On November 18, 2025, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) published its 12th recommendation for authorization, proposing for the first time to include four Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs), including melamine, into the REACH Authorisation List. If adopted by the European Commission, companies will need to submit applications and pass reviews to continue using these substances in the future.
ECHA stated that the selected substances were drawn from the "Candidate List of SVHCs" and prioritized due to their higher potential risks. The inclusion of melamine, in particular, has sparked extensive industry discussions. While it serves as a production intermediate in many applications (exempt from authorization requirements), authorization for other uses may increase compliance burdens for businesses.
Under the REACH process, the European Commission will finalize the Authorisation List and set conditions for each substance’s use. If a substance is added to the list, companies must obtain authorization before the specified deadline to legally sell or use it within the European Economic Area (EEA).
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