Key takeaways
The EU restricts PFAS, known as “forever chemicals”, and other chemicals of concern one product group at a time, from food packaging to clothing, while a wider PFAS restriction is still being decided. Companies selling into the EU need supplier evidence and test results to prove compliance.
- Packaging: PFAS limits and a 100 mg/kg heavy metals limit apply under the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) from 12 August 2026.
- Textiles and clothing: PFHxA limits start on 10 October 2026 (clothing) and 10 October 2027 (carpets, curtains, upholstery, bed linen), on top of REACH limits on 33 hazardous substances.
- Other chemicals: BPA and other hazardous bisphenols are prohibited in food-contact materials.
- All PFAS: the final scientific opinion on a group-wide restriction is expected by the end of 2026.
- Testing: PackIntelX now offers PFAS and heavy metals testing for packaging (see below).
Last updated: October 2026.
What are PFAS?
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a large family of man-made chemicals that repel water, grease and heat. Their carbon-fluorine bond is so strong that they barely break down in nature. They are used in food packaging, waterproof clothing, carpets, non-stick cookware, cosmetics and firefighting foams.
Why is the EU restricting PFAS and other chemicals?
PFAS persist, spread easily in water and build up in people, wildlife and the environment, and some are linked to effects on the liver, immune system and cholesterol levels. Rather than banning one substance at a time, the EU is moving toward restricting whole groups, so the rules now reach products as different as pizza boxes and rain jackets.
EU chemical rules at a glance: packaging to textiles
| Rule | What is limited | Applies from |
|---|---|---|
| Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), Article 5 | PFAS in food-contact packaging: 25 ppb per PFAS, 250 ppb for the sum, 50 ppm total. Lead, cadmium, mercury and hexavalent chromium: 100 mg/kg combined | 12 August 2026 |
| PFHxA restriction under REACH | Clothing, accessories, footwear, food-contact paper and board, cosmetics, consumer mixtures: 25 ppb PFHxA, 1,000 ppb related substances | 10 October 2026 |
| PFHxA restriction (other textiles) | Carpets, curtains, upholstery, bed linen: same limits | 10 October 2027 |
| REACH textile restrictions | 33 carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic substances in clothing, skin-contact textiles and footwear | 1 November 2020 |
| EU bisphenols ban for food-contact materials | BPA and other hazardous bisphenols in food-contact plastics, coatings, inks, adhesives and rubbers | Main transition ended 20 July 2026 |
| Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) rules | PFOS, PFOA and PFHxS | Already in force |
| Universal PFAS restriction (REACH proposal) | PFAS as a group, around 10,000 substances | Final scientific opinion expected by end of 2026 |
PFAS and chemicals in packaging
The main PFAS risk sits in food-contact materials such as takeaway boxes, burger wrappers and popcorn bags, where PFAS make paper and board resist grease. Article 5 of the PPWR applies to brand owners, packaging manufacturers and suppliers, importers, retailers and e-commerce sellers and needs supplier evidence and test results as part of its technical documentation. Bisphenols are also covered: EU rules prohibit BPA and other hazardous bisphenols in food-contact materials, with a few items allowed until 20 January 2028. Our PPWR Article 5 guide and PFAS and heavy metals guide explain the documentation.
PFAS and chemicals in textiles and clothing
Textiles face two layers of rules. Since 1 November 2020, REACH has capped 33 carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic substances, such as PAHs, cadmium, chromium VI, lead and phthalates, in clothing, skin-contact textiles and footwear. On top of that, PFHxA, a PFAS used for water- and stain-repellent finishes, is limited to 25 ppb (1,000 ppb for related substances) in clothing, accessories and footwear from 10 October 2026, and in carpets, curtains, upholstery and bed linen from 10 October 2027.
Brands and importers should ask factories which finishes they use and request recent test results.
What comes next: the universal PFAS restriction
The biggest change ahead is a proposal to restrict PFAS as a group under REACH, covering around 10,000 substances. ECHA, the European Chemicals Agency, expects to finish its scientific opinion by the end of 2026. The European Commission then drafts a proposal and Member States vote on it. Expect tighter limits across packaging and textiles.
How to prepare: a 5-step checklist
- Map your products and materials. Mark anything water-, grease- or stain-resistant.
- Collect supplier declarations. Request written statements and the latest test reports for each material.
- Screen first. Use screening to sort materials into low and higher risk.
- Test the higher-risk items. Run targeted PFAS analysis and heavy metals tests against the limit that applies.
- Document and monitor. Keep declarations and reports together, note each product’s EU entry date and review them as new deadlines arrive.
New testing possibilities with PackIntelX
PPWR laboratory testing for packaging. PackIntelX now coordinates testing with its accredited laboratory partner, SGS Institut Fresenius, covering targeted PFAS analysis, PFAS screening, total fluorine analysis and heavy metals testing. Screening quickly flags whether PFAS may be present, while targeted analysis measures individual PFAS in ppb to prove a limit is met.
PackIntelX manages the process, with one point of contact from sample submission to the final test report. Where technically appropriate, up to three comparable materials, such as similar plastic films, can be combined into one composite sample to reduce cost. Tell PackIntelX which materials and how many samples you have and request a tailored quote on the PFAS testing page. PackIntelX also offers PPWR workshops and a digital platform for supplier declarations records.
Frequently asked questions about PFAS and chemicals in the EU
What are PFAS?
PFAS are man-made chemicals that repel water, grease and heat. They are called forever chemicals because they hardly break down in the environment.
Are PFAS banned in the EU?
Not all of them yet. PFOS, PFOA and PFHxS are already restricted, and new PFHxA limits start on 10 October 2026. A restriction covering the whole PFAS group is proposed but not yet adopted.
What is the PFAS limit for food packaging in the EU?
Since 12 August 2026, food-contact packaging must stay below 25 ppb for any single PFAS, 250 ppb for the sum of PFAS and 50 ppm for total PFAS under the PPWR. See our PPWR Article 5 guide.
Which chemicals are restricted in textiles?
Clothing, skin-contact textiles and footwear are limited for 33 carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic substances under REACH since 1 November 2020, and for PFHxA from 10 October 2026.
Which other chemicals are restricted in packaging?
The PPWR limits lead, cadmium, mercury and hexavalent chromium to 100 mg/kg combined, and EU rules prohibit BPA and other hazardous bisphenols in food-contact materials.
How can I test products for PFAS?
Use screening or total fluorine analysis to check many materials quickly, then targeted PFAS analysis to measure individual PFAS in ppb. PackIntelX offers these for packaging through its PFAS testing service.
When will the universal PFAS restriction apply?
There is no date yet. ECHA’s final scientific opinion is expected by the end of 2026, after which the European Commission proposes the rule and Member States vote on it.
