17 December 2025 - News release Highlights from December RAC and SEAC meetings

ECHA/NR/25/46

The Committees for Risk Assessment (RAC) and for Socio-Economic Analysis (SEAC) progressed their evaluation of the proposed restriction on PFAS. RAC is expected to adopt its opinion in March 2026 while SEAC will agree its draft opinion for further consultation. RAC also adopted its first harmonised classification and labelling opinion on a new hazard class: very persistent, very bioaccumulative (vPvB).

Helsinki, 17 December 2025 - In their December meetings, RAC and SEAC continued evaluating the EU-wide proposal to restrict per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Both committees reached provisional conclusions on PFAS manufacturing, while SEAC also concluded on electronics and semiconductors.

Both committees also continued examining the horizontal issues relevant to the entire restriction. These include, for example, concentration limits above which PFAS could be restricted; PFAS management plans; recycling; spare parts; practicality - including enforceability - and monitorability, and whether the proposed restriction is the most appropriate EU-wide measure to address the risks from PFAS.

The tentative plan for the Committees' March 2026 meetings includes:

• Final discussion and adoption of RAC's opinion; and
• Discussion and agreement on SEAC's draft opinion.

The 60-day stakeholder consultation on SEAC's draft opinion is expected to begin soon after the draft opinion has been agreed at the Committee's March meeting.

Harmonised classification and labelling

RAC adopted seven opinions on harmonised classification and labelling, including the classification of 4,4'-methylene bis(dibutyldithiocarbamate) as very persistent, very bioaccumulative (vPvB). This is RAC's first opinion to address a new CLP hazard class following the 2023 revision of the Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulation. Summaries of these opinions and on the proposed classifications are available in the annex.

Occupational exposure limits

RAC adopted its opinion on the scientific evaluation of a limit value for anthraquinone. The Committee derived an exposure-risk relationship (ERR) expressing the excess cancer risk and recommended a non-cancer 8h time-weighted average (TWA) limit to protect against repeated dose adverse effects, primarily kidney changes.

Applications for authorisation

RAC and SEAC agreed on 10 draft opinions on applications for authorisation concerning chromium trioxide.

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More information about committee topics can be found in the annex. Listen also to our Safer Chemicals Podcast with the RAC Chair Roberto Scazzola and the Chair of SEAC, María Ottati.