Regulatory Review – December 2025
This digest provides an overview of some of the latest regulatory news announcements of interest to the SETAC community. Please send your suggestions to [email protected].
Australian Parliament
The Australian Parliament has passed seven environment protection reform bills on Friday 28 November. The new laws will deliver stronger environmental protection and restoration, more efficient and robust project assessments, and greater accountability and transparency in decision-making.
European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)
ECHA’s Biocidal Products Committee (BPC) adopted four opinions on active substances and three on Union authorizations. However the BPC delayed adopting an opinion ethanol as an active substance in disinfectants.
ECHA announced an online tool called “B-risk for biocides,” to help companies, scientists and authorities assess the risks of biocides to bees. The tool supports compliance with ECHA’s 2024 Bee Guidance, which will apply from February 2026.
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)
ECCC issued three background statements to clarify greenhouse gas regulations, outline a strategy to strengthen carbon markets, and accelerate Canada’s clean power advantage.
Japan Ministry of Environment
At the 30th U.N. Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Brazil, Japanese Environment Minister Hirotaka Ishihara announced Japan’s Initiatives to Address Climate Change 2025 as the country’s contribution to climate action.
Malaysia Department of Environment
The department announced a transition to the Environmental Quality Monitoring System (EQMS) for monitoring of air quality data as well as freshwater and marine water quality.
South Korea Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment (MCEE)
The Korea Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment is offering support to companies and industries in Korea in repose to the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).
United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)
USEPA announced that it is extending several air quality compliance deadlines related to New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) and emissions guidelines for oil and natural gas operations under the Clean Air Act (CAA) sections 111(b) and 111(d) (40 CFR part 60, subparts OOOOb/c). The action is extending the November 28 deadline for net heating value continuous monitoring requirements and alternative performance test (sampling demonstration) option for flares and enclosed combustion devices by another 180 days. It had been previously extended by this administration for 120 days.
USEPA announced a proposal to extend the closure deadline for certain coal combustion residuals (CCR) surface impoundments operating under the alternative closure provisions. This proposal would defer the deadline from October 2028 to October 2031 for a small subset of owners and operators to cease operation of coal-fired boilers and complete the closure of unlined CCR surface impoundments larger than 40 acres.
A one-time PFAS reporting and recordkeeping regulation under TSCA section 8(a)(7), promulgated in 2023, required manufacturers (including importers) of PFAS between 2011–2022 to report data to USEPA related to exposure and existing environmental and health effects. The agency is proposing changes to clarify what must be reported and to adjust the data submission period. The proposal would also exempt PFAS manufactured or imported in mixtures or products at concentrations of 0.1% or less, as well as imported articles, certain products, impurities, research and development chemicals, and nonisolated intermediates.
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