Chemical Law Change Ahead in EU Seen Likely to Raise Costs in US

The European Union will propose many regulatory changes this year that could substantially increase US companies’ costs and prevent exports of some chemicals or products made with them to the region, attorneys and toxicologists said Tuesday.

On Feb. 7 the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) plans to release a proposal to restrict thousands of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) under the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH).

Expected by spring are proposed revisions to REACH regulation followed by other regulatory changes that will affect companies making batteries, electronics, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and veterinary medicines or exporting them to the European ...