Business discussed updates to chemical safety legislation

04/ 02/ 2026

On 2 February, the Industrial Ecology and Sustainable Development Committee and the Chemical Safety Subcommittee of the European Business Association held the event “EBA Expert Talks: REACH and CLP Technical Regulations”, bringing together representatives of public authorities, businesses and профиль associations from Ukraine and across Europe. During three panel discussions, speakers addressed the key challenges of harmonising Ukrainian chemical safety legislation with European requirements, the prospects for implementing the REACH and CLP technical regulations, as well as the practical perspective of business on their application and impact on company operations. Throughout the event, participants actively discussed the effective and phased adaptation of businesses to the new requirements and the development of the necessary infrastructure for their implementation. Participants emphasised that ensuring business readiness for the high-quality implementation of the Regulations requires a proper preparatory framework and coordinated action with public authorities. Particular attention was paid to inspections of businesses by the State Environmental Inspectorate. It was clarified that inspectors will conduct two types of control: supervision under the basic principles of state oversight (scheduled and unscheduled measures related to production) and market surveillance. However, both the Inspectorate and businesses currently lack sufficient methodological guidance and regulatory acts to fully understand the “rules of the game” and correctly interpret the provisions of the Regulations. Throughout 2025, the EBA Chemical Safety Subcommittee has consistently and actively advocated in its position papers for the postponement of the Regulations’ entry into force, which ultimately provided businesses with additional time to prepare and gave the state an opportunity to strengthen its institutional capacity. At the same time, participants agreed that postponement is only the first step and should lead to further improvement of the REACH and CLP technical regulations and the development of effective implementation mechanisms. “Business needs certainty,” emphasised Stanislav Zinchenko, Chair of the Association’s Industrial Ecology and Sustainable Development Committee. Among the most urgent changes and improvements, participants highlighted further alignment of the Regulations with European standards, the establishment of a well-functioning information system, resolution of data confidentiality issues, adoption of secondary legislation and the development of guidance and recommendations, as well as an open and continuous dialogue between the authorities and business. We thank all speakers and participants for their active engagement. We will continue working towards a better regulatory environment in the field of chemical safety and invite interested industry representatives to join the companies participating in our Subcommittee. For more information about the Subcommittee’s work, please contact its Coordinator, Mariia Kobiz, at [email protected].

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During three panel discussions, speakers addressed the key challenges of harmonising Ukrainian chemical safety legislation with European requirements, the prospects for implementing the REACH and CLP technical regulations, as well as the practical perspective of business on their application and impact on company operations. Throughout the event, participants actively discussed the effective and phased adaptation of businesses to the new requirements and the development of the necessary infrastructure for their implementation. Participants emphasised that ensuring business readiness for the high-quality implementation of the Regulations requires a proper preparatory framework and coordinated action with public authorities.

Particular attention was paid to inspections of businesses by the State Environmental Inspectorate. It was clarified that inspectors will conduct two types of control: supervision under the basic principles of state oversight (scheduled and unscheduled measures related to production) and market surveillance. However, both the Inspectorate and businesses currently lack sufficient methodological guidance and regulatory acts to fully understand the “rules of the game” and correctly interpret the provisions of the Regulations.

Throughout 2025, the EBA Chemical Safety Subcommittee has consistently and actively advocated in its position papers for the postponement of the Regulations’ entry into force, which ultimately provided businesses with additional time to prepare and gave the state an opportunity to strengthen its institutional capacity. At the same time, participants agreed that postponement is only the first step and should lead to further improvement of the REACH and CLP technical regulations and the development of effective implementation mechanisms.

“Business needs certainty,” emphasised Stanislav Zinchenko, Chair of the Association’s Industrial Ecology and Sustainable Development Committee.

Among the most urgent changes and improvements, participants highlighted further alignment of the Regulations with European standards, the establishment of a well-functioning information system, resolution of data confidentiality issues, adoption of secondary legislation and the development of guidance and recommendations, as well as an open and continuous dialogue between the authorities and business.

We thank all speakers and participants for their active engagement. We will continue working towards a better regulatory environment in the field of chemical safety and invite interested industry representatives to join the companies participating in our Subcommittee. For more information about the Subcommittee’s work, please contact its Coordinator, Mariia Kobiz, at [email protected].