On August 7, 2026, the United Kingdom submitted a notification (G/TBT/N/GBR/125) to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade, announcing proposed amendments to the Great Britain (GB) Mandatory Classification and Labelling List (GB MCL List). The revisions would introduce new or updated mandatory classification and labelling requirements for 20 chemical substances, including Bisphenol F, Tebuconazole, Tea Tree Oil, and Eugenol. CIRS Group provides the following analysis based on the notification content.

China’s MEE Announcement No. 40 of 2026 added 486 substances to the Inventory of Existing Chemical Substances in China (IECSC), including 482 previously under Order No. 7 regular registration. While transitioning these chemicals off new-substance registration, roughly 40% remain subject to strict new-use management rules, necessitating immediate compliance verification.

Effective August 15, 2026, China's MEE will eliminate new chemical filings to align with the Ecological and Environmental Code. Enterprises must submit simplified registration applications instead. Furthermore, foreign entities can no longer apply directly or modify certificates, making local Chinese importers the eligible applicants going forward.

On July 24, 2026, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a notice in the Federal Register, formally releasing the draft risk assessment for 1,1,2-trichloroethane and opening the document for public comment. Based on existing scientific evidence, the EPA has preliminarily determined that this chemical substance poses an unreasonable risk to human health under certain conditions of use (COUs).

South Korea's NICS has fixed the upper, lower, and lowest handling quantities for 73 newly designated acute-toxic hazardous substances under Notice No. 2026-4.

Korea's NICS issued Administrative Notice No. 2026-77 proposing prescribed quantity thresholds for 38 newly designated hazardous chemicals.

Japan’s METI updated FY2026 guidelines for CSCL Small Amount and Low Tonnage confirmation routes. Starting with the fourth FY2026 application batch, electronic submissions must use G Biz ID (Prime or Member accounts) as legacy applicant codes are discontinued. Manufacturers and importers should immediately obtain accounts, check filing windows, and upgrade submission systems.

The public comment period closes on August 24, 2026.

South Korea's MCEE has opened a consultation until 15 April 2026 on a full rewrite of the hazardous chemical business regulation under the K-CCA.

South Korea’s Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment (MCEE) implemented an early emergency registration process under K-REACH (Act on Registration and Evaluation of Chemical Substances). Designed to mitigate global supply chain disruptions caused by Middle East tensions, this fast-track pathway allows companies to import critical raw material substitutes—such as naphtha and petrochemical feedstocks—without waiting months for full toxicology clearance.