Selling products containing batteries in the EU? The new EU Batteries Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 is replacing the old Directive and brings new, enforceable responsibilities for manufacturers, importers, and brand owners—including Canadian companies exporting to the EU.

What's new (high level)

• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): Register by EU country, finance take-back/recycling, and report.
• Carbon-footprint declarations (EV batteries): Already being rolled out, with more categories/phases forthcoming.
• Design requirements: Future requirements for user-removable portable batteries and service-removable LMT batteries.
• Digital Battery Passport: Phased introduction for traceability, specifications, and compliance data.

More details: https://getenviropass.com/digital-product-passport/

How Enviropass helps (Canada-based, EU-ready)

• EPR producer registration & reporting in EU Member States
• Compliance gap assessments on design, marking, and documentation
• Carbon-footprint & supply-chain readiness (templates, data flows, auditor-friendly files)
• Battery Passport (DPP) preparation: data model, QR/label strategy, evidence packs
• Turnkey coordination with accredited testing partners
• 
  

Who needs to act now

• OEMs, brands marketing portable, LMT, industrial, EV batteries—or products containing them—on the EU market
• Distributors/private labels with Q4–Q2 launches requiring producer registration before shipping
• Make your next EU shipment audit-ready.

Contact Enviropass Expertise Inc. to book a quick compliance review. English and French service.

Enviropass Expertise Inc. — Environmental & Product Compliance, Canada-wide EU market access services.

Maine continues to lead the way in regulating PFAS ("forever chemicals")—even when federal support for research and enforcement wanes.

Stricter Water Standards & Expanded Testing

Maine, in July 2025, passed a law requiring water districts throughout the state to reach the 4 parts per trillion (ppt) level of PFAS in drinking water by 2027, alongside federal standards and tightening the former 20 ppt state requirement.

Two May 2025 bills signed into law will:

- Mandate landlords to test private wells for PFAS every five years and submit results to tenants (LD 493).

- Include PFAS in state-authorized well contamination to be tested, free of charge for low-income residents (LD 500).

PFAS in Products: Rulemaking and Exceptions

Maine has completed the Chapter 90 rule adopting its comprehensive PFAS statute (38 M.R.S. § 1614) that goes into effect on May 6, 2025, prohibiting the sale of products containing intentionally added PFAS, except as issued a "Currently Unavoidable Use" (CUU) exemption.

Producers wanting CUU status had to submit their proposals no later than June 1, 2025. To date, only two cleaning-product component applications have been approved, creating precedent; nine other proposals—like cookware and cosmetics—were rejected for a lack of evidence of need.

PFAS Contamination in Farms & Research Setbacks

More than 100 Maine farms have reported PFAS contamination, primarily as a result of biosolid fertilizer use. Some farms were compelled to discontinue operations or change land use.

A new study of dust exposures will measure risk to farmers when working in soil during tillage, reflecting continued concerns over exposure to PFAS via farming activities.

Meanwhile, the federal government's revocation of nearly $15 million of research with an angle on PFAS has fueled furious outrage. Many studies were cut short abruptly under political shifts, undermining the drive for lines of crop and livestock exposure. Some grants are in the process of appeal or being reinstated.

⚖ Why It Matters

Health Risks: Exposure to PFAS has been associated with cancer, immune system dysfunction, hormonal disruption, and reproductive problems.

Policy Momentum: As federal oversight weakens, Maine's anticipatory policies are gaining national attention as a possible model for others.

Far-Reaching Impact: From new product compliance to required well testing and new water quality standards, Maine is transforming its regulatory landscape on several fronts.

Key Takeaways

• Concrete timelines now established—compliance by 2027 for public water systems, and regional drinking water standards reduced to 4 ppt.
• Maine's Chapter 90 final rule is effective, prompting manufacturers to scrutinize products for possible PFAS content or CUU applicability.
• Federal budgetary reductions threaten existing PFAS research, but local and tribal stakeholders are taking legal and policy action to continue critical research.

