On March 25, 2026, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) announced that its Socio-Economic Analysis Committee (SEAC) has completed a draft opinion of the PFAS restriction proposal. The agency is now inviting feedback from stakeholders worldwide. All interested parties, including industry representatives, non-governmental organisations, producers and developers of alternatives, researchers and members of the public, may submit professional insights by May 25, 2026.
Background
The PFAS restriction proposal was jointly drafted by Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden and submitted to ECHA in January 2023. The first round of public consultation was conducted from March to September 2023, garnering over 5,000 industry responses. On August 20, 2025, ECHA released the revised 14th version of the PFAS restriction proposal, adding assessments for eight additional industrial sectors. In December 2025, ECHA published consultation guidelines and a PFAS use mapping to assist respondents in preparing their submissions.
Key Consultation Guidelines
1. Two types of surveys
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- 14 sector-specific surveys: Targeting industries already assessed by SEAC (e.g., ski wax, cosmetics, food contact materials, textiles, medical devices, electronics, etc.).
- 1 general survey: Applicable to all sectors, particularly the eight newly added industries not specifically evaluated by SEAC.
2. Key requirements
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- No attachments accepted: All information must be entered directly into the questionnaire.
- Confidential information can be submitted: Must be marked per question with justification provided.
- EU Login account required: Registration and two-factor authentication must be completed in advance.
- Drafts can be saved: Submissions can be completed in multiple sessions.
3. Key areas of inquiry
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- Availability, technical feasibility, and economic viability of alternatives.
- Impact assessment on employment and profits.
- Implementation costs of risk management measures.
- Cost estimates for reporting requirements and on-site management plans.
4. Important reminders
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- Do not resubmit information already provided in the 2023 Annex XV consultation.
- Policy statements will not be included in SEAC’s scientific assessment.
- Prepare responses in English before entering them into the system.
Next Steps
Valid information collected through the consultation will be used to verify or amend conclusions in the committee’s draft opinion. SEAC is expected to adopt the final opinion by the end of 2026, marking the completion of ECHA’s scientific assessment of the restriction proposal. The final opinion will then be formally submitted to the European Commission.
Based on the two final opinions, the European Commission will draft restriction measures for discussion and voting by the REACH Committee, composed of EU member states.
