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Denmark: Publishes PFAS ban in clothing and footwear

May 2025 - Softlines

Denmark has officially published an Executive Order¹ on the prohibition of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in clothing, footwear and waterproofing agents for clothing and footwear (restricted products). The ban targets consumer use products and professional clothing and safety gear will not be part of the ban.

PFAS are well known as a large group of substances that exhibit extremely high environmental persistence, long-lasting from decades to centuries. While the process to adopt an EU-wide PFAS restriction is ongoing, Denmark is following the footsteps of France to adopt a PFAS ban in clothing and footwear. The Executive Order does not cover PFAS in restricted products which are currently regulated under EU REACH and Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Regulation.

According to the new Executive Order, it is prohibited to import and sell clothing, footwear and waterproofing agents for clothing and footwear if they contain a total fluorine content of 50 mg F/kg or more. However, if the fluorine content comes from a non-PFAS substance, the ban does not apply. In such cases, the Danish Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) may ask for relevant documentation to prove this.

The following products are exempted from the PFAS ban:

Reuse and recycling of clothing or footwear;
Personal protective equipment (PPE) intended to protect the user against risks specified in Regulation (EU) 2016/425, Annex I, risk category III (a) or (c);
PPE where the PFAS content serves a safety function for the consumer;
Impregnating agents intended for re-impregnating PPE mentioned above.
Medical devices;
Transit goods.

The PFAS ban will apply from 1 July 2026, and the sale of pre-imported stock is allowed until 1 January 2027.

Reference:

[1] BEK number 464 of 02/05/2025, Executive Order on the Prohibition of the Import and Sale to Consumers of Clothing, Footwear and Certain Impregnation Agents Containing PFAS

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