REACH Annex XVII Update (Entry 79)

October 04, 2024

As of September 30, 2024, CDX REACH Annex XVII regulation substances have been updated to include a new restriction on undecafluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), its salts, and related substances. This update is part of Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/2462, which adds Entry 79 to REACH Annex XVII. The inclusion of PFHxA is in response to significant concerns regarding its hazardous properties, including its classification as "very persistent," its mobility in aquatic environments, and its potential adverse effects on human health and the environment.
The decision to restrict PFHxA stems from its widespread use across various sectors, including textiles, food contact materials, and firefighting foams. The continued use of PFHxA-related substances raises the risk of increasing environmental stock and human exposure. The regulation proposes concentration limits of 25 ppb for PFHxA and its salts, and 1000 ppb for related substances.
In addition to PFHxA, other per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) regulated under REACH Annex XVII include C9-C14 perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs), their salts and related substances (Entry 68).

Key Points of the REACH Annex XVII Update (Entry 79)

Aspect	Details
Type of Change	New entry (Entry 79) added to REACH Annex XVII
Substances Covered	Undecafluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), its salts and PFHxA-related substances
Main Restrictions	Concentration limits: 25 ppb for PFHxA and salts; 1000 ppb for related substances
Key Dates	From 10 April 2026: Restrictions on firefighting foams for training, testing, and public fire services (with exceptions) From 10 October 2026: Restrictions on textiles, leather, furs and hides in clothing and related accessories; footwear; paper and cardboard food contact materials; mixtures for the general public; and cosmetic products From 10 October 2027: Restrictions on other textiles, leather, furs and hides for the general public From 10 October 2029: Restrictions on firefighting foams for civil aviation
Exemptions	Personal protective equipment (risk category III) Medical devices Construction textiles Certain firefighting foam uses at industrial sites