BREAKING NEWS: EU Commission Restricts PFAS-related Chemicals in Consumer Textiles

The European Commission has restricted the use of undecafluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) and PFHxA‑related substances in consumer textiles, food packaging, consumer mixtures, cosmetics, and some firefighting foam applications.

PFHxA is a sub-group of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a group of chemicals that pose a significant risk to human health and the environment.

The ban on the use and sale of PFHxA impacts a wide variety of products, including rain jackets, pizza boxes, waterproofing sprays, and skin care products. It does not impact the use of PFHxA in other applications that are not related to consumer textiles, such as semiconductors, batteries, or fuel cells for green hydrogen.

“This restriction of PFAS is a decisive step in our strategy to boost sustainability, competitiveness, and innovation in the chemicals sector,” said Maroš Šefčovič, Executive Vice-President for European Green Deal, Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight. “Substituting 'forever chemicals' helps to keep our environment healthy, preserve our resources, and drive innovation in cleaner alternatives. The direction is clear, and businesses will have sufficient transition periods to adapt.”

Restrictions Are Related to REACH

These new measures are part of the EU Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation, which assesses and manages chemical risk to protect human health and the environment. They are not part of the EU's potential universal PFAS restriction, which is currently under consideration by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).

The ban is based on the scientific assessment by ECHA and was approved by the European Parliament and Council. It will formally enter into force 20 days after publication in the Official Journal.

PFAS chemicals are often referred to as “forever chemicals” because they can remain in the natural environment permanently without breaking down. Studies have demonstrated that PFAS chemicals have been found in blood and urine samples from 97% of Americans, and that the chemicals can accumulate in the body over time. PFAS has been used in consumer products since the 1950s and can be found in everything from food packaging to cookware, clothes, and carpets.

There will be a transition period of between 18 months and 5 years to allow industries to find safe alternatives to PFHxA in their production processes.

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