The restrictions stem from Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/2462, which amended Annex XVII of REACH by adding Entry 79. They took effect on October 10, 2026, following a two-year transition period adopted in September 2024.
Covered products may not be placed on the EU market at concentrations at or above 25 parts per billion for the sum of PFHxA and its salts, or 1,000 ppb for the sum of PFHxA-related substances, measured in homogeneous material.
The first wave covers textiles, leather, furs and hides in clothing and accessories for the general public; footwear for the general public; paper and cardboard used as food-contact materials; cosmetic products; and mixtures intended for the general public.
Products and mixtures already placed on the EU market before October 10, 2026, are covered by a derogation. Further deadlines apply to other textiles in October 2027 and to certain firefighting foams, including civil aviation uses in 2029.
The measure is separate from the broader universal PFAS restriction that ECHA is still assessing.
