Regulatory Review - September 2026
This digest provides an overview of some of the latest regulatory announcements of interest to the SETAC community. Please send your suggestions to [email protected].
In alphabetical order
Australia National Environmental Protection Agency
New national environment protection reforms commenced 24 August. They will strengthen the powers of the National Environmental Protection Agency. The reforms include higher penalties, new environment protection orders and expanded audit powers to improve monitoring and compliance.
The Australia National EPA is inviting feedback on the administration of Australia’s national environmental protection laws to inform program activities and priorities until 30 September.
Australia’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
DCCEEW announced that a major update to the Environmental-Economic Accounts (EEA) Dashboard went live on 3 September. The EEA Dashboard provides information to help users better understand the value of Australia’s natural assets.
Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (ANVISA)
On August 28, ANVISA updated its rules RDC 1.040/2026 and IN 468/2026. The amendments primarily correct inconsistencies in Brazil's incorporation of MERCOSUR requirements, but there are several practical changes for industries registering products, including a requirement for listing a toxicology (poison) center number and allowing simplified label changes and in-house pH testing.
European Chemical Agency (ECHA)
On 8 September, ECHA’s Risk Assessment Committee (RAC) concluded that glyphosate does not warrant a classification for carcinogenicity. This came after a review of new data following the 2022 assessment.
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)
The latest EFSA call for data includes a request relevant to the genotoxicity assessment of acetaldehyde, a flavoring substance. The deadline is 31 December 2027.
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)
The Government of Canada released its latest scientific report, “Canada’s Changing Climate Report 2026,” to inform planning, resilience-building and emergency preparedness in a changing climate. The report underscores the importance of integrating climate change considerations into existing planning and decision-making processes across all sectors.
United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)
USEPA announced two advancements designed to modernize safety reviews of new chemicals and pesticides while further eliminating the agency’s reliance on animal testing: modernizing surfactant assessment and adopting Globally Harmonized System (GHS) standards for mixtures.