The EU's proposed universal restriction on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances has cleared scientific review and is entering the final stage before a European Commission proposal. The restriction, submitted in January 2023 by Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden, covers more than 10,000 substances.
ECHA's Committee for Risk Assessment adopted its final opinion on 2 March 2026, concluding that PFAS pose an EU-wide risk justifying restriction and supporting a full ban as the most effective option. On risk grounds alone, it supported just one derogation, for personal protective equipment protecting workers' health and safety.
ECHA published the draft opinion of its Committee for Socio-Economic Analysis on 26 March 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.
The restriction would prohibit the manufacture, use and placing on the market of PFAS as substances and restrict their presence in mixtures and articles above very low concentration limits. RAC recommends thresholds of 25 ppb for any individual PFAS, 250 ppb for the sum of PFAS and 50 ppm for total PFAS including polymers.
The default transition period is 18 months after entry into force. The final socio-economic opinion is expected before the end of 2026, and the Commission has said it intends to present its proposal rapidly once SEAC adopts its final opinion.
