European Space Restrictions Task Force takes stock of latest chemicals restriction files and consultation inputs

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At its 11th meeting on 9 September 2026 held online, the European Space Restrictions Task Force (RTF) reviewed the latest developments concerning space-relevant restrictions under EU REACH and for Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).

A particular focus was made on recalling recent submissions by Eurospace to public consultations in the EU and the UK and preparations for the forthcoming EU decision-making phase for the proposed Universal PFAS (UPFAS) restriction.

The meeting was well attended by 27 participants from across industry, ESA, CNES, as well as the European Defence Agency (EDA) and the Aerospace, Security and Defence Industries Association of Europe (ASD) as observers.

Regarding UPFAS, following the closure of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) consultation on the draft opinion of its Committee for Socio-Economic Analysis (SEAC) on 25 May 2026, the RTF discussed possible follow-up activities. The consultation attracted 3,511 comments from more than 3,200 organisations in 44 countries, including aerospace and defence stakeholders.

The RTF had submitted its contribution through Eurospace on 22 May 2026, calling inter alia for a dedicated, time-unlimited derogation covering all space applications and highlighting the strategic implications of the proposed restriction for security and defence as well as the impacts associated with non-use of PFAS.

The task now ahead is to consolidate this and the previous Eurospace contribution to ECHA of 2023 (see HERE) into a single paper on UPFAS and Space Sector impact, which incorporates the latest updates and relevant information, in order to support engagement with EU decision-makers. This paper is planned to be published later this autumn on the Eurospace website.

In addition to UPFAS, the meeting provided updates on other regulatory developments of actual or potential relevance to European space activities, including in particular:

  • the proposed chromium(VI) restriction and the Eurospace response of 13 August 2026 to the latest ECHA public consultation on the SEAC draft opinion.
  • Germany’s new restriction intention concerning certain bisphenols.
  • the European Commission’s updated REACH Restrictions Roadmap.
  • and recent developments under the Stockholm Convention and EU POPs Regulation.

The RTF also reviewed the Eurospace response, submitted to the UK Health and Safety Executive on 7 September 2026, concerning the proposed UK REACH restriction on PFAS in firefighting foams.

The RTF was established in 2023 within the European Space Components Coordination (ESCC) system on the initiative of the Materials and Processes Technology Board (MPTB). The group is an open forum, and new participants with a Space Sector interest, including those from outside the MPTB, may be admitted.

Further information

  • Universal PFAS: Eurospace (RTF) response to the latest ECHA public consultation on the SEAC draft opinion on the proposed UPFAS restriction, 22 May 2026, MPTB-ES-PO-0225, published on the ECHA website under ECHA ref. 10901, available HERE – see also Eurospace news alert of 27 May 2026, available HERE;
  • Cr(VI): Eurospace (RTF) response to the latest ECHA public consultation on the SEAC draft opinion on the proposed chromium(VI) restriction, 13 August 2026, MPTB-ES-PO-0242, published on the ECHA website under ECHA ref. 1380 (p. 641-646), available HERE – see also Eurospace news alert of 18 August 2026, available HERE;
  • PFAS in Firefighting Foam: European Space Sector Comments on the Draft SEA Opinion on the Proposal for a UK REACH Restriction on PFAS in Firefighting Foam, 7 September 2026, MPTB-ES-PO-0245, HSE response ID ANON-8F9R-2T3G-9, available HERE.
  • RTF Secretariat: Valentin Marie, Research Analyst & Compliance Manager, ASD-EUROSPACE, valentin.marie@eurospace.org, +33 (0) 7 86 58 74 34
  • RTF Coordinator: Tim Becker, Senior Legal Advisor, REACHLaw Ltd., tim.becker@reachlaw.fi; +358 (0)40 773 8143