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In a press release published on Tuesday 6 October 2026, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) proposes harmonised classification and labelling at European Union level for trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) as a substance toxic to reproduction.
ECHA’s Risk Assessment Committee recently sent an opinion to the European Commission in which it concludes that trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and its inorganic salts are “toxic to reproduction, persistent, mobile, and toxic and very persistent and very mobile causing long-lasting contamination of water resources.”.
Used in laboratories and industry, this substance can break down in the body and the environment, and spread into soil and water. It should be noted that TFA is already included on the list of substances subject to harmonised classification and labelling at European Union level due to its harmful effects on aquatic life and its long-term adverse effects.
In an opinion dated 5 June 2026, the Committee recommends that TFA, NaTFA and other inorganic salts of TFA be included under the following classifications:
- toxic to reproduction in category 1B for adverse effects on development and category 2 for adverse effects on sexual function and fertility;
- persistent, mobile, and toxic (PMT);
- very persistent and very mobile (vPvM) substance, which can cause very long-lasting and diffuse contamination of water resources.
- (Only for TFA) – acute oral toxicant category 4 with an acute toxicity estimate value of 500 mg/kg bw and acute inhalation toxicant category 3 with an acute toxicity estimate value of 3 mg/L (vapours).
If the European Commission adopts the harmonised classification of TFA and its salts as such, this classification will become mandatory throughout the European Union and may lead to new regulatory requirements, particularly under the 2008 Regulation on the classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures.
Sources:
- ECHA press release of 6 October 2026
- Opinion of the Risk Assessment Committee proposing harmonised classification and labelling at EU level for trifluoroacetic acid dated 5 June 2026
- Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 — Classification, packaging and labelling of substances and mixtures
- Overview of ECHA’s Risk Assessment Committee
