PFAS Restriction Process in Final Consultation Phase
Since March 26, 2026, the PFAS restriction process has been in a critical phase. While the first round under the Risk Assessment Committee (RAC) focused on health and environmental risks, the Committee for Socio-Economic Analysis (SEAC) is now addressing the economic reality. Companies have until May 25, 2026 to comment on the availability and development of alternative materials and the socio-economic impacts of a general PFAS ban.
Working Together for an Objective Debate
As a chemical distributor, Nordmann considers it its responsibility to provide information on these developments. Together with DAIKIN Chemical Europe, Nordmann supports the view that differentiation within the PFAS substance group is absolutely essential.
At the heart of the argument are fluoropolymers (e.g., PTFE, FEP, or FKM). These high-performance plastics are simply indispensable for many key industries—from semiconductor manufacturing and medical technology to hydrogen technologies.
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Special Role of Fluoropolymers
A central point in the debate remains the differentiation within the PFAS substance group. Industry representatives call for a clear distinction between low-molecular-weight PFAS and so-called fluoropolymers (such as PTFE, FEP, or FKM):
- Material Properties: Fluoropolymers are high-molecular-weight, chemically stable materials.
- Environmental profile: Fluoropolymers are neither water-soluble nor mobile and therefore exhibit a fundamentally different risk profile than already regulated individual substances such as PFOS or PFOA.
- Areas of application: They are used almost exclusively in closed systems in critical sectors such as the transportation sector, medical technology, and the semiconductor industry, as well as in forward-looking hydrogen applications.
The Association of European Fluoropolymer Manufacturers (Fluoropolymers Product Group, FPG) has already established voluntary emission limits. The goal is to strictly limit emissions of fluorinated emulsifiers used as processing aids in polymerization:
The following maximum emission factors have been set for the year 2030:
Air 0.003% and water 0.0006%. ECHA has already taken these limits into account.
An expert perspective
Dr. Guido Möller, Director of Advocacy / Public Affairs at DAIKIN Chemical Europe, assesses the current situation:
“The results of this consultation will be incorporated into ECHA’s final opinion. Only then will the European Commission draft a concrete legislative proposal, in which political majorities in the EU Parliament and the member states will also play a role.”
Your input matters
Make active use of the remaining time until May 25. Submit factual justifications:
- where PFAS—and specifically fluoropolymers—are indispensable for your innovations and the safety of your products
- what economic impacts a total ban on PFAS would have on you. While the focus is naturally on your company, impacts on the entire supply chain may also be submitted
- which PFAS alternatives could be used, or whether no alternatives to fluoropolymers are currently available.
Please note: In this round, ECHA only allows free-form text of up to 5,000 characters; uploading separate documents is not currently permitted.
Your Nordmann-Rubber team remains on the ball for you and will continue to keep you informed about all relevant developments in this process, which is so important for our industry.
Distributed in:
Germany
PFAS Restriction Process in Final Consultation Phase
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