Montreal, July 2025 – The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is proceeding with its intention to include 1,1′‑(ethane‑1,2‑diyl)bis[pentabromobenzene]—DBDPE in layman's terms—to the Substance of Very High Concern (SVHC) list within the REACH Regulation. In case of approval, the Candidate List of SVHCs would grow to 251 substances from 250.

What is DBDPE and why is it significant?

A widely used brominated flame retardant in many industries:

• Adhesives, sealants, coatings, inks
• Wire and cable insulation for cars
• Construction foam and back-coatings for use in textiles
• Thermoplastics for electronics, roofing, and cars
• Wood–plastic composite materials

It is both very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB)—criteria in REACH Article 57(e).

Current Process: Public Consultation Underway

ECHA launched an ad hoc public consultation on June 27, 2025, to comment on DBDPE's intended listing as an SVHC.

The consultation runs until August 11, 2025. Assuming there is no prolonged resistance, the substance will be officially added later this year.

✅ Implications for Manufacturers, Importers, and Retailers

Once DBDPE is officially listed on the Candidate List, stakeholders will have to respond to new data and supply-chain requirements:

• Report any article containing DBDPE at or above 0.1% w/w to ECHA under REACH Article 7.2.
• Refresh Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and notify of the occurrence of DBDPE within 45 days if requested.
• Notify data to the SCIP database as appropriate under EU circular economy regulations.

Canadian exporters to the EU need to be aware—non-compliance will lead to restrictions or reputational harm.

Regulatory Developments Timeline

June 27, 2025: ECHA launches ad hoc SVHC consultation

August 11, 2025: Consultation closes

Late 2025 (est.): Expected formal addition of DBDPE to Candidate List

By the end of 2025, companies will be required to meet notification and supply obligations

Broader Context: Towards Greener Flame Retardant Policy

This step is part of broader EU actions to curtail brominated flame retardants, in favor of safer alternatives and to ensure regulatory action is tied to science-informed evidence of environmental persistence.

Highlights

DBDPE is set to be the 251st listed SVHC on REACH this year.

It is used in a lot of electronics, motor vehicle, textile, and plastic applications, raising compliance and supply-chain issues.

Canadian businesses with export intentions to the EU must monitor developments—especially regarding REACH notification, paperwork, and SCIP reporting.

Enviropass Canada can provide SVHC screening, supply‑chain audits, SCIP database support, and regulatory consulting to ensure your products remain compliant with evolving EU and Canadian chemical regulations.

Let us know if you’d like support navigating these upcoming obligations.

1. PFAS Regulation Sweep: Expanding Scope, Delays & State Action

The EU is weighing up a ban on over 10,000 PFAS chemicals, with a formal decision in 2025, signaling broad future bans of products and consumer goods.

France has passed a nationwide ban on PFAS in cosmetics, clothing and ski wax, by 2026 to all fabric by 2030, as an early leader in national PFAS bans.

At the federal level, regulation in the United States remains patchy. Although the EPA has set PFAS drinking water standards, some of the chemicals (PFNA, PFHxS, HFPO‑DA) would be reversed under a pending reversal to be enforced in spring 2026. Treatment deadlines for PFOA and PFOS are likely to be pushed back to 2031.

Meanwhile, state actions are charging ahead: Minnesota, effective January 1 2025, banned PFAS in 11 product lines, ranging from cookware and cosmetics to textiles and upholstery. New Mexico recently signed into law legislation limiting PFAS in consumer goods, over industry pushback and narrow exemptions.

The EPA's TSCA Section 8(a)(7) PFAS reporting rule has also been delayed: the reporting period starts April 2026 and closes October 2026 (or April 2027 for small entities reporting solely as article importers).

Product stewardship effect: 

Manufacturers and designers must contend with conflicting new regulations—specifically for PFAS reporting, compliance deadlines, and disclosure of the supply chain. Proactive audit and early involvement with suppliers are essential.

2. Circular Economy & Traceability: Compliance Strategy Framing

The EU's new Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products (Reg EU 2023/1115) now mandates that operators prove that products covered (e.g. soy, palm oil, rubber, wood products) have not been associated with recent deforestation. Traceability documents must be provided in order to access EU markets.

