The universal PFAS restriction proposal was submitted on Jan. 13, 2023, by authorities in Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden under REACH. Using an OECD-aligned definition, it covers more than 10,000 substances, from fluoropolymers in industrial seals to water-repellent coatings in consumer goods.
ECHA's Committee for Risk Assessment adopted its final opinion on March 2, 2026, concluding that PFAS pose an EU-wide risk justifying restriction. RAC judged a full ban the most effective option and supported only one derogation on risk grounds, for personal protective equipment that safeguards workers' health and safety.
ECHA published the draft opinion of its Committee for Socio-Economic Analysis on March 26, 2026. SEAC found that a full ban would not balance costs and benefits and favored a broad restriction with time-limited, use-specific derogations, flagging eight sectors not yet assessed including printing, machinery, military uses and technical textiles. The 60-day consultation closed on May 25, 2026.
The restriction would ban manufacture, use and sale of PFAS with limits as low as 25 ppb in products and a default transition period of 18 months. RAC recommended three thresholds: 25 ppb for any individual PFAS by targeted analysis excluding polymeric PFAS, 250 ppb for the sum of targeted PFAS, and 50 ppm for total PFAS including polymers. The Commission has said it intends to present its proposal rapidly once SEAC adopts its final opinion.
Separate rules are already in force. Regulation (EU) 2025/1988 phases out PFAS in firefighting foams with a general ban from 2030, while the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation has prohibited intentionally added PFAS in food-contact packaging above set limits since Aug. 12, 2026. Operational obligations for firefighting foams begin Oct. 23, 2026.
