EU: Revises PFOS limits under POPs
June 2025 - Electrical and electronics, hardlines, softlines, toys and children's products
On 27 June 2025, the European Commission published Regulation (EU) 2025/7181 to amend perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) under EU persistent organic pollutants (POPs) Regulation. This update is intended to reflect the latest scientific developments and align details with perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which has similar uses to PFOS. The revised limits for PFOS entry will be effective on 3 December 2025, allowing sufficient time for Member States to implement.
PFOS belongs to the chemical family of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), which are often referred as “forever chemicals” owing to their persistence. PFOS has been used widely in various applications, including fire-fighting foam, metal plating and water or oil repellence treatments in textiles, paper and leather.
The details of the updates can be found in Table A.
Table A: Comparison of current2 and new amendments of PFOS
Parameter | Current | New amendment | Effective date |
|---|---|---|---|
Substance’s name | Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid and its derivatives (PFOS) C8F17SO2X (X = OH, Metal salt (O-M+), halide, amide, and other derivatives including polymers) | Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), its salts and PFOS-related compounds C8F17SO2X (X = OH, Metal salt (O-M+), halide, amide, and other related compounds including polymers) | 17 July 2025 |
Test method | CEN standards should be used | Removed | 17 July 2025 |
Exemption | The use of PFOS as mist suppressant for non-decorative hard chromium (VI) plating | Removed as substitution is available | 17 July 2025 |
Limit value | PFOS and its derivatives
| PFOS and its salts
PFOS-related compounds:
| 3 December 2025 |
References:
[2] Consolidated version of EU POPs Regulation
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