From September 7 to 11, 2026, the Risk Assessment Committee (RAC) of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) held its 78th plenary meeting. The committee conducted in-depth deliberations on multiple core chemical regulatory topics and reached important consensus in key areas such as the carcinogenicity assessment of glyphosate, the setting of occupational exposure limits for lithium compounds, and the harmonized classification and labeling (CLH) of multiple chemicals. Based on the meeting minutes, CIRS Group provides the following interpretation.
Core Content
1. Carcinogenicity Assessment of Glyphosate
RAC finally concluded that the data from the Global Glyphosate Study (GGS) published by the Ramazzini Institute does not itself meet the criteria for carcinogen classification under the CLP Regulation. Therefore, it decided to maintain the "not classified as a carcinogen" conclusion made in 2022. This opinion is expected to be formally adopted by January 1, 2027.
2. Occupational Exposure Limits (OELs) for Lithium Compounds
- Substances assessed: Lithium carbonate, lithium chloride, lithium hydroxide.
- Developmental toxicity: Based on the key human study by Patorno et al. (2017), LOAEL ≤ 600 mg Li₂CO₃/d, 8h-TWA = 1.3 mg Li/m³ (considering an additional assessment factor of 3 for neurodevelopment).
- Kidney and other organ toxicity: LOAEL ≤ 600 mg Li₂CO₃/d, 8h-TWA = 3.8 mg Li/m³.
- Fertility: Qualitative statement only; no 8h-TWA is proposed.
- Local irritation: Calculated two STEL values separately (one for lithium hydroxide and one for other non-corrosive lithium compounds).
- Next steps: STEL values, biological monitoring, analytical methods, etc., will continue to be discussed in the RAC-79 plenary meeting.
3. Harmonized Classification and Labeling (CLH)
Category A (Adopted without plenary debate, 12 items):
- 1,1,3,3-Tetramethylbutyl peroxyneodecanoate: Reproductive toxicity.
- Various resin acid substances: Reproductive toxicity (8 items in total).
- 3-(Diethylamino)propylamine: Acute toxicity, Specific target organ toxicity-repeated exposure, Reproductive toxicity.
- 3-(Dimethylamino)propylamine: Acute oral toxicity, Specific target organ toxicity-single exposure.
- Reaction product of boric acid, didecylamine, and ethylene oxide: Multiple hazards.
- Flutolanil: Multiple hazards.
- Flocoumafen: Acute toxicity ATE.
- 2,2-Dimethyl-3-morpholinopropionaldehyde: Skin corrosion/irritation, Eye damage/irritation, Skin sensitization.
- 4-Morpholinecarboxaldehyde: Skin sensitization.
- Reaction product of 2,2-dimethyl-3-morpholinopropionaldehyde and propylidynetrimethanol: Eye damage/irritation, Skin sensitization.
Category B (Requiring plenary debate, 7 items):
- 3-(Diethylamino)propylamine: Classified as Acute Tox. 4, Acute Tox. 3, Skin Sens. 1, Repr. 1B; Endocrine disruption (human health and environment) left for discussion at RAC-79.
- 3-(Dimethylamino)propylamine (DMAPA): Classified as Acute Tox. 4, Acute Tox. 3, Skin Sens. 1A, STOT SE 3, Repr. 2; Developmental toxicity, STOT RE, and endocrine disruption left for discussion at RAC-79.
- Reaction product of boric acid, didecylamine, and ethylene oxide: Classified as Acute Tox. 4, Skin Corr. 1C, Eye Dam. 1, Skin Sens. 1A, Repr. 1B, Aquatic Acute 1, Aquatic Chronic 1, etc.
- Propylparaben: Classified as Endocrine Disruptor 1 (Environment), Aquatic Chronic 2.
- Bromuconazole: Classified as Repr. 2 (other hazard classes already adopted at RAC-77).
- Spearmint oil: Classified as Aquatic Chronic 3 (other classes already adopted at RAC-77).
- Fenazaquin: Classified as Repr. 2 (other classes already adopted at RAC-77).
ChemRadar Insights
Enterprises in the chemical, daily chemical, pesticide, and coating industries should verify whether they use or produce the 19 CLH substances classified in this meeting and promptly initiate updates to labels and Safety Data Sheets (SDS). Lithium battery and lithium chemical enterprises need to plan ahead and initiate workplace exposure monitoring and health surveillance system construction.