In Ireland, the Origin Green traceability programme is growing. Farmers and producers are now using data-driven traceability to facilitate sustainability claims, providing higher transparency and earning consumer confidence in the EU and global food markets.

Significance for product compliance: Traceability is becoming a core compliance tool—not just for liability but consumer trust. Traceability systems need to be viewed by companies as compliance infrastructure and not overhead.

3. ESG & Product Lifecycles: Data, Digital Passports, & Sustainability Reporting

Industry association Enhesa cites rising global compliance demands: tighter controls on chemicals, EPR schemes, labeling regimes, and safety documents in the US, EU, and Asia-Pacific — with drivers in evolving supply-chain needs.

Digital Product Passports (DPPs)—especially under the EU's Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation—are increasing in usage. Researchers show how decentralized IDs and verifiable credentials support lifecycle and circularity data handling at scale.

Opportunity: 

Take up digital packaging of compliance data and trackable credentials to anticipate regulations like EU DPP and allow sustainable claims.

4. New Tech & Sensors: Future-Gen Environmental Monitoring and Reporting

Lab breakthrough: 2D-aluminum quasicrystal electrode shows ultra-sensitive PFOA detection (limit ~ 0.6 pM), promising detection of near-zero PFAS in products, water, and environment.

Blockchain‑enabled IoT systems are recommended for real‑time maritime environmental compliance (e.g. sulfur emissions under MARPOL), ensuring data integrity and tamper‑proof logging through smart contracts

arxiv.org\.

Tech takeaway: Invention in detection andimmutable logging can be a compliance driver, help enable claims, and simplify audits—especially in regulated supply chains.

5. Corporate & Policy Developments

Daqo New Energy Corp. published its 2024 ESG report, showcasing increasing disclosure requirements among manufacturers, materials, and energy producers.

The European Commission is now taking public opinion on how to simplify environmental regulations, including the possibility of weakening Extended Producer Responsibility schemes and anti-deforestation policies—a move business finds "competitiveness-driven" but green campaigners warn could undermine enforcement. Deadline: September 10, 2025

Compliance Managers' Top Takeaways

PFAS checking is on the rise globally, with imminent product bans in France and the EU, U.S. state-level bans on product categories, and coming but mandatory reporting deadlines under TSCA Section 8(a)(7). It's time for companies to act before auditing and documenting PFAS use across their product portfolios.

Traceability is becoming mandatory as part of compliance, not an optional extra. From deforestation-free products, to Irish food traceability projects, including product provenance documentation becomes essential.

Digital compliance was—as was decentralized credentialing and Digital Product Passports—new best practice product lifecycle management and claims, especially in the EU.

Blockchain and advanced sensing technologies provide technical capability for more precise monitoring of the environment and trusted audit trails, which gives brands technical leverage to show compliance and sustainability.

Regulatory simplification is a two-edged sword: while the EU explores alleviating burdens, companies must nonetheless gear up for enforcement regimes and increasing ESG reporting demands.

What Should Companies Do Now?

Conduct PFAS use audits of supply chain and product heritage (2011–2022) in anticipation of future U.S. reporting demands.

Develop digital data architecture that facilitates DPP-type traceability, sustainability claim substantiation, and compliance record-keeping.

Monitor emerging PFAS prohibitions (specifically EU and French actions) and develop reactions to prohibitions in textiles, cookware, cosmetics, and more general product areas.

Evaluate emerging sensor technology and blockchain traceability to enhance data integrity, especially in environmental footprint reporting and circular economy strategy.

Engage in developer consultations for the EU reform agenda to track and influence regulatory evolution affecting packaging, EPR, and due diligence requirements.

REACH is an acronym for Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals. It's an EU regulation (EC No 1907/2006) that came into force in 2007. It has the purpose to make sure that the health and environment of humans are better protected from the risks of chemicals, and it shifts a significant portion of the responsibility of the evaluation and control of those risks to industry.

REACH encompasses broadly — chemical substances themselves, mixtures, and articles (such as end products). Electronics means not just components and printed circuit boards, but enclosures, solder, coatings, adhesives, plastic parts, flame retardants, finishes, etc.

