European Commission Updates REACH Restrictions Roadmap for Hazardous Chemicals
On 2 July 2026, the European Commission presented a revised rolling list of its REACH Restrictions Roadmap, part of the EU framework for the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals.
The Roadmap gives an updated overview of ongoing and planned restrictions on hazardous substances under the REACH Regulation. According to the Commission, the revised version introduces a clearer structure, shows progress made since the Roadmap was first introduced in 2022, and includes new entries to improve transparency and support stakeholder engagement.
Since 2022, 11 REACH restrictions covering hundreds of hazardous substances have been adopted, while six more are in the final stages of evaluation. The Commission also highlights continued work on major initiatives, including restrictions related to PFAS, hexavalent chromium substances, octocrylene, and other persistent, bioaccumulative, toxic and endocrine-disrupting substances.
This update reflects the EU’s continuing effort to reduce exposure of people and the environment to hazardous chemicals. It also shows how chemical regulation is evolving in response to scientific evidence, environmental priorities, industrial realities and public health concerns.
For ChIRS candidates and prospective students, the updated REACH Restrictions Roadmap illustrates the kind of real-world regulatory challenges addressed in the Joint Master in Chemical Innovation and Regulation for Sustainability. Understanding how hazardous substances are assessed, restricted and replaced is central to developing safer chemicals, supporting sustainable innovation and contributing to the green transition.
Read more: European Commission — The Commission advances work on restrictions of hazardous chemical substances
