PFAS Restrictions to Cover Industrial Uses – Exemptions Only for Critical Applications
European Commission: Not Just Consumer Products
At the PFAS Updates Europe conference in Brussels, a representative of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for the Environment confirmed that the upcoming restriction on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) will also cover industrial uses. Exceptions will apply only to critical applications for which no viable alternatives currently exist. This clarification refines the Commission’s position in response to circulating interpretations suggesting that only consumer uses would be targeted.
Temporary Exemptions under Strict Emission Controls
According to the Commission, exemptions for industrial uses will be allowed only until safe alternatives are developed and implemented. They will be accompanied by strict emission control requirements covering the entire product lifecycle – from production to waste management.
Industry Reaction and Criticism
The Commission’s statement follows a wave of comments triggered by earlier remarks from EU Commissioners in July, which had implied that the PFAS restriction under REACH would focus mainly on consumer products.Industry representatives initially welcomed this interpretation, hoping for broader exemptions for industrial uses. However, scientists and NGOs criticized such an approach as undermining the integrity of the regulation and hindering real progress in reducing PFAS emissions.
Timeline and Public Consultations
The European Commission is currently working intensively on the PFAS restriction dossier but emphasized that it does not wish to anticipate ECHA’s opinion. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is expected to deliver its opinion by the end of 2026, following public socio-economic consultations.The Chair of ECHA’s Committee for Socio-Economic Analysis (SEAC) announced that a 60-day consultation period is planned for March 2026. The consultation will be held in a Q&A format, focusing on assessing the restriction’s impact on various industrial sectors.To facilitate stakeholder participation, ECHA will host an online information session on 30 October 2025 and prepare a guidance document on use mapping to help companies determine whether their products and processes fall within the scope of the proposed restriction.
In the updated August 2025 version of the dossier submitted by the five proposing countries (Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden), the list of proposed exemptions was expanded to include certain fluoropolymers and specialized technical applications, for which alternative control measures were introduced instead of a complete ban.
What Does This Mean in Practice?
The planned PFAS restriction will cover not only consumer products but also industrial uses.
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Exemptions will be temporary and closely tied to strict emission control and substitution obligations.
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Companies using PFAS should already assess their processes and identify substitution pathways – even for so-called “critical uses.”
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The 2026 ECHA consultations will be a key opportunity to provide technical data and arguments on the lack of available alternatives.
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Businesses should closely monitor ECHA and Commission publications to prepare early for the upcoming requirements.
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