Summary of Federal and State Chemical Regulatory Developments, November 2025
In November 2025, the EPA released multiple reports and proposed amendments to chemical regulatory frameworks, focusing on pesticide registration improvements, chemical substance risk evaluations, and compliance extensions. Key actions include audits of pesticide registration processes under PRIA 5, proposals for significant new use rules (SNURs), postponements of meeting dates for chemical risk evaluations, and updates on PFAS reporting requirements. Legislative and international regulatory activities in nanomaterials and advanced materials were also noted.
The article details several significant regulatory developments in the chemical sector as of November 2025. The EPA published two third-party audit reports analyzing the Office of Pesticide Programs’ operational performance and training gaps to optimize pesticide registration processes under the Pesticide Registration Improvement Act of 2022 (PRIA 5). The EPA has reduced pesticide registration backlogs by over 5,000 actions since January 2025 and plans further improvements. Proposed amendments to Significant New Use Rules (SNURs) for certain chemicals and final SNURs were announced, requiring advance notification for new manufacturing or processing activities. The EPA extended compliance deadlines for methylene chloride use in laboratories and postponed effective dates related to trichloroethylene risk management. A draft risk evaluation for 1,2-dichloroethane was released, showing preliminary findings of unreasonable risk under certain conditions. EPA also proposed to narrow PFAS data reporting exemptions under TSCA Section 8(a)(7). Federal hearings and legislative activities include a Senate subcommittee on chemical safety, a hearing on PFAS cleanup policy, and the introduction of the Better Food Disclosure Act to enhance FDA ingredient oversight. Internationally, the EU and OECD have launched studies and guidance on nanomaterial safety and advanced materials legislation. Various states advanced their chemical regulations, such as New Mexico’s PFAS labeling rule and Oregon’s enforcement of Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging. These actions collectively indicate ongoing efforts to strengthen chemical safety oversight, improve regulatory efficiency, and address emerging environmental and public health concerns.
