ECHA Releases Updated Background Document for PFAS Restriction Proposal

On 20 August 2025, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) announced that an updated Background Document for the proposed restriction of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) under the REACH Regulation has been published. The update follows extensive stakeholder input on the original 2023 proposal and provides additional details on the scope and possible derogations.

Expanded Scope of the Restriction

The revised document incorporates feedback from over 5,600 consultation comments and now covers additional uses beyond the initial proposal. Newly addressed sectors include:

• Printing applications
• Sealing materials
• Machinery and equipment
• Technical textiles
• Explosives
• Military uses
• Certain medical applications, such as immediate packaging and pharmaceutical excipients
• Industrial uses including solvents and catalysts

Options for Continued Use under Conditions

The updated proposal introduces possibilities for time-limited or use-specific derogations in critical sectors where alternatives are not yet technically feasible. These could apply, for example, to semiconductors, energy technologies, or certain medical uses, provided strict conditions for controlling emissions are met.

Next Steps

ECHA’s Risk Assessment Committee (RAC) and Socio-Economic Analysis Committee (SEAC) will review the updated document and issue their opinions before the European Commission and EU Member States decide on the final restriction.

The updated Background Document can be found here.