On May 8, 2026, the European Commission published a draft regulation proposing to amend Annex XVII of the REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 to restrict the presence of carcinogenic, mutagenic, and toxic for reproduction (CMR) category 1A and 1B substances in childcare products. The proposal would prohibit the placing on the market of childcare products containing CMR substances above specified concentration limits, including a default limit of 10 mg/kg in homogeneous materials and substance-specific limits for substances such as formaldehyde, bisphenol A (BPA), bisphenol S (BPS), phthalates, aromatic amines, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), heavy metals, nitrosamines, pesticides, and organotin compounds. The proposed restriction would apply to products designed to facilitate seating, sleep, relaxation, hygiene, feeding, sucking, transportation, or protection of children. Exemptions are proposed for second-hand childcare products, inaccessible materials, medical devices covered by Regulation (EU) 2017/745, and food-contact materials regulated under Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004. The proposal also introduces a dynamic mechanism whereby newly classified CMR category 1A or 1B substances under the CLP Regulation would automatically become subject to the restriction after a 36-month transition period. The initiative aims to strengthen the protection of children from exposure to hazardous chemicals and support the objectives of the EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability by aligning the level of protection in childcare products with that provided for toys and other consumer products.
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