Regulatory updates from CARACAL: what is new for the REACH and CLP Regulations

On July 1–2, 2026, Brussels hosted the 58th meeting of CARACAL (Competent Authorities for REACH and CLP). The meeting outlined major strategic updates and technical amendments set to impact the regulatory compliance of European chemical companies.

1. REACH Revision: The Commission’s New Approach

The European Commission has officially announced a clear change of course, abandoning plans for a comprehensive revision of REACH through the ordinary legislative procedure in order to ensure industry stability. Instead, regulatory effectiveness will be pursued within the current framework through comitology, focusing on:

• Harmonization and digitalization: streamlining authorization and restriction procedures to reduce administrative and bureaucratic burdens.
• Alignment with CLP: progressively adapting REACH information requirements to the new hazard classes introduced by the CLP Regulation.
• Animal Welfare: integrating the roadmap for phasing out animal testing, which was adopted on June 1, 2026.
• Enforcement and E-commerce: building synergies with the future European Product Act and the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR).
• SME Support: establishing “EU Chemicals Innovation and Substitution Hubs” to accelerate the development of safer and more sustainable products.
  
  

2. Revision of the CLP Regulation: Annex VI Notes and Additivity

Technical discussions defined substantial changes for managing substance and mixture risks, to be introduced into Annex VI through two separate ATPs (Adaptations to Technical Progress):

• Notes Y, Z, and 14–21: the principle of additivity of concentrations is introduced for mixtures containing substances classified as endocrine disruptors (ED) or PBT/vPvB; the fractions of individual components must be summed up to check whether critical thresholds are exceeded. Furthermore, Note Y specifies that PBT classification applies if the siloxane D4 exceeds 0.1%.
• 25th ATP (Notes 22 and 23): Based on the formation of a common molecular metabolite (e.g., alkylbenzene derivatives), these new notes require the summation of concentrations in mixtures to evaluate cumulative reproductive toxicity.
  
  

3. Global Alignment: the new GHS ATP for CLP

The status of the future GHS ATP, which will transpose revisions 8–11 of the UN system into the CLP, was presented. In addition to redefining criteria for skin corrosion, eye damage, and mutagenicity, the ATP will introduce NAMs (New Approach Methodologies) for the regulatory use of in vitro testing. Adoption is expected in Q4 2026, with mandatory application estimated for Q3 2028.

4. Legislative Simplification: agreement on Omnibus VI

A political agreement was reached on the Omnibus VI package, aimed at introducing flexibility in B2B transactions, font-size exemptions for consumer labels, and the use of QR codes. The application of certain provisions under Reg. (EU) 2024/2865 is postponed by 18 months ("Stop the clock"), with a 24-month transition period allowed for clearing existing stocks.

Additional Strategic Topics on the Agenda:

• Dossier Evaluation: optimizing ECHA compliance checks to accelerate dossier updates in the presence of SVHCs (Substances of Very High Concern).
• Definition of Nanomaterials: aligning REACH Annexes with EC Recommendation 2022, introducing new information requirements for specific nanoforms.
• Restrictions and Authorizations: studying flexible criteria to run restrictions and Annex XIV processes in parallel, thereby optimizing chemical risk management.