ECHA issues revised proposal on PFAS restrictions
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has released an updated proposal to restrict the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) under the EU’s REACH regulation. This new draft builds on the initial restriction proposal submitted in January 2023 by the national authorities of Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden, who continue to act jointly as the dossier submitter.
On 20 August 2025 in Helsinki, ECHA confirmed that the five authorities had concluded their review of more than 5,600 technical and scientific comments received during the 2023 public consultation. The input from industry stakeholders, NGOs, and other bodies has been examined in detail, leading to several refinements to the original restriction proposal. The outcome of this work is presented in the updated Background Document, which serves as the foundation for the assessment to be carried out by ECHA’s committees. Additional modifications may still follow as the Risk Assessment Committee (RAC) and the Socio-Economic Analysis Committee (SEAC) study the content in depth.
New sectors not included in the initial draft have been reported
A key development in the revised proposal on PFAS restrictions is the inclusion of eight additional sectors not explicitly covered in the initial draft. These sectors are:
- Printing applications
- Sealing applications
- Machinery applications
- Other medical applications, such as immediate packaging and excipients for pharmaceuticals
- Military applications
- Explosives
- Technical textiles
- Broader industrial uses, including solvents and catalysts
In addition, the dossier submitters have considered a number of alternative restriction approaches. Instead of imposing a blanket ban, they have assessed options that would allow the continued manufacture, placing on the market, or use of PFAS in cases where risks can be effectively controlled. These alternatives have been specifically evaluated for:
- PFAS manufacturing
- Transport
- Electronics and semiconductors
- Energy applications
- Sealing applications
- Machinery applications
- Technical textiles
ECHA’s RAC and SEAC are continuing their evaluations, with the Agency aiming to deliver balanced, independent, and well-substantiated opinions to the European Commission. Ultimately, the Commission, in agreement with EU Member States, will determine whether and how the proposed restrictions will be implemented across the European Union.
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Source: ECHA