Significant Electronics Manufacturers' Requirements

Should you manufacture or bring in electronic goods (or components) into the EU, then these are your major requirements under REACH:

Substance registration

If you manufacture or import a chemical substance (by itself or in a mixture) in quantities of 1 tonne/year and above, you are required to register it with the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). More voluminous levels have more stringent requirements (data, safety assessments).

Article / SVHC (Substances of Very High Concern) requirements

If you release any product containing an SVHC in a concentration above 0.1% by weight (w/w), you must warn downstream users (customers) and ECHA's SCIP database, and provide safe-use information.

Restrictions & Authorisations

Some chemicals are banned (or restricted) unless special authorization is received. Other chemicals can only be used if some risk mitigation practices are implemented. The list of SVHCs, restricted chemicals, etc., keeps changing.

Supply chain communication

Since your product may have parts / sub-components that in turn have material in them, you will need your suppliers' statements so you can track what's in them all. Similarly, safety data sheets were applicable, and documentation of risk management was required.

Downstream user responsibilities

If you operate with chemicals or mixtures supplied to you, you may have safe use responsibilities, limiting exposures, etc.

Challenges That Often Arise

Performance vs compliance: Sometimes the RoHS/REACH-safe version of a component (or material) isn't quite as good or as cost-effective, so manufacturers have to test, confirm, and sometimes redesign to compensate.

Supply chain transparency: Getting accurate, timely responses from suppliers can be challenging. Some suppliers may not be willing or aware.

Changing lists of SVHCs / new restrictions: What's on the table today may be on the prohibited list tomorrow — so designs have to plan ahead.

Testing & validation: You need strong methods to test whether your materials/components are crossing the thresholds. Every failure or error will lead to recalls / banned shipments / legal risk.

Best Practices: How to Find a Balance between Compliance + Function

The following are strategies to deal with REACH compliance without sacrificing performance excessively:

Design for compliance up front: Choose material/components of established compliance, or parts with manufacturers who give full disclosure. Use chemical inventories and internal BOM checks.

Check alternatives: When you replace a heritage material, run tests—mechanical, thermal, life, etc.—to ensure the new material meets specs needed.

Use exemptions sparingly: Sometimes material is exempt or a restriction has not been applied yet, but long-term usage of exemptions is not desirable. Always have a backup plan.

Write everything down: Retain supplier statements, test certificates, material safety data sheets, and risk assessments. Not only for compliance, but in the event of an audit or rules becoming more stringent.

Observe regulatory updates: ECHA publishes guidelines, renews candidate lists, and modifies restrictions regularly. Being current avoids the surprise effect.

Agencies & Tools to Know

European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) — EU's hub for central REACH regulation, candidate and authorisation lists, and guidelines.

European Commission – REACH explained — official pages describing duties, tools, and how the law applies.

National regulatory bodies also come into play (e.g., EU member state environment ministries) for local enforcement, notifications, etc.

How Enviropass Fits In

Enviropass is a service/tool that provides material screening (e.g., with XRF), testing, and compliance assistance to assist manufacturers in identifying hazardous substances in parts or assemblies. It can assist you:

• Quickly screen materials/components for restricted substances or SVHCs.
• Create reports to aid your declarations/documentation.
• Keep a note of which pieces pass and require no replacement or risk management.
• Keep ahead of evolving regulations and candidate lists so you're not caught off guard.
• Through the use of a tool like Enviropass, you can manage risk, speed up product development, and make your supply chain more transparent.

Bottom Line

For manufacturers of electronics, REACH isn't an option if you sell in or into the EU — it's business. Meeting compliance and performance in a balance means:

• Early planning with compliance built into design.
• Prioritizing supplier management and documentation.
• Checking out alternative materials and designs for validity.

Having access to tools and services (such as Enviropass) to assist with testing, screening, and documenting.

And if you do that, you can comply with REACH and still ensure quality, durability, and competitiveness. Better to design for the future instead of retrofitting later.

If you're placing energy-labelled products on the EU market, EPREL isn't optional—it's the gateway. The European Product Registry for Energy Labelling (EPREL) is the EU's online database where manufacturers, importers, and authorised representatives must register in-scope products, generate compliant energy labels (including QR codes), and make technical data available to the authorities. Dealers then use those labels to inform customers in-store and online.

