Five key takeaways from the Global Outlook webinars
Top regulatory trends and expert insights from our Global Outlook webinar series, looking at changes in the US, Australia, Europe and Japan.
Each year, Enhesa Product Intelligence produces a series of webinars and summary articles covering chemicals management, product safety, and compliance requirements in various topics around the world.
In this article, we summarize the five key takeaways from our Global Outlook series for 2025, as researched and reported by our regional experts. TSCA is undergoing rapid change as the Trump administration focuses on a deregulatory approach; Europe shifts its focus to simplifying regulations for more effective frameworks; Australia and Japan target chemicals of concern with new requirements and categorizations; and the EU’s packaging waste regulation launches strict standards for packaging manufacturers and distributors.
1. TSCA is transforming under Trump administration
The returning Trump administration is triggering rapid and noteworthy regulatory change at both the federal and state level, with significant developments under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Many policies reshaped by former President Joe Biden are reverting back to expectations from President Trump’s first presidency.
Trump initiated a ‘regulatory freeze’ to halt further progress on any policies that haven’t yet taken effect, a standard procedure for new administration to review incomplete bills. A further order executed by the new President called for federal agencies to implement a ‘10-to-1’ rule, eliminating 10 regulations for each new one created, showcasing the new presidency’s deregulatory approach.
Further, the TSCA program is likely to be impacted by an executive order to reduce new hires, mandating that agencies only hire one new employee for every four that depart.
Finally, the Congressional Review Act (CRA) gives congress the authority to amend and undo laws — and TSCA’s chemicals management framework is a recent target for revision. Industry demand ‘surgical changes’ to the TSCA statute, including chemical reviews to be conducted within 90 days, clearer parameters around ‘unreasonable risk’, and amendments to existing chemical considerations.
These actions have the potential to generate major legislative changes to TSCA and the EPA’s process, as well as the US workforce.
Gain more expert insights on regulations in the Americas, including state-level action combating federal deregulation, CEPA in Canada, EPR initiatives, and chemicals management frameworks.
2. Europe is cutting red tape for simplification
EU legislation is working to navigate bureaucratic obstacles to speed up and simplify implementation of chemical frameworks and policies. Economic concerns have resulted in the European Commission adopting a ‘Competitiveness Compass’, focusing on growth and investment by reducing the regulatory burden on businesses. One of the main aims of the Compass is simplification.
Simplification must be informed by an understanding of the practical operation of value chains and with a regulatory system based on trust and incentives rather than detailed control in mind.
Competitiveness CompassTo go “much further than before in cutting red tape”, the EU has provided a criteria for new regulations. The following action plans have been put in place:
- All EU, national, and local institutions must produce simpler rules for businesses to comply with
- Incoming regulation must be stable, coherent, proportionate, and technology neutral
- Accessing EU funds or obtaining administrative decisions must be faster and cheaper for both companies and citizens
- COM will screen EU legislation to identify ways to simplify, consolidate, and codify
- Commissioners will hold biannual legislative implementation dialogues with stakeholders
- The Commission will hold “reality checks” with stakeholders to stress test EU regulations
Hear from our Product Intelligence experts on EU REACH, PFAS, KKDIK Regulation, and more in our Global Outlook series on EMEA.
3. Australia targets chemicals of concern
Australia’s government has published a number of policies focused on identifying chemicals of concern (COCs) and sourcing alternatives to hazardous substances in products and processes.
In September 2024, the third version of the Industrial Chemicals Categorization Guidelines was published by the AICIS to provide categorization requirements for industrial chemical introductions. 582 chemicals, considered to be highly hazardous to human health or the environment, have been added.
Additionally, the National Circular Economy Framework (NCEF) was newly launched to establish plans to achieve double circularity by 2035. Under the NCEF, Australia would:
- Reduce the use of COCs in products
- Identify and remove harmful chemicals that disrupt safe recycling and reuse practices
Thirdly, Australian ministers are preparing to revise the National Environmental Management Plan (NEMP) to reflect new PFAS guidelines, such as in drinking water. The plan also adds to the Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management Standard (IChEMS) to prohibit, restrict, or reduce three types of PFAS alongside over 500 related substances from 1 July 2025.
Prepare for emerging requirements in chemical products, GHS, EPR for packaging, and regulatory topics across the APAC region.
4. Japan updates the General Chemical Substance Law (CSCL)
On 31 July 2024, 164 substances were added under the Chemical Substance Control Law (CSCL) to be regulated as general chemical substances.
Businesses manufacturing or importing these chemical substances must submit an annual report to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) between 1 April and 30 June. The report must specify:
- The amount manufactured or imported
- Its usage
- Other specified information if manufactured or imported above one ton annually
Furthermore, Japan published the 2025 schedule to notify new chemicals under CSCL:
| Deadline for submission of preliminary materials | Deadline for notification |
| 7 October 2024 | 23 December 2024 |
| No submission accepted | 7 February 2025 |
| 16 December 2024 | 10 March 2025 |
| 10 January 2025 | 4 April 2025 |
| 10 February 2025 | 12 May 2025 |
| 14 March 2025 | 6 June 2025 |
| 10 April 2025 | 7 July 2025 |
| No submission accepted | 1 August 2025 |
| 13 June 2025 | 4 September 2025 |
| 8 July 2025 | 6 October 2025 |
| 6 August 2025 | 30 October 2025 |
| 9 September 2025 | 28 November 2025 |
Learn more about the trending regulatory developments across countries in Asia Pacific, including China, India, Indonesia, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, and more.
5. PPWR applies to all packaging and packaging waste in the EU
Europe’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) provides strict requirements applicable to all companies manufacturing or distributing packaging or packaging materials on the EU market.
It entered into force on 11 February 2024 and is applicable to economic operators and producers from 12 August 2026 working with primary, secondary, or tertiary packaging.
The finalized amendments to the PPWR cover:
- The presence and limited usage of chemical substances, such as PFAS, BPA, lead, cadmium, mercury, and chromium
- The weight and size of the design
- The efficacy of packaging recyclability and reuse, including PCR targets and recycling expectations
- Compostability and biodegradability standards of certain products, such as tea and coffee bags
- Labeling requirements for accessibility, clarity, and hazardous warnings, including pictograms, digital markers, and QR codes
- Registration regulations, including appointing a Member State authorized representative (AR)
Read more about the EU’s PPWR and obtain valuable insights on global product compliance.
Catch up on the 2025 Global Outlook series
Compliance requirements in chemicals and products continue to evolve as regulatory authorities scrutinize the presence and use of hazardous substances, sustainable materials, and reusable products in various categories across the globe.
Enhesa Product Intelligence offers expert-led articles and webinars on upcoming requirements and standards shaping the landscape.