The EU commission has published Regulation (EU) 2025/1988 amending Annex XVII to REACH as regards per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in firefighting foams. As of October 23, 2030, PFAS in firefighting foams will be banned if their concentration is 1 mg/L or higher for the sum of all PFAS. However, this prohibition does not apply to certain PFAS, such as PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS, and specific perfluorocarboxylic acids (C9-C14 PFCAs), as these substances are already regulated under existing EU rules. The regulation includes extended deadlines for specific uses. For example, portable fire extinguishers will be exempt until October 23, 2026, while alcohol-resistant foams in portable extinguishers are exempt until April 23, 2027. Additionally, certain industries, such as the offshore oil and gas sector, military vessels, and civilian ships with pre-installed foams, may continue using PFAS until October 23, 2035. In Annex XVII to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006, the following entry is added Entry 82. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) defined as: any substance that contains at least one fully fluorinated methyl (CF3) or methylene (CF2) carbon atom (without any H/Cl/Br/I attached to it). Shall not be placed on the market or used as of October 23, 2030 in firefighting foams in a concentration equal to or greater than 1 mg/L for the sum of all PFAS. Paragraph 1 shall not apply to: – perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), its salts and PFOS-related compounds C8F17SO3X, to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts and PFOA-related compounds and to perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), its salts and PFHxS-related compounds, covered by Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2019/1021; – linear and branched perfluorocarboxylic acids of the formula CnF2n +1-C(= O)OH where n = 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, or 13 (C9-C14 PFCAs) including their salts, and any combinations thereof, restricted under entry 68; – undecafluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), its salts and PFHxA-related substances, for uses restricted under entry 79. When determining the concentration of the sum of all PFAS, the substances to which the derogation in paragraph 2 applies shall be included in the determination. By way of derogation from paragraph 1, the concentration of PFAS in fluorine-free firefighting foams originating from the equipment which has undergone cleaning in accordance with best available techniques, excluding portable fire extinguishers, shall not exceed 50 mg/L for the sum of all PFAS. The Commission shall review this derogation no later than October 23, 2030. … For the full text of the Regulation, please check the link below.
Europe | Regulation (EU) 2025/1988 – Annex XVII Entry 82 – Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances in firefighting foams
