The RoHS directive took effect on 1 July 2006, and is required to be enforced and become law in each member state. This directive restricts the use of six hazardous materials in the manufacture of various types of electronic and electrical equipment.

REACH is a new European Community Regulation on chemicals and their safe use. The aim of REACH is to improve the protection of human health and the environment through the better and earlier identification of the intrinsic properties of chemical substances.

European Union ministers are collaborating with the European Parliament to secure early restrictions on perfluorooctane sulfonates (PFOS), chlorinated compounds used in applications including surface coatings, photolithography, production of microchips, and certain hydraulic fluids

On the 17 March 2009 the Commission of the European Communities adopted a Decision requiring Member States to ensure that products ontaining the biocide dimethylfumarate (DMF) are not placed or made available on the market.

Recently the U.S. government passed regulations calling on companies to disclose whether four minerals procured from the Democratic Republic of Congo (or adjoining countries) are used in products they manufacture. The minerals at issue are gold, tin, titanium and tungsten.