As the EU Green Deal roles out, the ZeroPM regulatory watch will announce upcoming initiatives related to persistent and mobile substances. Our most recent update was prepared on Match 6th 2026.
ECHA’s Risk Assessment Committee (RAC) adopted its opinion on PFAS restriction proposal
The RAC has concluded its evaluation of the universal PFAS restriction proposal, submitted in January 2023 by the national authorities of the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Norway and Sweden. The RAC opinion is not yet publicly available, but ‘will be published soon’ according to ECHA. The Socio-Economic Analysis Committee (SEAC) is expected to adopt its draft opinion next week. Following the adoption, ECHA will launch the 60-day public consultation on the SEAC’s draft opinion.
ECHA launched public consultations on the harmonised classification of melamine and benzotriazole as a PMT and vPvM substances
ECHA launched the public consultation on the proposal for harmonised classification and labelling of melamine on 16 February. The proposed new classification subject to consultation are reproductive toxicity (Repr. 2), PMT and vPvM. The public consultation is open until 17 April 2026.
ECHA also launched the public consultation on the proposal for harmonised classification and labelling of 1H-benzotriazole and its inorganic salts and for methyl-1H-benzotriazole and its inorganic salts on 2 March. The proposed new classification subject to consultation include PMT and vPvM for both substance groups. The public consultations are open until 4 May 2026.
EU Court of Justice dismissed claims from cosmetic and pharma industry on Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive
The General Court of the EU dismissed on 18 February cases brought by associations and companies from the cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries to annul the extended producer responsibility (EPR) scheme introduced in the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive in 2024 (cases T‑169/25, T‑158/25 and joined cases T‑156/25, T‑157/25, T‑159/25 to T‑168/25, T‑170/25 and T‑171/25). The Directive’s EPR scheme established that producers of pharmaceuticals and cosmetics would contribute a minimum of 80% of the costs of quaternary treatment. The cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries contested the rationale to include only two sectors in the EPR system bearing alone the costs of quaternary treatment while other sectors also contribute to wastewater pollution. The Court dismissed the cases on the ground that applicants did not have legal standing to bring the cases as they are not ‘directly and individually concerned’ by the contested provisions. The case brought by Poland in March 2025 to annul the EPR system based on similar arguments is still pending.
Following the dismissal of the cases, associations representing the cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries have issued a statement on 25 February calling for a delay in the implementation of the EPR scheme and for a revision of the Directive. In the European Water Resilience Strategy, published in June 2025, the Commission announced an ‘updated study of the costs [of the EPR scheme] and its potential impacts on concerned sectors’. The Communication accompanying the Environmental Omnibus in December 2025 mentioned that the upcoming Circular Economy Act may include ‘larger scale reform of extended producer responsibility scheme’.
Council adopted the revision of the EU water legislation
The Council formally adopted the act amending the Water Framework Directive, the Groundwater Directive and the Environmental Quality Standards Directive on 17 February 2026. The act notably introduces surface and groundwater quality standards for PFAS. A final vote in the European Parliament to formally endorse the act is planned for end of March. Once endorsed by both institutions, the act will be published in the Official Journal.
The Netherlands launched a review of products containing active substances degrading into TFA
At the meeting of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed (SCoPAFF), Section Phytopharmaceuticals – Legislation, in January 2026, the Commission announced that the Netherlands had ‘initiated a review of certain products containing some PFAS substances that may form TFA, in line with the recent Danish review’. According to the Dutch representatives, the review is due to be completed in 2028. Sweden is currently reviewing the authorisations of 38 plant protection products containing active substances degrading into TFA, while Norway is doing a similar review for 13 plant protection products. Both countries also plan to have their review completed by April 2028.
Upcoming consultation deadlines:
- Deadline to contribute to the Call for evidence and reply to the public consultation for the evaluation of the Biocidal Products Regulation: 5 March 2026.
- Deadline to contribute to the consultation on the harmonised classification and labelling of melamine: 17 April 2026.
- Deadline to contribute to the consultation on the harmonised classification and labelling of benzotriazole and its inorganic salts: 04 May 2026.
Gantt Chart of upcoming actions related to persistent and mobile substances
Spreadsheet for further information
The ZeroPM regulatory watch itself is presented in this spreadsheet, which contains links for further information. This can be downloaded below.
The ZeroPM regulatory watch was last updated on 2026-03-06.
ZeroPM Regulatory Watch Year in Review 2025
2025 was a huge and at times tumultuous year for updates on EU policy initiatives contributing to the prevention, prioritisation and removal of PFAS and PMT/vPvM substances. Need a recap? We have compiled the biggest updates in 2025, as well as a list of issues we are looking towards in 2026 in the following document, which can be downloaded here.
ZeroPM Regulatory Watch Year in Review 2024
The recap of all the updates on EU policy initiatives contributing on PFAS and and PMT/vPvM substances during 2023 can be downloaded here.
ZeroPM Regulatory Watch Year in Review 2023
The recap of all the updates on EU policy initiatives contributing on PFAS and and PMT/vPvM substances during 2023 can be found below.
Please see also our video explaining the ZeroPM regulatory watch!
