Highlights from March RAC and SEAC meetings

Highlights from March RAC and SEAC meetings

ECHA/NR/26/15

The Risk Assessment Committee (RAC) and the Socio-Economic Analysis Committee (SEAC) advanced restriction work on certain chromium (VI) substances and octocrilene and on applications for authorisation. RAC also adopted opinions on classification and labelling (including on cannabidiol) and on occupational exposure limits.

18 March 2026 - RAC and SEAC both progressed on the universal PFAS restriction proposal under REACH at their March meetings. RAC adopted its opinion on 2 March and SEAC agreed its draft opinion on 10 March.

Both committees also made progress on restriction proposals concerning certain chromium (VI) substances and octocrilene.

Harmonised classification and labelling

RAC recommends an EU-wide harmonised classification for cannabidiol as a reproductive toxicant that may harm fertility, the unborn child, and breast-fed children. In total, RAC adopted 11 opinions under CLH covering substances used in consumer products, industrial applications and agriculture. The opinions include classifications for reproductive toxicity, acute toxicity, aquatic hazards and skin/eye effects. Summaries of the opinions and of the proposed classifications are available in the annex.

Occupational exposure limits

RAC adopted its opinion on the scientific evaluation of a limit value for acetone oxime and butanone oxime. The Committee established an exposure-risk relationship (ERR) expressing the excess cancer risk and recommended a non-cancer 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) limit to protect against harm to blood and blood-forming system and olfactory epithelial degeneration (damage to the nose's smell-sensing lining).

Applications for authorisation

RAC and SEAC adopted five opinions on applications for authorisation. In addition, the committees agreed 11 draft opinions to be sent to applicants for comments; RAC also agreed one further draft opinion that SEAC will continue at its June 2026 plenary. All cases concern chromium (VI) substances.

The opinions and meeting minutes will be available on RAC's and SEAC's web pages in the near future. The agendas are already available.

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