EU floats plan that would ban virtually every PFAS currently on the market

A proposal that would effectively ban the controversial class of chemical compounds known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in Europe was published by the European Chemicals Agency (Echa) yesterday. The agency has described it as ‘one of the broadest’ restrictions of the chemical industry in the EU’s history.

Proposed under the Reach regulation, the plan was drafted by the governments of Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Norway and Sweden and sent to Echa back in January. It is expected to be formally presented to European member states in 2025.

The five countries want to essentially ban the entire class of more than 10,000 chemicals in a single stroke, including their production, use, and sale, and the impact would be significant. The prohibition would apply to every type of PFAS manufactured in, or imported into, Europe. It specifically targets substances that contain at least one fully fluorinated methyl (CF₃–) or methylene (–CF₂–), although there are exceptions.