The European Union is moving forward with a major restriction on PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) under the REACH chemicals regulation. PFAS are a large group of synthetic chemicals widely used in industry because of their resistance to heat, water and oil.
The restriction proposal was submitted to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) on 13 January 2023 by authorities from Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden. The proposal aims to significantly reduce PFAS emissions and prevent further environmental contamination by these extremely persistent substances.
ECHA launched a public consultation from 22 March to 25 September 2023, during which stakeholders from industry, research and civil society submitted thousands of comments regarding the potential impacts of the restriction.
Following the consultation, ECHA’s scientific committees – the Risk Assessment Committee (RAC) and the Socio-Economic Analysis Committee (SEAC) – began evaluating the proposal and the received feedback. The scientific assessment is expected to continue through 2026, after which the European Commission and EU Member States will decide on possible restrictions.
PFAS are often referred to as “forever chemicals” because they degrade extremely slowly in the environment and can accumulate in water, soil and living organisms. Their regulation is considered an important step toward safer chemicals, green chemistry and reduced environmental pollution in Europe.