19.5% Fee Increases for BPR and REACH Services are now live

Effective 14 August 2025, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has implemented a 19.5% increase in all standard fees associated with applications under the Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR, Reg (EU) 528/2012). This change follows the adoption of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1490 by the European Commission, published on 24 July 2025 and entering into force 20 days later.

 

The updated fees apply across a wide range of ECHA’s BPR services, including but not limited to:

Table highlighting the fee increases for REACH and BPR submissions.

While the increase may seem substantial, it reflects cumulative inflation from 2021 to 2023, aligning ECHA’s fee structures with rising operational costs and growing workloads. Applicants are advised to adjust budgets accordingly, as the changes could significantly impact costs throughout the biocidal product lifecycle.

SMEs (micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises) will continue to benefit from reduced rates, of 20, 40 and 60% reduction respectively, but these will also rise in line with the new fee structure.

In addition to BPR, similar adjustments are now confirmed for ECHA’s REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals, Reg (EU) 1907/2006) administrative services. Following a vote of the European Commission’s REACH Committee, amendments to the REACH Fee Regulation (EC) No 340/2008 will also introduce a 19.5% increase, affecting all tonnage bands as shown below. As before, it is possible to share the cost by sharing data through a joint submission system.

Impact on Registration Fees (19.5% Increase)

REACH & BPR price increase table by tonnage

Unlike BPR, however, SMEs are exempt from this REACH fee increase, and fees will remain as they currently are stated in Table 2 of current REACH fees regulation.

Table highlighting SME REACH fees

SMEs will only be exempt from the fee increase if they verify their status ahead of submitting an application. This a change to the current system where verification checks take place after the application has been submitted and the fees for the claimed company size have been paid. This process creates a large administrative burden for ECHA. The regulation change moves the administrative burden to SMEs as they now have to submit a size verification application at least 2 months before submitting a regulatory compliance application. The change to the verification process will enter into force 15 months after the REACH fee increase is adopted so there is time for verification applications to be submitted.

The REACH fee increase is not yet in force but is expected to follow the usual timeline: publication in the Official Journal, a 20-day waiting period, and enactment. Based on past patterns, the earliest effective date is likely November 2025.

This adjustment also comes ahead of broader changes under “REACH 2.0”, the upcoming regulatory reform anticipated to be confirmed in December 2025.