What’s Trending in Compliance? October 2025
This blog was originally posted on 27th October, 2025. Further regulatory developments may have occurred after publication. To keep up-to-date with the latest compliance news, sign up to our newsletter.
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Below we break down some of the top compliance trends in October 2025 that are generating the most interest globally this month.
1. EU: Waste Directive, 2008/98/EC – Amendment – (on extended producer responsibility scheme for textiles) Directive (EU) 2025/1892
On 26 September 2025, this amendment to the EU Waste Directive was published in the Official Journal of the European Union. The amendment introduces extended producer responsibility scheme for textiles.
The new textiles EPR scheme will apply to producers of textile, textile-related or footwear products listed in Annex IVc. Covered products include:
- All apparel and clothing accessories, including knitted and crocheted articles and articles made of leather
- Home textiles and furnishing articles
- Worn clothing and other worn articles
- Hats and other headgear
- Footwear
EU Member States can introduce their own EPR systems for mattresses under national law.
The new EU Textiles EPR scheme requires producers to take financial responsibility for the entire lifecycle of their products by funding the collection, sorting, reuse, and recycling of textile waste through Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs). Member States will implement these schemes, ensuring that textile waste is separately collected and managed to promote circularity and reduce environmental impact across the EU.
2. Ireland: Review of the WEEE and Batteries Producer Responsibility Schemes, Consultation Document, September 2025
The Irish Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment is soliciting comments on the review of extended producer responsibility for the Waste EEE and Batteries sectors. This consultation paper will gather input from all interested parties and will also form part of a Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Test. The Department will consider how any potential changes might impact businesses.
The purpose of this review is assessing the current operating model to make sure that it is performing optimally with respect to target achievement, EPR necessary cost management and financial management, the quality of the compliance solution offered, etc.
The deadline for comments is 24 November 2025.
3. EU: What You Need to Know About the Updated PFAS Restriction Dossier, Summary, October 2025
Published on 13 October 2025, this summary outlines the main points of the Background Document for the proposed universal per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) restriction under the REACH Regulation.
The Background Document sets out the environmental and human health risks associated with the use of PFAS and assesses the proportionality of different restriction options to address these risks. The Background Document is an update of the Annex XV report initially published in March 2023, incorporating information from more than 5 600 consultation answers submitted in the consultation on the Annex XV report (March to September 2023).
The Background Document, as well as the summary, was prepared by the national authorities of Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden and Norway (the ‘Dossier Submitters’). These were the authorities that originally compiled the Annex XV report.
The European Chemicals Agency’s scientific committees are now assessing the document for Risk Assessment and Socio-Economic Analysis. The opinions of the committees – together with the Background Document – will form the basis for decision-making by the European Commission and EU Member States on the proposal.
The summary was published to assist stakeholders in identifying the parts of the Background Document, and key updates to the restriction draft proposal, that are relevant to them. The full Background Document is available here.
4. Australia/New Zealand: Energy Efficiency Policy Options for Heat Pump Water Heaters, Consultation Document, October 2025
This Consultation Regulation Impact Statement (CRIS) assesses regulatory policy options to improve the energy efficiency of heat pump water heaters (HPWH) and support their uptake in Australia and New Zealand.
The CRIS proposes three options:
- Business as Usual (BAU), i.e. no regulatory interventions;
- Develop a MEPS and voluntary information provision in 2026;
- Develop a MEPS and voluntary information provision in 2026 and mandatory information provision in 2028.
The information to be provided (voluntarily or mandatorily) could include reheat rate, hot water delivery, Coefficient of Performance (COP), noise, and heating capacity.
The CRIS recommends Option 3 (MEPS with mandatory information provision/labeling). The recommended implementation timeline is:
- 2026: Develop MEPS and voluntary information provision, with a review of the MEPS level after 3 years.
- 2028: Add mandatory information provision.
Comments can be submitted until 31 October 2025.
5. UK: Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Compliance Fee 2025, Consultation Document, October 2025
The UK Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations 2013 establish a system requiting producers of equipment to finance the cost of collection, treatment, recovery and recycling of WEEE arising from private households. These Regulations establish a system of annual collection targets that are imposed on producer compliance schemes (PCSs).
The Secretary of State has discretionary powers to approve a compliance fee methodology as an alternative form of compliance payable by PCSs that fail to achieve their collection target. This consultation contains one proposal from an external organization for a compliance fee methodology and administrator for 2025.
Feedback is sought until 10 November 2025 on whether the Secretary of State should set a compliance fee for 2025 and if so the extent to which the proposal meets the published evaluation criteria.
The consultation is primarily aimed at producers of electrical and electronic equipment, approved producer compliance schemes, WEEE treatment facilities, waste management companies, electrical re-use organizations and local authorities.
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The top compliance trends in October 2025 is based on the most viewed regulations on C2P this month. If you would like to see C2P in action, book time with our team to witness the true power behind C2P.
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