News
16.10.2025

ECHA to conclude on PFAS by end 2026

The European Chemicals Agency ECHA has confirmed the aim to finalise scientific opinions for PFAS restrictions by end 2026. The ECHA evaluation of PFAS was launched in March 2023. A public consultation in 2023 led to over 5 600 responses. Analysis of these responses has led to consider 8 further use sectors, in addition to the 14 initially identified. This is taken into account in the updated ‘Background Document’ which will provide the basis for the RAC and SEAC Scientific Committee opinions. This document conclusion starts by stating:

“All PFASs in the scope of this restriction proposal are either very persistent themselves or degrade into very persistent PFASs in the environment. As a consequence, if releases are not minimised, humans and other organisms will be exposed to progressively increasing amounts of PFASs until such levels are reached where effects are increasingly likely.”

The current restriction proposal would prevent manufacturing, use or placing on the market, as such or included in articles or mixtures, of all PFAS as defined by OECD*, with exemptions for some applications considered essential and where alternatives are not considered to be available (in some cases for a limited time only = horizon date). Relevant to fire safety and flame retardants, the proposed exemptions include:

  • Tolerances in plastics, textiles, papers and boards containing recovered materials,
  • Use in Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) - 13.5 years,
  • Thermal insulation foam blowing agents – 13.5 years,
  • Certain specific electrical, electronics and transport applications, inc. PCBs, wires and cables, certain vehicle and battery components … – 6.5 or 13.5 years,
  • Certain technical textiles for vehicles – 6.5 or 13.5 years,
  • Polymer processing aids – 6.5 years,
  • Anti-drip agents in plastics, for electronic components only – 13.5 years.
  • Fluoropolymers used filters for water treatment – 6.5 years.

The proposed horizon date (13.5 years) for anti-drip agents in plastics would have significant impacts for fire safety as many current FR packages rely on TPFE (a PFAS) to achieve UL 94 V-0 non-flaming drip. There appears to be no horizon date for use of TPFE as anti-drip in non-electronics applications. Non-PFAS anti-drip solutions are already being proposed for PIN flame retardant packages for various polymers and applications (see previous pinfa Newsletters).

* The restriction proposal states: “Any substance that contains at least one fully fluorinated methyl (CF3-) or methylene (-CF2-) carbon atom (without any H/Cl/Br/I attached to it).OECD definition of PFAS”, with some exceptions, conform to the OECD definition https://www.oecd.org/content/dam/oecd/en/publications/reports/2021/07/reconciling-terminology-of-the-universe-of-per-and-polyfluoroalkyl-substances_a7fbcba8/e458e796-en.pdf

“ECHA update on the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) restriction process”, 27 August 2025 https://echa.europa.eu/-/echa-announces-timeline-for-pfas-restriction-evaluation

ECHA ‘Background Document’ for proposed PFAS restriction, update 24 June 2025 https://echa.europa.eu/hot-topics/perfluoroalkyl-chemicals-pfas