On 20 August 2025, ECHA published its updated proposal to restrict PFAS under REACH – marking another significant milestone in the ongoing U-PFAS restriction process.

After reviewing more than 5,600 comments, ECHA has published its 'Background Document', prepared by the five Member States acting as the Dossier Submitter. The report consolidates the views of ECHA’s committees and includes eight additional sectors that have been evaluated, as well as alternative restrictions that go beyond the, originally proposed, outright ban on certain PFAS applications.

The Future of PFAS

ECHA’s scientific committees – the Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) and the Committee for Socio-Economic Analysis (SEAC) – will now review the updated proposal and issue their opinions. These will form the basis for the European Commission’s final decision, made in consultation with Member States.

The PFAS restriction proposal is one of the most ambitious regulatory measures ever attempted under REACH. It will affect thousands of applications across multiple sectors, with far-reaching socio-economic implications. The updated 'Background Document' is therefore essential reading for stakeholders on both sides of the PFAS debate, as attention now turns to the upcoming SEAC consultation.

You can read the full update on ECHA’s website here: ECHA publishes updated PFAS restriction proposal.
 

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