New REACH restriction proposal on bisphenols
Germany's intention to restrict bisphenols and their salts with endocrine-disrupting properties for the environment in products with a high exposure potential
18 Jun 2026On 23 April 2026, Germany notified ECHA of its intention to submit a restriction proposal under Annex XVII of the REACH Regulation covering several bisphenols and their salts with endocrine-disrupting properties for the environment. The restriction dossier is currently under preparation, with formal submission to ECHA expected in March 2027.
The initiative forms part of the European strategy to regulate bisphenols through a group approach, aimed at restricting the use of substances with similar structural characteristics and hazard profiles.
The substances currently covered by the restriction intention include:
- Bisphenol A (BPA) (CAS No. 80-05-7);
- Bisphenol B (BPB) (CAS No. 77-40-7);
- Bisphenol S (BPS) (CAS No. 80-09-1);
- Bisphenol F (BPF) (CAS No. 620-92-8);
- Bisphenol AF (BPAF) (CAS No. 1478-61-1) and eight of its salts.
A particularly significant aspect of the proposal is the introduction of a mechanism that would allow the European Commission to extend the scope of the restriction, where necessary, to additional bisphenols identified at EU level as endocrine disruptors for the environment.
The proposed restriction targets uses associated with a significant potential for environmental release, including:
- leather tanning and leather articles;
- textile finishing agents and textile articles;
- thermal paper;
- polyvinyl chloride (PVC) articles and mixtures.
Although the final content of the restriction has not yet been defined, companies operating within the affected supply chains should already begin raising awareness among their suppliers about the need to monitor the potential presence of bisphenols in materials and products, while closely following future regulatory developments.
This initiative confirms the increasing focus of the European authorities on endocrine disruptors (which were formally introduced as dedicated hazard classes under the CLP Regulation through Regulation (EU) 2023/707) and may lead to new regulatory obligations and restrictions for a wide range of industrial sectors in the coming years.
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