The Rising Tide of Chemical Regulations

As the paint and coatings industry continues to innovate, it also faces an increasingly complex regulatory landscape. From GHS to OSHA, CLP, CHA and REACH, compliance requirements are tightening each year. This creates a growing challenge for manufacturers and distributors who must balance technical excellence with strict regulatory demands.

For companies with small compliance teams, sometimes as few as two people, the stakes are high. What happens when one of these key employees goes on extended leave or leaves the company entirely?

The process of finding and training a replacement can leave you exposed to regulatory risks, missed deadlines and potential fines. Worse yet, fragmented systems for SDS, TDS and label management can slow down operations and frustrate clients.

At the CEPE conference held Oct. 8-10, 2025, 80% of attendees surveyed said chemical specific regulations are the biggest regulatory challenge for their companies. That is a massive percentage.

Over the years, many companies have approached regulatory challenges as a series of isolated problems, solving each one as it arises without a broader long-term strategy.

This reactive mindset has led to a patchwork of fragmented systems: Excel for formulations, separate software for SDS authoring, another for TDS, labels in Word or InDesign and transportation documents within an ERP system.

While this approach might have worked in the short term, it often results in companies becoming hostages of their own past decisions. Reversing these choices is not only expensive but also disruptive, leading to a cycle of patching and fixing that drains resources and slows growth.

This is a costly habit.

Companies often resist changing their systems because they fear the short-term pain of transition more than the long-term impact of inefficiency.

But in today’s market, where regulations are only getting more complex, clinging to old systems is not just inconvenient – it is a strategic mistake.

A Smarter Unified Approach to Compliance

SDS authoring is not just about ticking boxes for GHS, OSHA, CLP, ECHA or REACH. It is about delivering accurate real-time data that every department in a business can rely on.

• End users need reliable, accurate safety information to handle chemicals safely.

• Sales teams rely on precise up-to-date technical documents to close deals.

• Logistics departments must have accurate labels and transportation information to avoid accidents and regulatory fines.

This is where Chemius comes in. Allchemist helps formulate products while calculating their cost effectiveness, giving a clear view of profit margins. Chemius ensures SDS, TDS and labels are always compliant, accurate and ready for audit.

With API connectivity, the same SDS, TDS and label data can be shared directly on a company website without manual work. Customers and partners always have access to the latest information without delays or data inconsistencies.

The tools were originally built to reduce the workload of internal chemical consultants by 70%. If it works for them, the same approach can benefit others.

Don’t Wait Until the Pain is Unbearable

Preventive action is often more cost effective than waiting for a fine or incident. If a company is using software for 6,000 euros per year and is still losing time, switching to Chemius with the Regulatory Dashboard upgrade can reduce costs to 2,760 euros per year – nearly half as much, with better efficiency.

Invest in Your Future, Not Just in Compliance

Scaling without the right compliance tools is a risky strategy. By adopting solutions like Chemius, regulatory complexity can be turned into a competitive advantage, improving resilience and efficiency.

Chemical compliance should not be viewed only as a cost. With the right approach, it can be the foundation of long-term success.

For more information, send an email to support@chemius.net or visit https://www.chemius.net/. 

Article was made for PITTURE E VERNICI EUROPEAN COATINGS and published on LinkedIn.