HELSINKI, Finland, 13 November 2026—The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has opened consultations on proposed harmonized classifications for two chemicals under the European Union's Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulation. Germany is seeking stricter health hazard classifications for tetrahydrofuran, an industrial solvent used in adhesives, coatings, labeling, and polymer production, while the Netherlands proposes a new aquatic toxicity classification for ipflufenoquin, a plant protection product active substance.
Germany Proposes Stronger Health Hazard Warnings for Tetrahydrofuran
Germany's Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA) proposes three changes to the existing harmonized classification of tetrahydrofuran (THF; CAS 109-99-9) following a substance evaluation under the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Regulation.
The proposed changes are:
Serious eye damage (Eye Dam. 1, H318): Replace the existing eye irritation classification (Eye Irrit. 2, H319) with a more severe classification indicating the potential for irreversible eye injury.
Acute oral toxicity (Acute Tox. 4, H302): Add a classification identifying THF as harmful if swallowed.
Specific target organ toxicity following single exposure (STOT SE 3, H336): Add a warning that exposure may cause drowsiness or dizziness.
The current classifications for flammability, suspected carcinogenicity, and respiratory irritation would remain unchanged.
Scientific Basis for the Proposal
According to Germany's harmonized classification and labeling report, the proposed eye damage classification is supported by two rabbit studies documenting corneal injuries that had not fully resolved by the end of the observation periods. Although the studies ended before the standard 21-day observation period, Germany considered some injuries likely to be irreversible.
For oral toxicity, a rat study reported a median lethal dose of 1,650 milligrams per kilogram of body weight, within the CLP threshold for Acute Toxicity Category 4. Inhalation studies also identified temporary nervous system effects, including sedation, reduced responsiveness, and abnormal movement, supporting the proposed drowsiness or dizziness warning.
The dossier does not propose additional acute toxicity classifications for dermal or inhalation exposure.
Implications for Manufacturers and Formulators of Products Containing THF
THF is registered for industrial applications involving polymer manufacturing, coatings, cleaning agents, and laboratory operations. Registered consumer-use categories include adhesives and sealants, paints and thinners, inks and toners, lubricants, polishes, and cleaning products.
If adopted, the changes could affect the classification, labelling and safety data sheets of THF and mixtures containing it. In particular, the proposed serious eye damage classification and removal of the existing specific concentration limit for eye irritation could change the classification of certain formulations, depending on their composition.
Netherlands Proposes Aquatic Toxicity Classification for Ipflufenoquin
The Netherlands proposes classifying ipflufenoquin (ISO; CAS 1314008-27-9) as Aquatic Chronic 1 (H410), indicating that it is very toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects.
The proposal also assigns an M-factor of 1, which would be used when determining the aquatic hazard classification of mixtures containing the substance.
Unlike THF, ipflufenoquin has no existing harmonized classification entry identified in the consultation. The proposed classification would therefore establish an EU-wide classification for this hazard if adopted.
The Netherlands' classification proposal is being considered separately from an ongoing European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) consultation concerning ipflufenoquin's assessment as a plant protection product active substance.
The ECHA procedure concerns the substance's intrinsic aquatic hazard, whereas EFSA's assessment addresses its evaluation under the EU plant protection product regulatory framework. A harmonized aquatic hazard classification would not, by itself, prohibit the substance or determine the outcome of the separate assessment.
If adopted, the classification could affect the labelling of ipflufenoquin and formulations containing it, depending on their composition and applicable CLP requirements.
Consultation Deadline and Next Steps
Both consultations opened on 9 November 2026, with comments due 8 January 2027 at 23:59 Helsinki time.
Interested parties can submit scientific evidence and comments through ECHA's consultation portals:
Comments on the separate plant protection product assessment should be directed to EFSA's consultation portal.
Following the consultations, ECHA's Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) will evaluate the evidence and adopt scientific opinions. The European Commission would then determine whether to incorporate the classifications into Annex VI of the CLP Regulation. Neither proposal creates new binding classification requirements at this stage.