BREAKING NEWS: EU Commission Restricts PFAS-related Chemicals in Consumer Textiles

The European Commission has restricted the use of undecafluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) and PFHxA‑related substances in consumer textiles, food packaging, consumer mixtures, cosmetics, and some firefighting foam applications.

PFHxA is a sub-group of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a group of chemicals that pose a significant risk to human health and the environment.

The ban on the use and sale of PFHxA impacts a wide variety of products, including rain jackets, pizza boxes, waterproofing sprays, and skin care products. It does not impact the use of PFHxA in other applications that are not related to consumer textiles, such as semiconductors, batteries, or fuel cells for green hydrogen.

“This restriction of PFAS is a decisive step in our strategy to boost sustainability, competitiveness, and innovation in the chemicals sector,” said Maroš Šefčovič, Executive Vice-President for European Green Deal, Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight. “Substituting ‘forever chemicals’ helps to keep our environment healthy, preserve our resources, and drive innovation in cleaner alternatives. The direction is clear, and businesses will have sufficient transition periods to adapt.”

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