End-of-Life Vehicles and trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) reclassification
End-of-Life Vehicles Regulation
New chemical safety role for vehicles
The EU Regulation on circularity requirements for vehicle design and on management of end-of-life vehicles entered into force on 13 August 2026.
The Regulation establishes a lifecycle framework covering vehicle design, production, collection, dismantling, reuse, recycling and final treatment.
It applies from 1 September 2028, when it will replace the existing End-of-Life Vehicles Directive.
Within the new framework, ECHA will support the European Commission’s work on substances of concern in vehicles, parts and components.
The Commission is expected to assess the presence of these substances and the extent to which they may negatively affect reuse and recycling or adversely affect human health or the environment.
The Regulation also provides a framework for further assessment of substance restrictions and associated exemptions. This creates a potentially important future information requirement for vehicle manufacturers, component suppliers and material suppliers, particularly where chemical composition information must be obtained across several supply chain tiers.
The European Commission’s press release states that the “measures will encourage vehicle design that makes dismantling, reuse, recycling and recovery easier”.
This is relevant for businesses across the automotive, components, materials and recycling value chains.
Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA)
EU reclassification proposed
ECHA’s Risk Assessment Committee (RAC) has adopted an opinion proposing a significantly more stringent harmonised classification for trifluoroacetic acid (TFA).
The proposed classification includes reproductive toxicity and the EU hazard classes for substances that are persistent, mobile and toxic (PMT) and very persistent and very mobile (vPvM).
The RAC opinion is not yet a legally binding harmonised classification. However, the proposed changes may have wider implications for classification and labelling, product stewardship, workplace protection and environmental compliance if they progress through the EU regulatory process.
Companies should consider whether TFA, TFA salts or substances that may form TFA are present in their products, processes, supply chains or waste streams, and monitor the next stages of the harmonised classification process.
If the proposed reclassification of TFA may affect your substances, products or supply chains, H2 Compliance can help you assess the potential implications and plan appropriate next steps.
For support, contact the team here.
