REACH-EN-FORCE: 2026/2027 Program Finalized – Focus on Imports and Online Sales

At the end of November, the ECHA Enforcement Forum announced its work program for the next two years. The program calls for improved controls on imports and online sales as a top priority. It will also review compliance with CLP requirements because new CLP obligations will come into force in 2026.

Weakness in Imports

Imported substances, mixtures, and articles commonly violate the legal requirements of REACH and the CLP regulation. For example, as part of the REF-12 enforcement project, inspectors discovered that 32% of substances in imported mixtures did not have important registration data. And checks carried out as part of an earlier project revealed even greater shortcomings: Two out of three imported products had incorrect CLP labeling.

Weakness in Online Trade

Online sales pose risks because products from third countries are often delivered directly to consumers, depriving EU authorities of the ability to check them beforehand. The result? Missing or incorrect labeling, incomplete safety data sheets, missing child-resistant closures, and so on. A Forum project on online sales completed in 2021 found that more than three-quarters of products sold online in the EU do not comply with chemical regulations.

Urgent Need for Action

Given that such violations undermine consumer protection and weaken the competitiveness of European industry, urgent action is needed. EU authorities have therefore taken another close look at products sold online as part of REF-13. The results will be published in 2026. In addition, authorities, including customs, environmental, and labor inspection authorities, should cooperate more closely in the future.

Don’t take any risks with the safety of your products. We will be happy to answer your questions at sales@kft.de.