Below is a brief, business-readable overview of EPREL and how Enviropass can guide you from first login to validated entries.

What is EPREL?

EPREL is the official EU registry that underpins the energy label on products being marketed across Europe. Once your product details are confirmed in EPREL, you can print out the energy label and product information sheet, and your model is included in the public database that customers can access via the QR code on the label. The same record also includes compliance data (accessible to market surveillance authorities) that supports your label claims—e.g., test reports, calculations, and the technical file.

Who has to register?

If you’re the manufacturer, EU importer, or authorized representative placing an in-scope product on the EU market, you’re responsible for EPREL registration before the product is offered for sale. Dealers and online marketplaces rely on your EPREL entry to source the correct label and product fiche.

Typical categories covered by energy labelling include a wide range of household appliances, electronic displays, light sources, and certain heating/hot-water products. If your product uses an EU energy label, assume EPREL applies unless an exemption is clearly stated in the relevant regulation.

What data does EPREL require?

EPREL entries are structured. You’ll provide:

• Organizational details (validation of your legal entity/authorized representative).
• Product identification (brand, model, variant codes).
• Performance levels required by the relevant product regulation (e.g., efficiency class, annual energy consumption, dimensions, noise).
• Supporting evidence (test reports, calculations) made available for authorities.
• Labeling materials (energy label and product information sheet), which can be generated with EPREL when the information is complete.

Two parts of EPREL are relevant:

• Public information: what is visible to dealers and customers.
• Compliance section: confidential technical file for market surveillance.

Why EPREL compliance is necessary

Market access:

Halting of sales and withdrawal from marketplaces because of unregistered models or incorrect labels.

Enforcement:

Authorities can scan the QR code, check data consistency, and request technical files.

Brand trust:

Proper labels allow customers to compare products and avoid mis-selling complications.

Operational efficiency:

An unambiguous EPREL record allows smooth rollouts in EU countries and channels.

Common pitfalls we come across

Entity validation delays:

Missing documentation or unmatched company details.

Incoherent model naming:

SKU/variant sprawl that confuses dealers and customers.

Partial datasets:

Efficiency claims entered without complete metrics or calculations.

Stale labels:

Product changes are not reflected in EPREL, leading to mismatches online and on packaging.

Process gaps:

No owner established, no internal checklist, no audit trail—leading to errors and rework.

How Enviropass helps (end-to-end)

1) Readiness check

We review your portfolio, check which models are in scope, and map the exact data points the regulation requires. In case you're unsure whether a product needs labeling, we establish applicability first.

2) Organization validation

We help create or validate your entity/authorized representative in EPREL, aligning legal names, VAT/registration details, and contacts to avoid approval problems.

3) Data collection & evidence

We develop a real-world template for marketing, engineering, test, and regulatory teams. As needed, we collaborate with labs (or your internal test groups) so that the values supporting the label are defensible.

4) EPREL data entry & quality control

We create or update product records, check internal consistency, and do a final verification so labels and fiches print cleanly. In case of existing entries, we audit these to complete gaps and update them to be current.

5) Labels, fiches, and dealer enablement

We generate the official label and product information sheet, provide publishing guidance for websites and packaging, and prepare a quick brief for distributors so they know exactly which assets to use.

What you’ll walk away with

• Verified EPREL entries for each in-scope model
• Official energy labels (with QR codes) and product information sheets
• A concise compliance dossier (what was filed, where values came from, and how to maintain it)
• Update SOPs so future model revisions don’t derail label accuracy.

When to involve us

• You’re launching new EU models and want labels live on day one.
• You have EPREL entries, but aren’t confident they reflect current performance or variants.
• Dealers flag inconsistent labels online vs. in the box.
• Market surveillance or a key retailer requests clarification.

FAQs (quick)

Do non-EU brands need EPREL?

Yes—if you're exporting to the EU, you'll need an EU economic operator (importer/authorised representative) to handle EPREL and be contactable by authorities.

What if my product changes?

