PFAS: ECHA Committees Reach Conclusions on First Sectors

The European Chemicals Agency's (ECHA) scientific committees made progress on the EU-wide proposal to restrict per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) during their June 2025 meetings.

The Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) and the Committee for Socio-Economic Analysis (SEAC) continued their detailed evaluation of the proposal, reaching provisional conclusions for several key sectors:

• Both committees reached provisional conclusions regarding the use of PFAS in medical devices.
• RAC also reached provisional conclusions for lubricants.
• SEAC reached provisional conclusions for the transport sector.

The committees also announced a tentative plan for which sectors will be evaluated next. The upcoming schedule includes:

• September 2025: Topics will include electronics, semiconductors, PFAS manufacturing, and general considerations such as enforceability and concentration limits. SEAC will also continue its work on energy and lubricants.
• Post-September 2025: Continued evaluation of electronics, semiconductors and PFAS manufacturing.