-methoxypropyl)-, salt with 4,4'-[2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)ethylidene]bis[phenol] (1:1) (EC: 468-740-0; CAS: 126049-00-1)
    o    Reaction products of benzene, chlorine and sulfur chloride (S2Cl2) with 4,4'-[2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)ethylidene]diphenol (EC: 469-080-6; CAS: 921213-47-0)
    o    benzyl(diethylamino)diphenylphosphonium 4-[1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propan-2-yl]phenolate (EC: 479-100-5; CAS: 577705-90-9)
    o    N,N-dibutyl-N-methylbutane-1-aminium 4-[1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane-2-yl]phenolate (EC: 443-330-4; CAS: - )

 

Recommendation rounds for Annex XIV - preliminary stage Annex XIV

List of substances on the candidate list that are evaluated by ECHA for inclusion in Annex XIV.

The 12th recommendation round was published on February 08, 2024 and finalized on November 18, 2025:

  • Recommended for inclusion in Annex XIV:
    • Barium diboron tetraoxide (EC: 237-222-4; CAS: 13701-59-2)
    • Diphenyl(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phosphine oxide (EC: 278-355-8; CAS: 75980-60-8)
    • S-(tricyclo(5.2.1.0'2,6)deca-3-en-8(or 9)-yl O-(isopropyl or isobutyl or 2-ethylhexyl) O-(isopropyl or isobutyl or 2-ethylhexyl) phosphorodithioate (EC: 401-850-9; CAS: 255881-94-8)
    • Melamine (EC: 203-615-4; CAS: 108-78-1)
  • Not recommended for inclusion in Annex XIV - will be reconsidered in the next round:
    • bis(2-ethylhexyl) tetrabromophthalate covering any of the individual isomers and/or combinations thereof:

 

Annex XIV Substances subject to authorization - to be considered immediately

List of substances that are banned after the so-called "sunset date" without authorization. Authorization can be applied for until the "latest application date".

  • Last change: May 01, 2022, entries 55 to 59
  • The last remaining "sunset dates" expired on May 01, 2025.
  • This means that all substances listed in Annex XIV are banned without authorization.
     

Would you like to read more REACH updates from 2025? Then you can find the articles here:

Update REACH 2025.04 from September 08, 2025
Update REACH 2025.03 from June 10, 2025
Update REACH 2025.02 from March 10, 2025
 



Material compliance management not only encompasses ensuring compliance with legal requirements for substances and mixtures (chemicals), but also stands for the monitoring and control of all substances that make up products (articles).

Rely on well thought-out material compliance management at an early stage - for legally compliant products, secure supply chains and sustainable business success.

You can find out everything you need to know in our Material & Environmental Compliance Officer course  (in German) in accordance with ISO/IEC 17024, including personal certification.
 



Do you have questions about other details of the REACH Regulation? We will be happy to provide you with further support. Simply send us an e-mail with your question or use our contact form.

 

Author's note

This article has been machine translated into English.

 




TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

The REACH Regulation (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals) is a Europe-wide chemicals regulation. It regulates the registration, evaluation, authorization and restriction of chemical substances. Its main objective is to protect human health and the environment from potential risks posed by chemicals and at the same time to promote the competitiveness of the chemical industry in the EU.

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA ) is an EU body responsible for implementing the REACH Regulation. Its mission is to promote the safe use of chemicals in Europe and thus ensure the protection of humans and the environment.

SVHC stands for "Substance of Very High Concern", i.e. a substance of very high concern that is included on the candidate list of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).

Published on 02.02.2026
Category: Focus Industry, Focus Consumer Goods & Retail, Fokus Electrical and Wireless, Fokus Medical Devices, Insider-Compliance, Compliance

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