ECHA Revises Solvent Safety Guidelines to Align with Expanded REACH Restrictions

The European Commission has tasked the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) with updating existing guidelines on the restricted aprotic solvent, 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) to also cover N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAC), and 1-ethylpyrrolidin-2-one (NEP). This follows the adoption of restrictions on DMAC and NEP, which mirror the approach previously taken for NMP and DMF under REACH. These restrictions aim to protect workers by establishing harmonised Derived No Exposure Levels (DNELs) for both inhalation and dermal routes. The updated guidelines are intended to support stakeholders and enforcement bodies by clarifying implementation requirements and demonstrating the interaction with Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) legislation. ECHA is instructed to revise content such as hazard profiles, exposure patterns, good practices, monitoring methods, and typical uses for these solvents. Input from industry and regulatory authorities will be collected during guideline development. The final guidelines are expected to be published by the first quarter of 2026.