On 4 February 2026, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) published its Single Programming Document 2026–2028. This document outlines the agency’s work programme for 2026, as well as its multiannual planning for the coming years. The document outlines how ECHA intends to organise and prioritise its regulatory work within the context of an expanding legal mandate.
Focus on new tasks and expanded mandate in 2026
The 2026 work programme reflects ECHA’s expanding legal mandate and sets out planned regulatory activities across EU chemicals legislation. A key focus for the year will be implementing new tasks stemming from recently adopted or forthcoming legislation, including work under the One Substance, One Assessment (OSOA) package and preparations for the Common Data Platform on Chemicals. ECHA will also begin preparatory work linked to new responsibilities under legislation covering drinking water, toys, detergents and surfactants, batteries, waste, medical devices, and the restriction of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment.
REACH and CLP activities
Under REACH and CLP, ECHA will continue core processes such as inquiries and data-sharing decisions, while preparing to introduce ex-ante verification of SME status under the amended REACH Fees Regulation. In 2026 evaluation activities will prioritise follow-up to compliance check decisions and the assessment of testing proposals, rather than launching new compliance checks. The work programme also highlights continued support for the implementation of new hazard classes under the revised CLP Regulation, as well as preparatory work that may enable ECHA to develop harmonised classification and labelling dossiers at the request of the European Commission.
PFAS and restriction work
The work programme confirms that ECHA aims to finalise the scientific opinion on the broad PFAS restriction proposal in 2026. More broadly, ECHA will continue to identify substances of very high concern and prepare restriction proposals where requested by the Commission, thereby contributing to EU-wide risk management efforts.
Biocides and environmental legislation
In the area of biocides, ECHA plans to progress evaluations of active substances under the Review Programme, while also managing a growing number of Union authorisation applications, including product changes and same product authorisations. Beyond REACH and BPR, the 2026 work programme highlights preparations for tasks under a range of environmental and product legislation, including the Drinking Water Directive, the Batteries Regulation, the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, and forthcoming revisions in related policy areas.
Data, enforcement and alternatives to animal testing
Data management and digitalisation will remain central priorities in 2026, with the continued development of ECHA CHEM and preparations for the future Common Data Platform on Chemicals. Enforcement support will increasingly focus on imports and e-commerce, in cooperation with customs authorities and national enforcement bodies. The work programme also anticipates the establishment of a new group on alternatives to animal testing in 2026 to support the implementation of the Commission’s roadmap to phase out animal testing and promote new approach methodologies.
Outlook beyond 2026
Looking ahead to 2027–2028, ECHA anticipates that its workload will continue to increase as additional legislative changes enter into force and the tasks prepared in 2026 progress to the implementation stage. The multiannual planning indicates a gradual shift towards risk management activities, data governance and system interoperability, alongside continued investment in IT modernisation and organisational reform. ECHA also anticipates closer cooperation with other EU agencies under the One Substance, One Assessment framework as well as ongoing work on enforcement support, alternatives to animal testing and the delivery of scientific opinions under its expanding legal mandate.
The full text of the Single Programming Document 2026-2028 can be accessed here.
