The European Union has introduced new restrictions on all PFAS used in firefighting foams, effective October 23, 2030.

On October 2, 2025, the European Commission adopted Commission Regulation (EU) 2025/1988, which amends Annex XVII of the REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 to limit the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in these products.

This regulatory action follows earlier requests from the EU Council (2019) and the European Parliament (2020) to phase out non-essential PFAS applications. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) concluded that the risks posed by PFAS in firefighting foams are insufficiently controlled, justifying a restriction across the EU.

Restriction Details

The new regulation establishes a broad ban on both the sale and use of PFAS in firefighting foams. This restriction applies to the entire class of PFAS, rather than targeting only specific chemicals or subgroups. PFAS are defined as any substance containing at least one fully fluorinated methyl (CF₃) or methylene (CF₂) carbon atom that has no attached hydrogen, chlorine, bromine, or iodine atoms.

Starting October 23, 2030, the use or placement on the market of firefighting foams containing PFAS concentrations of 1 mg/L or higher (total for all PFAS) will be prohibited. Importantly, this new restriction is consistent with existing EU legislation—such as the bans on PFOA and PFOS under Regulation (EU) 2019/1021, and the restrictions on C9–C14 PFCAs and PFHxA under entries 68 and 79 of Annex XVII to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006.

The regulation also introduces specific transitional periods to allow for adaption as follows:

Placing on the Market Derogations:

1. Until 23 October 2026: For firefighting foams in portable fire extinguishers.

2. Until 23 April 2027: For alcohol-resistant firefighting foams in portable fire extinguishers.

3. Until 23 October 2035: For firefighting foams used in:

· Establishments covered by Directive 2012/18/EU (excluding civilian aviation).

· Installations belonging to the offshore oil and gas industry.

· Military vessels.

· Civilian ships with firefighting foams placed on board before 23 October 2025.

Use Derogations:

1. Until 23 April 2027: For training and testing (except functional testing where all releases are contained), and for public and private fire services (unless intervening at industrial fires in Directive 2012/18/EU establishments, where specific use conditions apply).

2. Until 31 December 2030: For use in portable fire extinguishers.

3. Until 23 October 2035: For the same cases as the placing on the market derogations under point (c) above.

Management and Labeling Requirements (as of 23 October 2026):

In addition to sticking to the PFAS ban in firefighting foams, users of PFAS-containing firefighting foams under these derogations must:

· Ensure foams are only used for Class B fires.

· Reduce emissions to environmental compartments and human exposure to the lowest technical and practically possible level.

· Ensure separate collection and adequate treatment (destruction or irreversible transformation of PFAS content) of unused foams and PFAS-containing waste.

· Establish a site-specific “PFAS-containing firefighting foams management plan”. This plan must be reviewed annually and kept for at least 15 years.

· Firefighting foams (excluding portable extinguishers) with PFAS concentration >= 1 mg/L placed on the market must be labelled. Unused stock and waste must also be labeled accordingly.

The regulation is set to take effect on October 23, 2025.

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