Regulatory Review – February 2026

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 Government 

Australia signed the first global pledge to protect climate-resilient coral reefs at the 7th session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7). Thus Australia is leading one of the world’s largest collective efforts to support a climate-resilient Great Barrier Reef. 

European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)

ECHA adds two chemicals to the Candidate List of substances of very high concern (SVHC) now contains 253 entries. The newly added substances are n-hexane and 4,4'-[2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)ethylidene]diphenol and its salts.

European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)

EFSA finds the sweetener sucralose safe when used as currently authorised; however, EFSA could not confirm the safety of additional uses of sucralose.

Taiwan Ministry of Environment

The Taiwan Ministry of Environment amended the Standards for Determining Specific Items and Scope of Environmental Impact Assessments for Development Activities to include a new category for carbon dioxide capture and subsequent storage (CCS) site development activities.

United Kingdom Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra)

The UK government introduced a new strategic approach to the UK REACH Candidate List of substances of very high concern (SVHC), replacing interim post-Brexit principles as of 24 February.

United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)

USEPA eliminated the Endangerment Finding, which had concluded that greenhouse gases endanger human health and should be regulated and were the cornerstone of climate action.

USEPA announced the finalization of a deregulatory action to repeal the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards for power plants, weakening clean air regulations that set mercury standards.

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