On 17 June 2025, ECHA’s Enforcement Forum confirmed that the upcoming EU-wide enforcement project (REF-15) will concentrate on ensuring the safe use of chemicals in workplaces across the EU. Scheduled for inspections in 2027 with a report due in 2028, this initiative aims to verify that safety data sheets (SDS) accurately communicate risks and that recommended risk management measures are effectively implemented on-site.
Key Focus Areas:
* Verification of compliance by companies authorised to use substances of very high concern (SVHC).
* Checks on the use of certain restricted hazardous substances under special workplace conditions (e.g., diisocyanates, NMP, DMF).
* Enhanced cooperation between REACH enforcement authorities and occupational safety and health regulators to better protect workers.
Pilot Project on Export Controls:
A new pilot project, starting inspections in 2026 with reporting in 2027, will monitor compliance with the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Regulation. This includes:
* Ensuring banned chemicals are not exported.
* Verifying that exports of hazardous chemicals are notified and accompanied by required information.
* Confirming third-party consent where applicable.
Additional Updates:
* The Enforcement Forum and its Biocidal Products Regulation Subgroup (BPRS) reviewed ongoing enforcement campaigns, including controls on online chemical sales and restrictions on hazardous substances in consumer goods.
* Discussions included expanding analytical methods to support restriction enforcement and national campaigns on veterinary pest control and disinfectants.
This multi-faceted enforcement approach underlines the EU’s commitment to protecting worker health and ensuring chemical safety from production to export.
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