EU chemical safety rules take effect to streamline assessments

New EU rules aimed at streamlining chemical safety assessments has entered into force on January 01, 2026. The ‘one substance, one assessment’ (OSOA) framework seeks to harmonise how chemicals are evaluated under different EU laws, covering products ranging from toys and food to pesticides and biocides.

Under the new system, chemical assessments will become more consistent, transparent and efficient, helping authorities identify risks earlier and take faster regulatory action when needed. The changes are designed to strengthen protection of human health and the environment, while reducing duplication of work across EU agencies.

A central element of the package is a new common data platform on chemicals, expected to become operational within the next three years. Openly accessible, the platform will act as a central hub for chemical data collected under various EU regulations, allowing public authorities to re-use information more effectively and support better, evidence-based decision-making, the European Commission said in a release.

The framework also enhances cooperation between EU chemicals agencies by clarifying responsibilities and consolidating scientific and technical tasks. In addition, a new monitoring and outlook system will systematically track emerging chemical risks, using indicators and early-warning tools to enable the EU to respond more quickly to new concerns.

“By streamlining the way chemicals are assessed, we can act earlier and more decisively to protect people’s health and the environment. This new framework will make it easier to access reliable data, strengthen our scientific cooperation, and improve the EU’s ability to anticipate and manage chemical risks,” said Jessika Roswall, commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Economy.

ALCHEMPro News Desk (HU)