The universal PFAS restriction

On February 7, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) released the "universal PFAS restriction dossier" (uPFAS), clearing the way for a wide PFAS ban under the EU's chemical legislation, REACH. Restrictions are intended to restrict an unacceptable risk associated with the manufacturing, use, or placement of a drug on the market, and the dossier submitter must describe the substance's dangers, risks, and applications.

The uPFAS restriction is the first and sole PFAS prohibition, while REACH includes three PFAS restrictions. Other EU regulations that may control PFAS include the IED, ELD, DWD, EQSD, and GWD, which define quality requirements for ground water, surface water (rivers and lakes), and drinking water, as well as food contact plastic usage, which is subject to the FCM-R. Because of the strong interactions between carbon and fluorine atoms, PFAS are known as "forever chemicals."