2026 Chemical Regulatory Radar: KKDIK, REACH, PFAS, SVHC and Global Compliance Updates

The first half of 2026 was highly active for chemical management, product safety and sustainability-related regulations worldwide. Authorities in different regions continued to strengthen chemical registration systems, update hazard communication rules, increase control over high-priority substances such as PFAS and SVHCs, and integrate digital product information more deeply into regulatory frameworks.

These developments send a clear message to companies:

Chemical regulatory compliance is no longer limited to preparing SDSs, updating labels or submitting registration dossiers. Product formulation, raw material selection, supply chain management, import operations, market access, sustainability claims and customer requirements must now be managed as connected parts of the same compliance strategy.

North America: 

Hazard Communication and PFAS Reporting in Focus

In the United States, the extension of OSHA Hazard Communication Standard compliance deadlines provided manufacturers, importers and distributors with additional time to update SDSs, labels and classification processes. However, this extra time should not be seen as a reason to delay action. It should be used as an important preparation period to review existing documentation, supplier information and internal compliance processes.

EPA's revised timeline for PFAS reporting under TSCA also highlights the growing importance of PFAS inventory control, historical product records, raw material information and supplier declarations. PFAS is no longer only an environmental topic. It has become a critical issue for product compliance, customer expectations and market access.

In Canada, updates to the Domestic Substances List and ongoing Canada–U.S. hazard communication alignment remain important developments for companies supplying products to the North American market.

European Union: 

PFAS, SVHCs, Detergents and Digital Product Passport

The European Union remained one of the most active regulatory regions during the first half of 2026, particularly in relation to PFAS, SVHCs, detergents, cosmetics, plant protection products and digital product information.

The PFAS restriction process continues to move forward through ECHA committee evaluations and consultation stages. This process is not only relevant for PFAS manufacturers. It may also affect raw materials, processing aids, coatings, packaging, textiles, electronic equipment and industrial products that may contain PFAS or PFAS-related substances.

The addition of new substances to the Candidate List of Substances of Very High Concern is also important for article producers, importers and brand owners. These updates require companies to review supplier declarations, SCIP notification obligations, customer communication and internal product compliance checks.

The new EU Detergents Regulation, new substance restrictions under cosmetics legislation, digital labelling steps for plant protection products and the development of the Digital Product Passport under the ESPR framework all show that product information management is becoming a strategic compliance function for companies placing products on the EU market.

Product compliance is no longer limited to the physical product itself. Digital product data, composition information, sustainability claims, safe use information and supply chain evidence are becoming essential parts of regulatory compliance.

Türkiye: 

KKDIK Is One of the Most Critical Topics for 2026

For Türkiye, one of the most critical compliance topics in the second half of 2026 is the KKDIK process.

The KKDIK interim registration timeline, registration fees and supply chain obligations create direct operational risks for companies manufacturing, importing or placing chemical substances and mixtures on the Turkish market.

This process should not be managed only as a "registration number collection" exercise. Companies need to assess several key areas together:

• Substance and raw material inventory
• CAS/EC number verification
• Tonnage band analysis
• Supplier and Only Representative coverage
• SDS and Turkish SDS compliance
• Customer requests and declaration processes
• Import continuity
• Alternative supplier risks

For importers in particular, this is no longer only a logistics or customs issue. Chemical registration obligations may directly affect whether a product can continue to be imported, sold and used in the Turkish market.

For this reason, KKDIK should be followed not only by regulatory or HSE teams, but also by purchasing, import, quality, sales and senior management teams.

United Kingdom: 

A Separate Compliance Route from the EU

After Brexit, the United Kingdom continues to follow a separate regulatory route while strengthening its own chemical compliance framework.

Updates under GB CLP, BPR, PIC and UK REACH show that companies supplying the UK market should not assume that EU compliance documentation will automatically be sufficient.

The Alternative Transitional Registration model, PFAS strategy, SVHC-related consultation activities and restrictions on tattoo inks and permanent make-up products are among the key topics that require separate monitoring for UK market access.

Therefore, EU and UK product compliance should be considered together, but managed through separate regulatory files and separate tracking processes.

Asia-Pacific: 

GHS, RoHS, K-REACH and New Chemical Management

The Asia-Pacific region also saw important developments in chemical inventory management, GHS alignment, RoHS requirements, new chemical substance management and hazardous chemicals safety during the first half of 2026.

China continues to strengthen its regulatory framework for new chemical substance environmental management, restrictions of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic products, GHS alignment and hazardous chemicals safety.

In South Korea, developments under K-REACH are particularly important, including preparations to disclose certain previously confidential substance identities and proposed changes related to joint registration, data submission and Only Representative transfers.

Taiwan's work on GHS Revision 8, Japan's updates to priority assessment chemical substances and Vietnam's implementation steps under its new Chemicals Law also show that country-specific regulatory monitoring is becoming increasingly important for companies supplying products to Asian markets.

For companies operating in this region or exporting to these markets, a single "Asia compliance" approach is no longer sufficient. Country-specific obligations must be assessed separately.

Latin America and Oceania: 

Regional Compliance Systems Are Becoming More Structured

In Latin America, developments in Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Peru show that chemical safety and product compliance systems are becoming more structured across the region.

Updates related to cosmetics, pesticides, agricultural chemicals, hazardous substances in electronic equipment and general chemical safety management indicate that companies supplying Latin American markets need stronger regional compliance monitoring.

In Oceania, updates to AICIS classification guidance in Australia and the hazardous substances reporting and notification portal in New Zealand reflect the broader shift toward digital and risk-based chemical management systems.

These developments confirm that global chemical product compliance now requires more data, more declarations and stronger traceability.

Expert PSR Assessment

The regulatory developments of the first half of 2026 clearly show that chemical compliance is no longer a reactive documentation exercise.

Updating existing SDSs and labels is necessary, but not sufficient. Companies must manage product portfolios, raw material supply chains, country-specific registration obligations, restricted substance risks, customer declaration processes and sustainability expectations in an integrated way.

In the coming period, competitive advantage will not belong to companies that wait until the last deadline. It will belong to companies that know their chemical inventory, identify critical substances in advance, verify supplier data and regularly monitor market-specific obligations.

At Expert PSR, our recommendation is clear:

Before entering the second half of 2026, companies should review their chemical inventory, SDS and labelling infrastructure, KKDIK status, PFAS/SVHC risks and target market obligations.

Regulations do not wait.

Leaving compliance to the last minute is no longer only an administrative risk. It is a supply chain risk, a sales risk, a customer risk and a market access risk.