For chemists and formulators, regulatory compliance is no longer a downstream activity. Across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Canada, regulators are shifting toward broader chemical class restrictions, increased supply chain transparency, digital product documentation, and sustainability-driven material selection. The practical result is a smaller formulation toolbox, greater pressure on ingredient sourcing, and a need to evaluate reformulation risks years before restrictions take effect.
Recent regulatory analyses and market trend reviews indicate that the strongest themes globally are PFAS restrictions, microplastic controls, expanded chemical disclosure requirements, digital product passports, fragrance allergen labeling, and increasing scrutiny of persistent, bioaccumulative, and hazardous substances.
The Big Trend: From Single Chemicals to Chemical Classes
Historically, regulators targeted individual chemicals one by one. That approach is rapidly changing. Regulatory agencies are increasingly regulating entire groups of chemicals rather than specific substances.
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), bisphenols, phthalates, and some persistent polymers are now being reviewed as classes. This shift makes substitution more difficult because replacing one restricted substance with a structurally similar alternative may no longer be acceptable. Industry analyses identify this trend as one of the most significant regulatory developments affecting future formulation strategies.
For formulators, this means ingredient selection should increasingly focus on long-term regulatory viability rather than merely current compliance status.
Europe Remains the Global Regulatory Driver
PFAS Restrictions Continue Advancing
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) continues progressing one of the broadest PFAS restriction proposals ever considered. The proposal covers thousands of PFAS substances across multiple industries, including cosmetics, lubricants, cleaning products, coatings, food-contact materials, and industrial applications.
Even before final implementation, many companies are already:
- Screening raw material portfolios for fluorinated compounds
- Requesting additional supplier disclosures
- Evaluating PFAS-free alternatives
- Developing contingency reformulation plans
The impact extends beyond finished products. Supply chains may experience disruptions as manufacturers phase out PFAS-containing intermediates and additives. Regulatory outlook documents also identify PFAS as a key watch-list category for formulators across multiple industries.
Microplastics Restrictions Are Moving Into Implementation
The EU’s microplastics restriction under REACH is already affecting formulation planning. Deadlines vary by product category, but rinse-off cosmetics face some of the earliest compliance requirements, driving replacement of non-degradable polymer particles and other intentional microplastic ingredients.
Affected industries include:
- Personal care
- Cosmetics
- Household cleaning products
- Coatings
- Specialty chemicals
Formulators using encapsulation technologies, polymeric abrasives, controlled-release systems, or specialty texture modifiers should evaluate alternatives well before compliance deadlines.
New Fragrance Allergen Requirements
Europe’s expanded fragrance allergen labeling requirements are another major consideration for personal care formulators. Dozens of additional allergens must now be disclosed when thresholds are exceeded. This creates challenges for:
- Fragrance selection
- Global label harmonization
- Product portfolio management
Companies selling globally may find it beneficial to harmonize formulations across markets rather than maintaining separate regional variants.
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Digital Product Passports and Traceability
Perhaps the most transformative change is Europe’s movement toward Digital Product Passports (DPPs) and broader supply-chain transparency requirements.
Future compliance will increasingly depend on a manufacturer’s ability to provide:
- Ingredient origin information
- Sustainability attributes
- Chemical composition details
- Traceability records
- Lifecycle data
Regulatory analyses identify digital traceability as one of the defining compliance requirements through 2030.
United States: Fragmented but Increasingly Aggressive
Unlike Europe, U.S. regulation is increasingly being driven by individual states. Market analyses note that multiple state-level chemical regulations are taking effect in 2026 while many additional proposals continue advancing.
State-Level PFAS Restrictions Expand
State restrictions on intentionally added PFAS continue to broaden across product categories including:
- Cosmetics
- Cleaning products
- Food packaging
- Textile treatments
- Consumer goods
Many states are introducing different definitions, deadlines, reporting requirements, and disclosure obligations, creating a highly fragmented compliance environment. The practical challenge for formulators is that a product compliant in one state may require reformulation for another.
TSCA PFAS Reporting
EPA TSCA reporting requirements continue expanding visibility into PFAS use throughout supply chains. Manufacturers and importers may need significantly more substance-level data from suppliers than they historically collected.
Food and Beverage Ingredients Under Scrutiny
Synthetic colorants, preservatives, and other additives remain under increasing regulatory and consumer scrutiny. Regulatory analyses identify growing pressure on ingredients such as synthetic colors, BHA, and BHT, contributing to stronger demand for naturally derived alternatives.
Canada: Moving Toward Class-Based PFAS Regulation
Canada is pursuing a regulatory framework similar to Europe’s by moving toward class-based PFAS controls rather than substance-by-substance management.
Recent developments include:
- Expanded PFAS reporting requirements
- Proposed designation of most PFAS as toxic substances under CEPA
- New restrictions affecting manufacture, import, sale, and use of PFAS-containing materials
These changes will likely increase supplier qualification requirements and force greater chemical visibility throughout Canadian supply chains.
Asia-Pacific: Modernization and Greater Transparency
China
China continues modernizing its cosmetics regulatory framework. Recent developments include:
- Revised cosmetic ingredient registration requirements
- Updated ingredient dossier expectations
- Greater emphasis on traceability and technical documentation
- Expanded compliance obligations for claims support and ingredient management
While some ingredient approval pathways are becoming more efficient, expectations around documentation and safety substantiation are increasing.
Japan and South Korea
Regulators throughout the region are emphasizing:
- Ingredient traceability
- Label transparency
- Non-animal testing approaches
- Stronger substantiation of product claims
These changes bring Asia-Pacific markets closer to European-style regulatory expectations.
What Formulators Should Do Now
The most successful organizations are shifting regulatory review earlier in the development process.
- Build a PFAS transition strategy
- Identify intentional and unintentional PFAS sources.
- Request expanded supplier disclosures.
- Review polymer technologies
- Assess potential microplastics exposure.
- Evaluate biodegradable alternatives.
- Reduce formulation complexity
- Consider multifunctional ingredients where technically appropriate.
- Simplify supply chains and regulatory documentation.
- Prepare for digital compliance
- Improve ingredient traceability.
- Strengthen supplier documentation systems.
- Consolidate substance-level data.
- Develop a regulatory watch list
- PFAS
- Microplastics
- Bisphenols
- Certain preservatives
- Formaldehyde-releasing technologies
- Fragrance allergens
- Persistent and bioaccumulative substances
Conclusion
The regulatory environment facing formulators in 2026 and beyond is increasingly defined by sustainability, transparency, and class-based chemical management. PFAS restrictions, microplastic controls, expanded allergen labeling, digital product passports, and heightened supply-chain disclosure requirements are reshaping formulation decisions across industries.
Rather than reacting to finalized regulations, formulators should treat regulatory intelligence as part of ingredient selection and R&D strategy. Companies that proactively evaluate alternative chemistries, improve supplier engagement, and strengthen product data management will be best positioned to maintain market access while minimizing future reformulation risks.
Resources
- European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), PFAS restriction proposal
- European Commission, REACH Regulation
- European Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2055 on synthetic polymer microparticles
- S. EPA, TSCA Section 8(a)(7) PFAS reporting and recordkeeping requirements
- Government of Canada, PFAS and risk management
- National Medical Products Administration, China
- S. FDA, Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022
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