EU REACH Fees to Increase 19.5% from November 5, 2025

European Union recently announced significant amendments to the REACH fees under its Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Regulation. 

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/2067, published on October 16, 2025, introduces a 19.5% increase in standard fees for non-Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and a fundamental shift in the SME verification process. 

The primary motivation behind these amendments is to enhance the financial sustainability of ECHA. Following the last major registration deadline in 2018, ECHA has experienced reduced and unpredictable fee income. The amendment aims to address this financial gap and support the planned reassignment of scientific and technical work to Union agencies, aligning with the broader Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability.

Fee Adjustments

REACH registration fees will see a cumulative increase of 19.5%, reflecting the average annual inflation rates for 2021, 2022, and 2023. This adjustment, however, explicitly excludes SMEs, safeguarding their competitiveness in line with the Commission’s Political Guidelines 2024-2029 and SME Relief Package. The adjusted fees are as follows:

Overhaul of SME Verification Procedures

 Another significant changes introduced by this amendment is the transition from an ex-post (after the fact) to an ex-ante (in advance) verification process for SME status.

Under the revised procedure, the updates mainly include:

• Advance Application: Companies seeking SME status for reduced fees must now apply to ECHA at least two months prior to submitting their registration dossier.

• Three-Year Validity: Once recognized, an SME status will be valid for three years. This recognition will apply not only to submissions under REACH but also to those under other relevant EU legislations requiring SME status verification, such as the Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulation and the Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR), eliminating the need for repeated applications.

• Administrative Fee for Verification: ECHA may introduce an administrative charge for the SME status verification process. However, this fee will be waived if the company is ultimately confirmed as an SME.

The adjusted REACH fees are set to take effect on November 5, 2025, with a transitional period for the new SME verification rules extending until February 5, 2027. 

For companies that are not SMEs and plan to submit registration dossiers, it is advised to complete their submissions by November 5, 2025 to enjoy the current lower standards for cost savings.