The European Commission published the latest update of its REACH Restrictions Roadmap on 31 August 2026, providing an updated overview of existing, ongoing and potential future restrictions on hazardous chemicals.
The Roadmap covers measures already adopted under REACH, restriction proposals currently moving through the regulatory process and substance groups that may become subject to future risk-management action.
Its purpose is not only to provide regulatory transparency but also to allow companies to anticipate potential restrictions and begin substitution or reformulation work at an earlier stage.
The update is particularly relevant to cosmetics and personal care companies placing products on the EU market, as several substances and substance groups with direct relevance to cosmetic formulations remain under regulatory scrutiny.
Why Does the REACH Restrictions Roadmap Matter for Cosmetics?
REACH restrictions can limit or prohibit the manufacture, placing on the market or use of chemicals where an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment has been identified.
Importantly, restrictions on placing products on the EU market can apply to both EU-manufactured and imported products.
For cosmetics companies, the 2026 Roadmap is particularly relevant because regulatory action continues to focus on areas including:
- PFAS,
- CMR substances,
- microplastics,
- siloxanes,
- Octocrylene,
- endocrine-disrupting chemicals.
Octocrylene Restriction Under Evaluation
One of the most relevant current proposals for the cosmetics industry concerns Octocrylene.
France has proposed restricting the placing on the market of finished cosmetic products containing Octocrylene at concentrations of 0.001% w/w or above.
According to ECHA’s Registry of Restriction Intentions, the proposal remains in the opinion development stage.
The proposal is based primarily on environmental concerns, including persistence, toxicity to aquatic and sediment species and bioaccumulation potential.
The proposed limit should not yet be interpreted as a final EU ban. The REACH restriction process remains ongoing.
Universal PFAS Restriction Remains a Major Regulatory Priority
The proposed Universal PFAS Restriction remains one of the largest chemical restriction initiatives currently being assessed under REACH.
The proposal could eventually affect a very broad range of PFAS substances used across industrial, professional and consumer applications.
For cosmetics businesses, this makes it increasingly important to understand not only deliberately added fluorinated ingredients but also potential PFAS sources elsewhere in the raw-material and manufacturing supply chain.
Microplastics and Siloxanes Remain Relevant to Cosmetics
The existing restriction on intentionally added synthetic polymer microparticles under Regulation (EU) 2023/2055 continues to have significant implications for cosmetics.
Companies should assess the applicable transition periods for relevant product categories and determine whether synthetic polymers used in their formulations meet the legal definition and scope of the restriction.
Siloxanes also remain an important regulatory area, particularly D4, D5 and D6, while additional alkyl siloxanes are identified in the Roadmap as potential subjects of future regulatory work.
Which Substances Could Face Future REACH Restrictions?
The Roadmap also identifies substance groups for which restriction work may be initiated in the future.
These include:
- endocrine-disrupting bisphenols,
- C4-C6 phthalates,
- organotins,
- organophosphorus flame retardants,
- alkyl siloxanes,
- 6PPD and related p-phenylenediamines.
Some substances may first undergo harmonised classification or SVHC identification before progressing into a formal REACH restriction process.
What Should Cosmetics Companies Do?
Cosmetic manufacturers, brand owners, importers, Responsible Persons and regulatory teams should consider strengthening their regulatory monitoring and portfolio-assessment processes.
Key actions may include:
- mapping substances subject to current or potential REACH restrictions;
- identifying products containing Octocrylene;
- assessing potential PFAS content and sources;
- reviewing microplastic transition requirements;
- checking D4, D5, D6 and other relevant siloxanes;
- obtaining updated regulatory statements from suppliers;
- monitoring CLH, SVHC and Annex XVII developments;
- assessing reformulation and substitution options before restrictions become final.
Early regulatory horizon scanning can provide additional time for reformulation, safety assessment, stability testing and supply-chain adjustments.
What Does the 2026 REACH Roadmap Mean for Cosmetics?
The updated REACH Restrictions Roadmap demonstrates that chemical compliance in the EU cosmetics market is becoming increasingly interconnected with environmental persistence, human health hazards and group-based chemical regulation.
For cosmetic companies, monitoring only existing Annex XVII restrictions may therefore no longer be sufficient.
REACH, CLP, SVHC identification and cosmetics-specific requirements increasingly need to be monitored together to anticipate future formulation and market-access risks.