The European Space Agency (ESA) successfully organised the 7th Workshop on the EU REACH Regulation and its Impact on the Space Sector on Tuesday, 2 June 2026 at ESA ESTEC in Noordwijk, the Netherlands. 

This interactive full-day event brought together experts from competent authorities, space agencies, industry (from large system integrators to SMEs), and other stakeholders to discuss the latest developments, challenges and risks associated with the EU REACH Regulation and related environmental legislation affecting the European space sector. 

Among the various regulatory topics addressed, the proposed Universal PFAS (uPFAS) restriction received particular attention. The workshop took place shortly after the closure of the second public consultation organised by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) on the draft opinion of ECHA's Committee for Socio-Economic Analysis (SEAC), which ended on 25 May 2026. Discussions highlighted the potential implications of the proposal for the space sector, including the growing interdependencies between the space and defence industries. 

Participants also reviewed recent regulatory developments under the European Commission's simplification initiatives ("Omnibus" packages), including the proposal within the Environmental Omnibus to discontinue the SCIP Database, and discussed their potential impact on the European space supply chain. 

In addition, the workshop examined regulatory developments in the United Kingdom, assessing the evolving level of alignment and divergence with EU legislation. Discussions covered recent initiatives by the UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), including the publication of the PFAS Plan on 3 February 2026 and Defra's revised approach to the UK REACH Candidate List of Substances of Very High Concern, announced on 24 February 2026. 

The event welcomed participants from across the European and international space community, including representatives from space agencies (NASA in particular), space industry, chemical manufacturers, the European Commission, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), national authorities, academia and consultancies. The workshop once again provided an important platform for exchanging knowledge, strengthening cooperation, and supporting the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of the European space sector in an increasingly complex regulatory environment. 

7th ESA REACH workshop executive summary is available online. 

Individual presentations in PDF format are embedded as download links within the timetable below.