ECHA will support the European Commission in implementing the chemical safety aspects of the new End-of-Life Vehicles Regulation. The Agency will identify substances of concern in vehicles, prepare restriction proposals for hazardous substances when requested, and assess exemptions to existing prohibitions.
Helsinki, 17 August 2026 – ECHA has started preparing for its new tasks under the End-of-Life Vehicles Regulation, which entered into force on 13 August 2026 and sets circularity requirements for vehicle design and management of end-of-life vehicles. The Regulation restricts the use of certain hazardous substances in new vehicles, their parts and components, except where exemptions apply.
The new rules aim to make vehicles easier to re-use, recycle and recover, while reducing pollution and protecting people and the environment.
Peter van der Zandt, ECHA’s Director for Risk Assessment and Management said:
“ECHA’s scientific expertise on chemicals will support the objective of building a more circular automotive sector. We look forward to working with the European Commission and our partners in this new role.”
Future role
ECHA will help the Commission identify the presence of substances of concern in vehicles and how they may affect re-use, recycling, human health or the environment. The Commission’s report is expected by 14 February 2028.
The Commission may ask ECHA to prepare restriction proposals for additional hazardous substances, while Member States can submit their own proposals. These will follow the REACH restriction procedure, with ECHA’s scientific committees providing their opinions.
The Commission can also ask ECHA to assess alternatives to existing exemptions of substance restrictions and propose whether exemptions should be introduced, changed or deleted.
Background
Every year, millions of vehicles in Europe reach the end of their life. Recovering the valuable materials, they contain is important for protecting the environment, strengthening Europe’s resource resilience and supporting a more circular economy.
The End-of-Life Vehicles Regulation replaces the current End-of-Life Vehicles Directive. However, the current directive remains largely applicable until the new Regulation applies from 1 September 2028. The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Environment oversees its implementation.
