November 2025

ECHA announced that on 5 November 2025, 1,1'-(ethane-1,2-diyl)bis[pentabromobenzene] (Abbreviation: DBDPE) was included as a member of the SVHC Candidate List.

On 27 June 2025, the European Chemical Agency (ECHA) launched a 45-days public consultation on the substance, 1,1'-(ethane-1,2-diyl)bis[pentabromobenzene] (DBDPE), as a new potential Substance of Very High Concern (SVHC) with specifics shown in the table below.

After further discussion within ECHA’s Member State Committee, DBDPE was concluded to be a member of the SVHC Candidate List on 5 November 2025.

The number of SVHCs on the Candidate List is updated to 251 entries.

Details of this new SVHC candidate list’s member are summarized in the table below.

*Remark:

VPvB = very Persistent and very Bioaccumulative

Manufacturers and importers should take note of DBDPE and its potential and current use in their processes or products to plan accordingly.

The European Commission adopted Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/1482, amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 on Persistent Organic Pollutants. It sets updated unintentional trace contaminant limits for certain polybrominated diphenyl ethers in mixtures and products, with thresholds varying by material source (virgin or recycled) and product type.

The measure takes effect from 17 November 2025.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are a group of brominated flame retardants historically used in plastics, textiles, electrical and electronic equipment, and other consumer products. They persist in the environment, can bioaccumulate in living organisms, and pose risks to ecosystems and human health.

The European Commission adopted Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/1482, amending Annex I, Part A of Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). This regulation introduces updated unintentional trace contaminant (UTC) limits for mixtures and articles containing PBDEs—including tetraBDE, pentaBDE, hexaBDE, heptaBDE, and decaBDE—based on their origin (virgin or recovered materials) and product type.

This amendment reflects updated science, detection capabilities, and EU obligations under international agreements, notably the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants and the Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution. It supports the Union’s commitment to protect human health and the environment. Businesses must review their compliance strategies, particularly for recovered materials, toys, and childcare products subject to phased reductions through 2027.

The regulation recognizes that PBDEs in the EU market are now found predominantly in articles or mixtures manufactured from recovered materials. To manage technical feasibility and allow progressive adaptation by industry, differential UTC limits are applied depending on whether the product contains recovered material and whether it falls into sensitive categories such as toys and childcare products.

1. Requirement

Unintentional Trace Contaminant Limits (sum of tetra-, penta-, hexa-, hepta-, and decaBDE):

2. Exemptions

Food Contact Material (FCM) and articles are exempted from this regulation as these PBDEs, in principle, should not be present in these products according to Regulation (EU) No. 10/2011 on plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with food.

3. Implementation

The restrictions on manufacturing, importing, exporting or using tetra-, penta-, hexa-, hepta-, and decaBDE start on 17 November 2025 (20 days after publication in the Official Journal).

The Executive Order of BEK nr 464 of 02/05/2025 issued by Denmark on 2 May 2025 is the implementation of the national ban on the import and sale of PFAS in clothing, footwear, and consumer‑use waterproofing agents for clothing and footwear.

Executive Order BEK nr 464 of 02/05/2025 took effect on 1 July 2025, with the actual enforcement of the ban commencing on 1 July 2026. This order represents the national ban on the import and sale of Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in clothing and footwear, and consumer-use waterproofing agents in Denmark. Main contents of this legal regulation are as follows:

1. Application scope

• Clothing

• Footwear

• Waterproofing agents for clothing or footwear for private use

• Textile products (personal protective equipment (PPE) excepted)

Exemption:

• Recycled clothing or footwear

• PPE

• Medical devices

• Transit cargo

2. Limit

• Total fluorine content of 50 mg F/k

Note: Please note that the limit does not apply if the fluorine content comes from a substance that is not PFAS. That means the fluorine source may be inorganic chemicals. The Danish Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) may request documentation for this.

Effective 1 October 2025, the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment implemented updates to its guidelines for nine categories of food contact materials and products. Eight recommendations were revised while one outdated recommendation was withdrawn. These adjustments aim to enhance consumer safety and align material standards with current scientific and regulatory developments.

The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung, BfR) revised several of its guidelines for materials and articles intended for contact with food. In total, eight existing recommendations have been updated, introducing stricter limits, new substance approvals, and updated testing methods. Additionally, one outdated recommendation has been withdrawn (without replacement).

Key changes include tighter migration limits for bisphenol A(BPA), new “not detected” requirements for acrylamide, expanded lists of permitted additives, and additional references to European Union (EU) regulations. The changes affect nine different material categories.

The intent of the revisions is to enhance consumer safety and align the guidelines with current regulatory and scientific developments. Parties should review the revisions for an understanding of the impact of the updates which became effective on 1 October 2025.

Main updates at a glance:

The latest standards for food contact coatings, GB 4806.10, and food contact silicone of GB 4806.16 in China have been published on 2 September 2025. The two mandatory standards will be implemented beginning 2 September 2026.

Two mandatory Chinese National Standards, food contact coatings, GB 4806.10, and food contact silicone, GB 4806.16, which were published on 2 September 2025, contain many changes.

• GB 4806.10-2025 for food contact coatings replaced and repealed GB 4806.10-2016.

• GB 4806.16-2025 for food contact silicone was divided from GB 4806.11-2016 which composited requirements for food contact rubber and silicone and had many updates. In 2023, GB 4806.11 was updated to the 2023 version which revised the rubber section only.

• GB 4806.16-2025 for food contact silicone and GB 4806.11-2023 for food contact rubber replaced and repealed GB 4806.11-2016.

Please find the key revisions to these standards as follows:

In view of the revisions, it is important for interested parties to review to ensure the compliance of testing, labeling, etc. The two mandatory standards will enter into force beginning 2 September 2026.