Commission adopts revised REACH Fee Regulation with new SME validation requirements
The European Commission has adopted the revised Regulation (EU) 2025/2067 (REACH Fee Regulation), introducing mandatory ex-ante verification for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) seeking reduced fees. Under the updated regulation, SMEs intending to submit REACH registrations or authorisation applications must apply for company size validation at least two months before submitting their dossiers, with this requirement taking effect from 5 February 2027. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has two months to verify SME status once documentation is received, and recognised SME status remains valid for three years. Standard fees and charges for large companies will increase by 19.5% to reflect inflation, taking effect from 5 November 2025, while SME fees remain unchanged to safeguard competitiveness. If ECHA does not recognise SME status, an administrative charge may be imposed at a level set by ECHA's Management Board. The regulation enters into force twenty days following publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.