For several years now, per- and polyfluroalkylated substances (commonly known as PFAS substances) have been progressively subject to restrictions on use.
These substances, used in a wide range of industrial and everyday applications, are extremely persistent in the environment (for this reason, they are also known as "eternal pollutants").
Examples of use: textiles (waterproofing, fire resistance), food packaging, fire-fighting foams, non-stick coatings, cosmetics, phytosanitary products...
Given that their impact on the environment and human health is a matter of concern, and that these PFAS substances are found in all environments (air, water and soil), European regulations have provided for progressive restrictions on their use; we summarize the main ones below.
Restriction of PFOA since July 2020 (1)
(1) Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on persistent organic pollutants, Annex I, Part A
| Which products/mixtures are concerned? |
When? |
Under what conditions? |
|
Use of this banned substance on its own or in substances, mixtures or articles
|
From July 4, 2020 |
Concentration :
> 0.025 mg/kg (0.0000025% by mass) for PFOA and its salts
> 1 mg/kg (0.0001% by mass) for related compounds and any combination thereof
|
Use of this substance, salts and related compounds for :
- Medical devices other than implantable devices
- Latex printing inks
- Plasma nanocoatings
|
From December 3, 2020 |
|
Use of fire-fighting foams containing or likely to contain PFOA, its salts and related compounds on sites where it is not possible to contain all releases.
|
From January1, 2023 |
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Water- and oil-repellent textiles for personal protective equipment
|
Since July 4, 2023 |
Use of this substance, salts and related compounds for :
- Photolithography or etching processes in semiconductor manufacturing
- Photographic coatings applied to films
- Invasive and implantable medical devices
- Fire-fighting foam against liquid fuel vapors and liquid fuel fires (Class B fires) already contained in systems, whether mobile or stationary (but prohibited for training and testing if not all releases are contained).
|
From July 4, 2025 |
|
Use of PFOA-related compounds in a substance intended for use as a transported isolated intermediate
|
From July 4, 2020 |
Concentration > 20 mg/kg (0.002% by mass)
|
|
Use of this substance, its salts and related compounds in medical devices other than invasive and implantable devices
|
From July 4, 2020 |
Concentration > 2 mg/kg (0.0002% by mass)
|
|
Use of PFOA and its salts present in transported or processed PTFE micropowders to reduce the concentration below the limit of 0.025 mg/kg.
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Since August 18, 2023 |
Concentration > 1 mg/kg (0.001% by mass)
|
Exemptions to these restrictions on use are possible for :
- the use of perfluorooctyl bromide containing perfluorooctyl iodide for the manufacture of pharmaceutical products (a review and assessment by the Commission is scheduled for December 31, 2026 at the latest);
- the use of articles which were already in use in the Union before July 4, 2020 and which contain PFOA, its salts and/or compounds related to PFOA.
Restriction of PFCA in C9-C14 since January 2023 (2)
(2) Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), entry 68 in the table in Annex XVII.
| Which products/mixtures are concerned? |
When? |
Under what conditions? |
|
Use of fire-fighting foams that contain or may contain C9-C14 PFCAs, their salts and related substances at sites where it is not possible to contain all releases.
|
From January1, 2023 |
Sum concentration :
≥ 25 ppb for PFCA and its salts
≥ 260 ppb for related substances
[ppb: parts per billion]
|
|
Use of this banned substance on its own or in substances, mixtures or articles
|
Since February 25, 2023 |
|
Water- and oil-repellent textiles for personal protective equipment
|
Since July 4, 2023 |
|
Use in semiconductors as such or incorporated in semi-finished and finished electronic equipment
|
Since December 31, 2023 |
|
For use as can liners for pressurized metered-dose inhalers (MDIs)
|
Since August 25, 2024 |
Use of this substance, salts and related substances for :
- Photolithography or etching in semiconductor manufacturing
- Photographic coatings applied to films
- Invasive and implantable medical devices
- Fire-fighting foam against liquid fuel vapors and liquid fuel fires (Class B fires) already contained in systems, whether mobile or stationary (but prohibited for training and testing if not all releases are contained).
|
From July 4, 2025 |
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Use of semiconductors in spare or replacement parts for finished electronic equipment
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From December 31, 2030 |
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Use in fluorinated resins and fluoroelastomers containing perfluoroalkoxylated groups
|
Since February 25, 2023 |
Concentration of the sum of C9-C14 PFCAs ≥ 2000 ppb
|
| Since August 26, 2024 |
Concentration of the sum of C9-C14 PFCAs ≥ 100 ppb
|
|
Use of PFCA, its salts and related substances when present in a substance intended for use as a transported isolated intermediate
|
Since February 25, 2023 |
Concentration of the sum of C9-C14 PFCAs ≥ 10 ppm
[ppm: parts per million]
|
PTFE micropowders produced by ionization or thermal degradation
Mixtures and articles containing PTFE micropowders for industrial and professional use
|
Since February 25, 2023 |
Concentration of sum of C9-C14 PFCAs ≥ 1000 ppb
|
Restriction of PFHxS since August 2023 (3)
(3) Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on persistent organic pollutants, Annex I, Part A
| Which products/mixtures are concerned? |
When? |
Under what conditions? |
|
Use of this banned substance on its own or in substances, mixtures or articles
|
Since August 28, 2023 |
PFHxS or its salts in concentrations ≥ 0.025 mg/kg (0.0000025% by mass)
Sum of concentrations of all PFHxS-related compounds ≥ 1 mg/kg (0.0001% by mass)
Concentrations of PFHxS, its salts and PFHxS-related compounds ≥ 0.1 mg/kg (0.00001% by mass) when present in concentrated fire-fighting foam blends that are intended for use or are used in the production of other fire-fighting foam blends.
|
Restrictions on the use of PFHxA from 2026, 2027 and 2029 (4)
(4) Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), entry 79 of the table in Annex XVII.
| Which products/mixtures are concerned? |
When? |
Under what conditions? |
Fire-fighting foams and foam concentrates for training and testing (excluding functional tests, and provided all emissions are contained)
Fire-fighting foams and foam concentrates for public fire services (excluding industrial fires)
|
From April 10, 2026 |
Concentration measured in homogeneous material :
≥ 25 ppb for the sum of PFHxA and its salts
≥ 1000 ppb for the sum of PFHxA-related substances
[ppb: parts per billion]
|
Textiles, leathers, furs and skins in clothing and related accessories for the general public
Footwear for the general public
Paper and cardboard used as materials intended to come into contact with foodstuffs
Mixtures for consumer use
Cosmetic products
|
From October 10, 2026 |
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Textiles, leather, furs and skins for the general public, other than those used in clothing and related accessories
|
From October 10, 2027 |
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Fire-fighting foams and foam concentrates for civil aviation (including civil airports)
|
From October 10, 2029 |
*These restrictions do not apply to substances with the perfluoroalkyl group C6F13- directly attached to a sulfur atom that are already banned in Annex I of Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 on persistent organic pollutants.
Exemptions from these restrictions and prohibitions on use are possible for :
- certain personal protective equipment (protection against substances and mixtures hazardous to health, harmful biological agents, ionizing radiation, hot (≥ 100 °C) and cold (≤ -50 °C) environments, electric shocks and live working, and bullet or stab wounds);
- medical devices used in healthcare and in vitro diagnostics establishments;
- Textiles used as construction textiles (insulation, waterproofing, roofing, foundations, cladding, etc.).
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