On November 11, 2025, UK government has officially unveiled its Strategic Roadmap for Replacing Animal Testing in Scientific Research, outlining plans to accelerate the phase-out of animal experiments in research and gradually terminate specific tests within six years. Supported by £75 million (approximately ¥690 million RMB), this initiative aims to promote cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and organ-on-a-chip systems as safe alternatives to animal testing.

Recently, China's Ministry of Emergency Management (MEM) proposed adding five chemicals to the Catalog of Hazardous Chemicals. The names, CAS numbers, and hazard classifications of these five chemicals were published, and the proposal is currently in the public consultation phase.

On November 3, 2025, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) issued a notice seeking public comments on two draft documents – the Catalog for Compliance Management of the Restriction of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Products (2025 Edition) and the draft List of Applications Exempted from Restricted Substances in the Compliance Management Catalog (2025 Edition). The updated drafts consolidate the first batch of 12 products into ten categories, and add 23 new product types. The public consultation period will remain open until December 2, 2025.

China's National Standardization Administration Committee (SAC) has completed a review of 163 national standards, covering key areas such as the General Technical Requirements for Lithium-ion Battery Production Equipment. The review conclusions have been made public. According to the notice issued on October 27, 2025, all reviewed standards remain effective. The SAC is accepting public comments on the results via its official website until November 26, 2025.

The new regulations came into effect on September 23, 2025, with a final compliance deadline of March 23, 2027.

On September 16, 2025, the Hazardous Chemicals Safety Law of the People's Republic of China (Second Draft for Review) was published after deliberation at the 17th session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress.

The restricted substances include lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBB), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE), and four phthalates.

On September 8, 2025, the second draft of China's Hazardous Chemicals Safety Law was submitted for deliberation at the 17th Session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress. This draft follows the first review, which took place during the 13th Session of the Standing Committee in December 2024. The latest aims to integrate public feedback and further improve the proposed legislation.

On September 8, 2025, the European Commission formally adopted three draft delegated directives, revising Annex III of Directive 2011/65/EU (RoHS Directive). The revisions focus on exemptions for lead in glass/ceramics, alloys, and high-temperature solder.

On August 1, 2025, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) issued a final ruling, dismissing appeals filed by France and the European Commission. This decision upheld the 2022 ruling by the EU General Court to officially revoke the classification of "specific powdered titanium dioxide (TiO₂)" as a carcinogenic substance. The outcome marks a temporary conclusion to the years-long debate over TiO₂'s alleged carcinogenicity.