The EU Regulation on circularity requirements for vehicle design and on management of end-of-life vehicles entered into force on 13 August 2026. The Regulation establishes a lifecycle framework covering vehicle design, production, collection, dismantling, reuse, recycling and final treatment. It applies from 1 September 2028, when it will replace the existing End-of-Life Vehicles Directive.
Within the new framework, ECHA will support the European Commission’s work on substances of concern in vehicles, parts and components. The Commission is expected to assess the presence of these substances and the extent to which they may negatively affect reuse and recycling or adversely affect human health or the environment.
The Regulation also provides a framework for further assessment of substance restrictions and associated exemptions. This creates a potentially important future information requirement for vehicle manufacturers, component suppliers and material suppliers, particularly where chemical composition information must be obtained across several supply-chain tiers.
The European Commission’s press release states that the measures will encourage vehicle design that makes dismantling, reuse, recycling and recovery easier. This is relevant for businesses across the automotive, components, materials and recycling value chains.compliance, and supply chain management.
H2 Compliance’s regulatory experts can help your organization navigate the new requirements with confidence.
Published September 8th, 2026
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