On 1 June 2026, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) published a report indicating continued progress in the implementation of the EU's chemicals regulations REACH and CLP. The report highlights improvements in registration compliance, classification and labelling consistency, and enforcement cooperation among member states, impacting chemical manufacturers, importers, and downstream users across the EU.
The document, released by ECHA's management board, serves as an annual performance review covering the 2025 calendar year. It is a mandatory report that assesses the effectiveness of the two key pieces of EU chemicals legislation: the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation and the Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) regulation. The report does not set new numerical targets but provides concrete data on compliance rates and enforcement actions.
Progress in registration and compliance
According to the report, the number of REACH registration dossiers that fully comply with information requirements has increased by 12% compared to the previous year. ECHA attributes this to improved guidance and targeted compliance checks. However, the agency notes that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) still face challenges in meeting data requirements, particularly for higher-tonnage substances. This creates a trade-off between ensuring high safety standards and maintaining the competitiveness of smaller chemical firms.
Classification and labelling consistency
The report also highlights progress in harmonising classification and labelling under CLP. ECHA reports a 15% reduction in diverging classifications for the same substance across different registrants, which improves regulatory predictability. Nevertheless, the agency acknowledges that inconsistencies remain for complex substances, such as multi-constituent substances and those with unknown or variable composition. This affects downstream users who rely on accurate hazard information for risk management.
Enforcement cooperation
ECHA's Forum for Exchange of Information on Enforcement conducted 18 joint enforcement projects in 2025, up from 14 in 2024. These projects targeted online sales of chemicals, import controls, and compliance with restrictions. The report notes that enforcement remains uneven across member states, with some national authorities lacking resources for systematic checks. This disparity creates an uneven playing field for businesses operating across borders.
Impact on stakeholders
For chemical manufacturers, the improved compliance rates mean a more level playing field, as non-compliant competitors face increased enforcement. However, the additional data requirements and compliance checks impose costs, particularly on SMEs. For downstream users, such as formulators and industrial users, better classification consistency reduces uncertainty in supply chain communication. EU regulators benefit from enhanced data quality for risk assessment, but the report implicitly calls for more resources for enforcement authorities. Civil society and environmental NGOs may view the progress as positive but insufficient, given the persistent gaps in data for many substances.
Expected institutional follow-up
The report will feed into the European Commission's ongoing evaluation of REACH and CLP, which is expected to propose revisions by 2027. ECHA's findings may influence the scope of future regulatory amendments, particularly regarding SME support and enforcement harmonisation.