Brussels: Europe and the Arabs

The new toy safety regime will come into force on January 1, 2026, following its adoption by the European Parliament and the Council. This regime strengthens the protection of children from harmful chemicals in toys and improves the enforcement of toy safety regulations in the European Union. Under this regime, substances will be banned from toys as soon as they are identified as dangerous, including chemicals that disrupt the hormonal balance, damage the lungs, cause skin allergies, or harm specific organs. The ban also includes perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and polyfluoroalkyl substances (BFS). The new rules also reinforce the existing ban on substances that may cause cancer, genetic damage, or adverse reproductive effects (carcinogens, mutagenes, or reproductive toxins). According to a statement issued by the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, the enforcement of these rules will be further enhanced through digital tools. All toys sold on the EU market will be required to have a digital product passport containing safety and compliance information, accessible to consumers online via a QR code or other data transmission method. For toys sold online and imported into the EU, customs authorities will be able to verify the product passport.

The implementation of these rules will be facilitated through digital tools. The new rules will come into effect on August 1, 2030.

New rules to simplify chemical assessments in the EU come into force

On January 1, 2026, the “One Substance, One Assessment” (OSOA) package came into force. This package is a key output of the Chemicals for Sustainability Strategy. It will make chemical assessments more consistent, transparent, and efficient across all EU legislation, covering products such as toys, food, pesticides, and biopesticides. This new framework will help identify risks earlier and enable faster action when needed. This is an important step towards better and faster protection of human health and the environment.

The “One Item, One Assessment” package comprises three legislative proposals: a regulation establishing a common data platform for chemicals; a regulation redistributing technical tasks and improving cooperation between EU agencies; and a directive on redistributing technical tasks to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).

At the heart of this package is a new common data platform for chemicals, scheduled to become operational within the next three years. This publicly accessible platform will serve as a central hub, bringing together chemical data collected under various EU laws. It will enable public authorities to more easily reuse chemical information, supporting better decision-making.

The new measures will strengthen cooperation between EU chemical agencies by clarifying the distribution of tasks, reducing duplication of work, and harmonizing scientific and technical responsibilities. The OSOA package also provides a monitoring and forecasting framework for the early detection of emerging chemical risks. By systematically collecting data and using indicators and early warning tools, the EU will be better prepared to identify new concerns and act swiftly when necessary. Jessica Roosevel, Commissioner for the Environment, Water Resilience, and Competitive Circular Economy, said: “By simplifying how we assess chemicals, we can act more quickly and decisively to protect human health and the environment. This new framework will facilitate access to reliable data, strengthen our scientific collaboration, and improve the EU’s ability to anticipate and manage chemical risks.”

European Commission extends nitrate exemption for Ireland
The Commission has announced the extension of Ireland’s exemption under the Nitrate Directive for an additional three years, starting from 1 January 2026. This decision follows the approval of the Commission’s proposal by Member States on 9 December. The exemption is subject to additional conditions, including environmental impact assessments.

The new exemption maintains the conditions of the existing exemption and adds further conditions reflecting the Irish Action Programme on Nitrates measures, as well as additional measures in areas facing significant challenges with regard to nitrate pollution. It also takes into account Ireland’s commitment to carrying out the required environmental assessments and the agricultural sector’s need for certainty and predictability.