What’s happening?

What’s happening? Here is an update for March 2025:

PPWR: identifying harmful chemicals in packaging
REACH Regulation: EU committed to revision
Microplastics: reporting update
California Prop 65: vinyl acetate listed as carcinogen

PPWR: identifying harmful chemicals in packaging

The European Union has moved towards improving the safety of packaging materials with its new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) that came into force on 11 February 2025.

Next step is for the European Chemical Agency (ECHA) to identify harmful chemicals in packaging and assess how they affect safety, reuse and recycling.

Based on this input, the European Commission will develop follow-up measures, including possible restrictions on the use of certain materials that pose health or environmental risks.

The goals of this Regulation – reducing packaging waste and its environmental impact – are at the core of many Landbell Group services.

Please contact H2 Compliance for both chemical and environmental compliance support.

REACH Regulation: EU committed to revision

The revision of the REACH Regulation – the EU’s key chemicals management legislation – has been in the pipeline since 2020. Following several delays, the European Commission has announced plans to reveal the revised legal text by the end of 2025.

The revision is expected to ease the burden on European industry, ensure faster decision-making, simplify regulatory requirements, and thus boost the competitiveness of European companies.

The commitment is part of the Competitiveness Compass for the EU published on 29 January 2025 (see article here for more information).

The framework document outlines the timelines for other initiatives that regulate materials and chemicals on the European market:

Clean Industrial Deal, published on 26 February 2025
Chemicals Industry Package, expected in Q4 2025, and
Advanced Materials Act and Circular Economy Act, expected in 2026

The Commission is also preparing measures to ease the challenges and reporting obligations for small and medium businesses.

Compass is monitoring developments and will publish updates as they come.

Microplastics: reporting update

A comprehensive EU restriction on intentionally added microplastics (Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2055) – in effect since October 2023 – contained certain exemptions imposing specific reporting obligations.

The reporting requirements concern estimated annual emissions into the environment of synthetic polymer microparticles (SPM), and apply to manufacturers, industrial downstream users and suppliers placing SPM on the market for consumer and professional uses for the first time, including transportation.

This information must be submitted annually to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) by 31 May. ECHA will then make the information available to Member States.

The annual reporting commences in 2026 or 2027, depending on the uses for the previous calendar year.

More information on the SPM reporting requirements for various uses, applicable timelines and a reference to ECHA’s document is available in this H2 Compliance article.

California Prop 65: vinyl acetate listed as carcinogen

Effective 3 January 2025, vinyl acetate (CAS 108-05-4) is now listed as a carcinogen under California’s Proposition (Prop) 65.

Vinyl acetate is a synthetic chemical with a high production volume in many industrial, consumer and personal care applications.

It is also approved as a food additive for starches and chewing gum. Full notice of the listing can be found here.

If you need assistance navigating the Prop 65 listing of vinyl acetate and potential labelling implications for your products, please contact H2 Compliance.

H2 Compliance has extensive experience helping many clients navigate the complexities of Prop 65.