Commission Regulation (EU) 2025/1988 adds entry 82 to REACH Annex XVII, restricting PFAS in firefighting foams. PFAS is defined as any substance containing at least one fully fluorinated methyl or methylene carbon atom, and the restriction prohibits PFAS at concentrations of 1 mg/L or more.
Operational and labelling obligations begin Oct. 23, 2026. From that date, PFAS-containing foams may only be used for Class B fires, with requirements to reduce emissions and to collect unused stock separately. Hand-held extinguishers containing PFAS above the concentration limits may no longer be placed on the market.
A full prohibition takes effect on Oct. 23, 2030. PFOS, PFOA and PFHxS covered under the POPs Regulation, along with certain PFHxA-related substances, are exempted from this restriction.
The measure forms part of a widening set of EU PFAS controls that also includes the October 2026 PFHxA restrictions on consumer products and the universal PFAS restriction proposal still under review.
