On September 7, 2026, the European Commission adopted a Delegated Regulation amending the Persistent Organic Pollutants Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2019/1021, the "POPs Regulation") to list long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids (C9–C21 PFCAs), their salts, and related compounds in Annex I, thereby prohibiting their manufacture, placing on the market, and use. The Regulation will enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union and will apply from December 16, 2026.
Scope of the Controls
The controls cover linear and branched C9–C21 PFCAs (general formula CnF2n+1COOH, where 8 ≤ n ≤ 20), their salts, and related compounds that may degrade or transform into C9–C21 PFCAs. However, CnF2n+1X (where X = F, Cl, Br) and PFOA-related compounds already covered by the PFOA entry are not included again.
|
No. |
CAS No. |
EC No. |
|
1 |
375-95-1 |
206-801-3 |
|
2 |
335-76-2 |
206-400-3 |
|
3 |
2058-94-8 |
218-165-4 |
|
4 |
307-55-1 |
206-203-2 |
|
5 |
72629-94-8 |
276-745-2 |
|
6 |
376-06-7 |
206-803-4 |
|
7 |
141074-63-7 |
— |
|
8 |
67905-19-5 |
267-638-1 |
|
9 |
57475-95-3 |
— |
|
10 |
16517-11-6 |
240-582-5 |
|
11 |
133921-38-7 |
— |
|
12 |
68310-12-3 and others |
269-701-9 and others |
Specific Exemptions
- C9–C21 PFCAs and their salts present as unintentional trace contaminants (UTC) in substances, mixtures, or articles, with a total concentration ≤ 0.025 mg/kg;
- C9–C21 PFCA-related compounds present as unintentional trace contaminants in substances, mixtures, or articles, with a total concentration ≤ 0.26 mg/kg.
|
Products covered |
C9–C14 limit |
C15–C21 limit |
Transitional deadline |
|
Fluoroplastics/fluoroelastomers containing perfluoroalkoxy groups |
≤ 0.1 mg/kg |
≤ 15 mg/kg |
December 16, 2030 |
|
PTFE micropowder (produced by ionizing radiation or thermal degradation) |
≤ 1 mg/kg |
≤ 15 mg/kg |
December 16, 2030 |
|
Firefighting foam (installed Class B fire systems) |
≤ 1 mg/kg (salts) / ≤ 10 mg/kg (related compounds) |
Same as left |
August 3, 2028 |
- After 2030: The more stringent C9–C14 standards (0.1 mg/kg or 1 mg/kg) will apply uniformly to the total C9–C21 PFCA content in the above products.
- Decontaminated fire systems: The total C9–C21 content in fluorinated firefighting foam shall be ≤ 10 mg/kg.
- Semiconductor spare parts: C9–C14 compounds used in spare parts for electronic equipment placed on the market before the end of 2023 are exempted until December 30, 2030; C15–C21 compounds used in semiconductor spare parts that originally used the substance are exempted until December 16, 2031.
- Articles already in use: Articles containing C9–C14 compounds that were already in use before the end of 2023, and articles containing C15–C21 compounds already in use before December 17, 2026, may continue to be used.
ChemRadar Insights
Companies in the fluorine-containing materials sector should immediately initiate supply chain investigations to determine whether their products and raw materials involve C9–C21 PFCAs, and ensure that impurities remain within the exempted limits. In addition, companies should monitor the compliance timelines to avoid losing access to the EU market. CIRS will closely follow developments under the POPs Regulation and provide companies with the latest updates.
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