# European chemical regulation and contamination issues > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/european-chemical-regulation-and-contamination-issues > Updated: 2026-08-27T01:09:22.000Z. Sources: 2. Developments: 2. The European Commission is facing criticism for stalling bans on 14 groups of hazardous chemicals, including PFAS, bisphenols, and lead. According to a ‘Restrictions Roadblock report’ by the European Environmental Bureau and ClientEarth, this delay conflicts with the EU’s 2021 ‘zero pollution’ goal. Of the 22 chemical groups targeted in the 2022 Restrictions Roadmap, nearly two-thirds have seen progress halted, with only six restrictions having successfully completed the regulatory process. In a related environmental concern, a systematic review in the journal ‘Environmental Research’ shows that polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)—toxic flame retardants banned in much of the world in the early 2000s—continue to contaminate soil and sediment across Europe. Despite bans in the EU and the United States, these substances remain widespread in locations ranging from Spanish offices to remote alpine snow in Slovakia, posing risks to food chains and human health. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-27: PBDE flame retardants continue to contaminate European environments A new study shows that banned flame-retardant chemicals (PBDEs) continue to contaminate European environments and food chains, posing ongoing risks to human health despite decades-old bans. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/pbde-flame-retardants-continue-to-contaminate-european-environments ### 2026-08-12: European Commission stalls bans on 14 hazardous chemical groups The European Commission has frozen restrictions on 14 groups of hazardous chemicals, including PFAS, stalling the EU’s ambitious ‘zero pollution’ targets for 2030. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/european-commission-stalls-bans-on-14-hazardous-chemical-groups --- Cite as: European chemical regulation and contamination issues. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/european-chemical-regulation-and-contamination-issues