Update EPREL before changed products reach customers. Treat EPREL like a controlled document: if specifications change, the entry and label should as well.

Can you help with multiple categories?

Absolutely. We support a broad range of energy-labelled product groups and can coordinate with your labs and suppliers.

About Enviropass

Enviropass helps manufacturers and importers meet EU energy labelling requirements by managing the entire EPREL process—from entity verification and data preparation to label generation and distributor activation. We also integrate EPREL into larger Ecodesign/ESPR documentation so your product compliance is future-proof and audit-ready.

Need help registering products in EPREL or checking existing entries? Get in touch—we'll make it easy, accurate, and on schedule.

What Is RoHS Compliance? A Complete Guide by Enviropass

Here at Enviropass, we specialize in helping companies globally become product environmental compliance ready, including RoHS and relevant legislation. Below is a very detailed explanation of what RoHS is, who it is aimed at, and how we can help you be compliant.

What is RoHS: Restriction of Hazardous Substances

EU RoHS is the acronym for Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive, or Directive 2011/65/EU and its amendment (EU) 2015/863. The European Union put it in place to control the utilization of some hazardous substances during the manufacture of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE).

The goals of RoHS are to:

• Minimize environmental and human health risks caused by toxic material
• Encourage the manufacture of safer, more environmentally friendly products
• Promote recycling and reuse of electronic waste

⚠️ Restricted Substances Under RoHS

RoHS currently bans the following 10 substances:

• Lead (Pb)
• Mercury (Hg)
• Cadmium (Cd)
• Hexavalent Chromium (Cr⁶⁺)
• Polybrominated Biphenyls (PBB)
• Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDE)
• Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP)
• Butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP)
• Dibutyl phthalate (DBP)
• Diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP)

These substances cannot exceed specific limits in homogeneous materials (e.g., coatings, plastics, solders) in covered products.

What Products Are Covered?

RoHS applies to most electrical and electronic products, including but not limited to:

• Consumer electronics (TVs, computers, phones)
• Medical devices
• Industrial monitoring and control instruments
• Household appliances
• Lighting products
• Cables, connectors, and batteries
• Even things like resistors, PCBs, or casings have to be compliant.
• 
  

Global Reach: It's Not Just Europe

Even though RoHS was originally created in the EU, many other nations have since created similar laws:

• UK RoHS (post-Brexit)
• China RoHS
• California RoHS (USA)
• India, UAE, Turkey, etc.

So if you're selling your product abroad, more than likely you have to comply with several versions of RoHS.

How Enviropass Helps You Get RoHS Compliant

We at Enviropass offer turnkey RoHS and other regulatory compliance solutions. Our services include:

Compliance Audits & Product Assessments

We scrutinize your product's Bill of Materials (BOM), supplier reports, and test data to determine RoHS conformity.

Supply Chain Data Collection

We help gather declarations and evidence from your suppliers by utilizing tools like the Enviropass Product Environmental Compliance (EPEC) form—a free, user-friendly tool.

Testing Coordination

Where documentation is lacking, we organize analytical testing (XRF, GC-MS, etc.) with certified labs to verify compliance.

Exemption Management

RoHS includes some exemptions (e.g., lead in high-temperature solders). We'll determine which, if any, of those might be relevant to your product.

RoHS Training & Capacity Building

We offer tailored training programs—onsite or online—so your team understands the regulations and can remain in compliance in the long run.

Continuous Monitoring & Updates

RoHS is changing: exemptions sunset, new chemicals are added, and national rules change. We stay up to date with changing regulations and alert you when action has to be taken.

Why Choose Enviropass?

✔️ Three decades of experience in product environmental conformity

✔️ Customized service—no template fits all

✔️ Multilingual service in English and French

✔️ Valued by manufacturers, importers, and engineers worldwide

✔️ Headquartered in Canada, with international reach

Whether you need help with one-time project compliance or ongoing compliance assistance daily, Enviropass is available to help you get ahead of environmental regulations.

Call Enviropass Today

Ready to make your products RoHS-ready and ready for world markets?

https://getenviropass.com/contact/

Let's build a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable tomorrow—collectively.