Two recent peer reviewed publications add further weight to the growing body of evidence linking PFAS exposure to adverse human health outcomes. While neither fundamentally changes the direction of travel, both reinforce an important point for businesses: scientific understanding of PFAS risks continues to evolve in ways that support increasingly precautionary regulatory approaches.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published new sector specific guidance on controlling exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) when working with engineered stone, alongside a nationwide inspection campaign targeting fabricators and related businesses. These developments represent a significant and deliberate shift in regulatory expectations, with clear implications for dutyholders under COSHH.

On 11 May 2026, the Council of the European Union adopted a targeted amendment to the Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR) under the ‘Omnibus X’ simplification package, extending certain data protection periods for active substances under the EU biocides review programme.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has recently prosecuted Cardiff University following a serious failure to manage workplace exposure risks, resulting in a £280,000 fine after two employees developed occupational asthma.

European Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall has confirmed that the Commission does not intend to reopen REACH at this stage, signalling a clear shift away from a full legislative revision of the EU’s core chemicals framework.

On 13 April 2026, the OECD published a detailed report in its Series on Risk Management of Chemicals examining how to validate the chemical content of recycled plastics across different applications and regulatory regimes. The report highlights a critical issue at the intersection of circular economy policy and chemical safety regulation: ensuring that recycled materials do not reintroduce or concentrate substances of concern.

On 3 February 2026, the UK Government published its first dedicated strategy for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), titled ‘PFAS Plan: building a safer future together’. This marks a significant milestone in UK chemicals policy. For the first time, the UK Government has set out a long‑term, coordinated framework for understanding, managing and reducing risks from these highly persistent substances, often referred to as ‘forever chemicals’.

In December 2025, the Swedish Customs Service (Tullverket) reported that it inspected nearly 1.7 million imported products during the first eleven months of the year, preventing more than 700,000 from entering Sweden and the wider EU market. Of these, around 500,000 were destroyed rather than returned, underlining the seriousness of the risks identified.