The EU's universal PFAS restriction, first tabled in January 2023 by Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden, is approaching the point where it becomes law. Using a definition aligned with the OECD, it covers more than 10,000 substances.
ECHA's Committee for Risk Assessment adopted its final opinion on March 2, 2026, concluding that PFAS pose an EU-wide risk that justifies restriction and judging a full ban the most effective option.
ECHA published the draft opinion of its Committee for Socio-Economic Analysis on March 26, 2026. SEAC favored a broad restriction with time-limited, use-specific derogations and flagged eight sectors not yet assessed, including printing, machinery, military uses and technical textiles.
The risk committee recommends thresholds of 25 ppb for any individual PFAS measured by targeted analysis, 250 ppb for the sum of PFAS, and 50 ppm for total PFAS including polymers. The default transition period is 18 months.
SEAC's final opinion is expected before the end of 2026, after which the European Commission intends to table its restriction proposal. Final adoption is expected in late 2027 or 2028.
The Commission has said that where adequate alternatives in terms of performance and safety are not available, continued use of PFAS in critical industrial applications may be allowed under strict conditions until acceptable substitutes are found.
