IMDS Release 15.2 went live on January 21, 2026, introducing targeted functional updates focused on regulatory accuracy, data transparency, and system clarity.
While not a major overhaul, this release refined several regulatory and reporting rules. Here’s what changed.
Ceramics and Glass Exempt from BPR
Release 15.2 removed the requirement to enter BPR regulatory information for new materials classified as 7.2 (ceramics / glass).
Existing regulatory information remains active. During rollout, IMDS automatically updated regulatory entries to reflect that these materials are no longer eligible for BPR and closed any open BPR update requests.
This aligns ceramics and glass with metals (classifications 1–4), which were previously excluded from BPR in IMDS.
Impact:
Suppliers working with ceramics and glass should now see reduced BPR-related administrative requirements for new submissions.
“Rest” No Longer Allowed for SVHC / GADSL Substances
IMDS 15.2 prohibits the use of “rest” as a portion for:
- SVHC Candidate List substances
- Substances marked prohibited or duty-to-declare on the GADSL
Existing materials using “rest” for these substances remain valid.
Impact:
High-priority regulatory substances must now be declared with defined concentration values in new or updated MDSs, reinforcing substance-level transparency.
New “Last Status Change” Column in Search
A new “last status change” column was added to MDS and related search screens.
The displayed date varies by status, such as release date, publish date, send date, or acceptance date, improving visibility into record activity.
Impact:
Users can more easily track submission timelines and supplier updates.
Updated Message for Successful Checks
The message displayed when an MDS passes system checks was revised to clarify that automated checks do not confirm full compliance.
The new message reads:
“This MDS has passed all included checks. These checks do not cover all aspects of IMDS data requirements. Further manual review may be required.”
Impact:
Manual review remains essential, even when no IMDS warnings or errors appear.
Final Thoughts
IMDS 15.2 was a refinement-focused release. It:
- Reduced BPR requirements for ceramics and glass
- Strengthened reporting expectations for SVHC and GADSL substances
- Improved search transparency
- Reinforced the limits of automated system checks
Companies should ensure internal IMDS processes reflect these updates to avoid issues in future submissions. For assistance navigating IMDS updates, strengthening data quality, or aligning submissions with evolving regulatory expectations, contact our team at [email protected].
