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.