Why PFAS is a growing risk for brands, retailers and manufacturers?

PFAS restrictions are in force across key markets. US state-level bans covering apparel and textile products are live or imminent in California, Colorado, Maine, New York, and Minnesota. In the EU, PFAS are restricted under REACH and the POPs Regulation, with enforcement tightening as the EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability advances. Retailer RSL updates and NGO scrutiny are adding further pressure. For compliance teams, the exposure is concrete: fines, blocked shipments, product recalls, and reactive supply chain investigations that independent verification could have prevented.

PFAS compliance challenges

• Regulatory exposure across multiple jurisdictions: US state restrictions and EU chemical regulations apply to different product categories, move at different speeds, and carry different enforcement mechanisms. A credible risk framework, using a combination of systematic testing, documentation review and audits and not one-off screening, is the only reliable way to stay ahead of them.
• Product recall and shipment risk: Unverified PFAS content in finished goods carries direct financial exposure: fines, detained shipments, supply chain investigations, and recall costs. The cost of prior third-party certification is a fraction of the cost of reactive remediation.
• Green claims liability: PFAS-related claims in product communications are under growing regulatory scrutiny. Claims require structured evidence based on an independent approach to be confirmed and should not be substantiated with vague “PFAS-free” assertions, exposing organisations to challenge under green claims legislation in both the EU and US.
• Supply chain opacity: PFAS can enter products at multiple manufacturing stages through chemical auxiliaries, upstream inputs, and shared production lines. A clean finished product result does not, on its own, constitute a defensible supply chain claim.

Introducing the Eurofins PFAS Certification Programme

	Our PFAS Certification Programme is an independent, science-based certification framework for textile, apparel, footwear, leather, and accessories sectors. Designed in accordance with applicable requirements ofISO/IEC 17065, it combines TOF and TF analytical testing with structured documentary review and, at the highest tier, independent on-site auditing. One point of clarity upfront: the programme certifies PFAS processes within the defined scope of each tier. It does not guarantee a product is PFAS-free, and certification is not a direct declaration of compliance with any individual regulation.  That scope definition is deliberate and it is what makes the programme defensible under regulatory and legal scrutiny, unlike certification schemes that use absolute language they cannot fully support. Contact us

Three tiers. One programme.

To match different levels of PFAS commitment and business needs, the Eurofins PFAS Certification Programme delivers three distinct PFAS Marks:

Tier 1: PFAS Tested

	PFAS Tested Batch-level PFAS screening with TOF and TF testingEntry-level PFAS screening designed to identify intentional PFAS use in a specific finished product. Combines Total Organic Fluorine (TOF) and Total Fluorine (TF) testing, and a desk-based documentary review. No on-site audit required. Best for: Organisations that need independently to be certified to product-level PFAS confirmation, as a starting point for certification substantiation or in response to retailer or customer requests for PFAS evidence.

Tier 2: PFAS Verified

	PFAS Verified Product and process verification with additional targeted PFAS testingCertification of a client-declared PFAS-compliant process supported by documented evidence. Combines Total Organic Fluorine (TOF) and Total Fluorine (TF) testing with targeted PFAS testing and structured documentary review, including process-flow. No on-site audit required.  Best for: Organisations looking to substantiate PFAS-related claims with a robust, audit-ready documentary evidence trail aligned with AFIRM RSL compliance requirements.

Tier 3: PFAS Assurance

	PFAS Assurance Full PFAS certification with on-site regulatory compliance auditComprehensive PFAS regulatory compliance validation combining PFAS chemical testing, full documentary review, independent on-site sampling, and facility audit. This is the highest level of PFAS certification available in the market. Best for: Organisations requiring the highest level of verifiable PFAS evidence for regulatory reporting, retailer audit programmes, or public sustainability communications where product and process verification are both required.

Not sure which PFAS Mark best suits your business needs? Contact our team to identify the right PFAS certification tier.

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Why Eurofins Sustainability Services?

Three-year certification validity

Most comparable programmes require annual renewal. The Eurofins PFAS Certification Programme carries a three-year validity period, reducing administrative burden and cost of ongoing compliance. This is subject to annual review.

Lower detection threshold

Our TOF reporting limit provides greater analytical sensitivity than competitors, meaning more reliable detection at low concentration levels, and stronger evidence in technically scrutinised contexts.

Structured to withstand challenge

The programme’s tier naming and scope definitions are deliberately conservative. Schemes using absolute claims such as “PFAS-free” create green claims exposure for the certificate holder. Ours does not.

Supply chain coverage

From batch-level finished product testing to full chain-of-custody auditing, the programme addresses PFAS risk across the product lifecycle, not just at point of export.

Global laboratory network

Testing is supported by Eurofins Softlines & Hardlines laboratories across globe like China, India, Italy, Spain, and the UK.

Ready to certify your PFAS-related claims?

The right certification tier depends on your regulatory markets, product categories, and existing PFAS documentation. Contact our team to map your requirements to the appropriate level of the programme, from initial PFAS screening through to full on-site certification.

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