Synopsis
Regulation (EU) 2025/1988 amended the REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 to apply restrictions on Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in firefighting foams.
Restrictions will be phased in on the sale and use of PFAS-containing firefighting foams, with applications being restricted in most cases from 23 October 2026.
Summary
Regulation (EU) 2025/1988 amended Annex XVII (the Restrictions List) to the Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals (REACH) Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 on 23 October 2025.
This legislation applies in EU Member States and Northern Ireland.
What has changed?
Annex XVII to the REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 lists restricted substances.
Regulation (EU) 2025/1988 adds restrictions on Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in firefighting foams to Annex XVII for the first time. This confirms the required timescales for the removal and disposal of stocks of PFAS-containing foams and associated decontamination requirements.
Restriction
Restrictions apply to firefighting foams containing a concentration of 1mg/l or greater for the sum of all PFAS.
Firefighting foams may not be placed on the market or used from 23 October 2030 in most forms, subject to exclusions.
A derogation from the 23 October 2030 deadline allows a PFAS concentration of up to 50mg/l in firefighting foams, where equipment has been decontaminated in accordance with best available techniques. This derogation does not apply to portable fire extinguishers.
Phased, application-specific restrictions
In addition to the 23 October 2030 deadline, application specific restrictions on PFAS in firefighting foams at a concentration of 1mg/l or greater apply as follows:
|
Restrictions on PFAS-containing firefighting foams |
Date of restriction |
|
Placing on the market |
|
|
23/10/26 |
|
23/04/27 |
|
23/10/35 |
|
Use of firefighting foams |
|
|
31/12/30 |
|
23/04/27 |
|
23/10/35 |
|
Except where the time-limited derogations above apply, use of PFAS-containing firefighting foams will only be permitted after the 23 October 2026 deadline, where:
|
23/10/26 |
Labelling
From 23 October 2026, firefighting foams with a concentration equal to or greater than 1 mg/L of the sum of all PFAS that are placed on the market must be suitably labelled. This label must state “WARNING: Contains per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) with a concentration equal to or greater than 1 mg/L for the sum of all PFAS” and information must be visibly, legibly and indelibly marked.
From 23 October 2026, stocks of unused firefighting foams and PFAS-containing waste, including wastewater, originating from the use of firefighting foams are labelled in where the concentration of the sum of all PFAS is equal to or greater than 1 mg/L.
Definition
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) - any substance that contains at least one fully fluorinated methyl (CF3) or methylene (CF2) carbon atom (without any hydrogen, chlorine, bromine or iodine attached to it).
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