The Latest PFAS Regulations: What You Need to Know in 2025

First published: 9 Jan 2026

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly referred to as “forever chemicals,” are persistent synthetic compounds that continue to present a significant global environmental and health concern. Their durability in the environment, combined with links to serious health effects such as cancer, immune system disruption, and developmental issues, has made PFAS regulations a focus for regulators worldwide.

In 2025, businesses face an increasingly complex regulatory landscape. From federal and state laws in the United States to pan-European legislation and national bans in countries such as France and Denmark, organisations must remain vigilant to meet compliance obligations. Proactive companies that integrate PFAS management into their operations not only reduce legal and financial risks but also demonstrate leadership in environmental stewardship and sustainable business practices.

Global PFAS Regulations: Key Updates in 2025

United States: State-Level Standards & Product Restrictions

The most immediate regulatory risk is the stringent, class-based state-level bans, which took effect on January 1, 2025. These measures often prohibit both intentionally added PFAS and require testing to ensure residual contamination is below legal thresholds.

The United States is currently experiencing a dynamic and highly complex surge of state-level regulations targeting Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). This legislative trend is marked by the enactment of rules that significantly exceed federal requirements, creating a substantial regulatory burden and risk for businesses operating across multiple jurisdictions.

The challenge of multi-jurisdiction complexity

The most significant challenge for manufacturers, importers, and retailers is the lack of regulatory harmonisation across states:

• Varying substance scope: States differ in how they define and categorise “PFAS.” Some regulations target a narrow group of well-known compounds, such as PFOA and PFOS. In contrast, others adopt a broad class-based definition that covers thousands of substances, often including any chemical containing a fully fluorinated carbon atom. This means a product that is compliant in one state may be banned in another simply because of differing chemical definitions.
• Differing thresholds: Standards vary dramatically in the permitted threshold limits. For instance, some states require a complete ban on “intentionally added” PFAS, while others impose quantitative limits based on analytical testing, such as Total Organic Fluorine (TOF) measurements, with thresholds ranging from 100 ppm (parts per million) down to 50 ppm.
• Inconsistent Product Definitions: The categories of products restricted also vary. A textile treatment banned in Minnesota may be subject to reporting requirements in Maine or to a TOF limit in California. As a result, businesses need to create a compliance matrix for each product line that outlines the specific regulations for each

Impact on multi-state operations and supply chain

Navigating this fragmented regulatory environment has a profound impact on business operations:

• Product design & reformulation: Companies must often reformulate products to meet the most stringent state-level requirements to avoid market access restrictions. This necessitates a significant R&D investment to identify and test viable alternatives.
• Supply chain opacity: PFAS may be present in upstream components, coatings, or lubricants used by Tier 2 and Tier 3 suppliers. The lack of standardised disclosure or reporting requirements for these materials means businesses must undertake extensive due diligence and audit their entire supply chain—often utilising techniques like Total Organic Fluorine (TOF) testing to verify supplier data.
• Compliance and reporting: Businesses face the logistical challenge of tracking multiple, non-harmonised compliance deadlines and reporting mechanisms. Failure to meet these differing requirements can result in significant fines, penalties, and product recalls, leading to substantial financial and reputational damage.

Minnesota Prohibitions (Effective January 1, 2025)

Minnesota Statute § 116.943 (Amara’s Law) prohibits the sale, offer for sale, or distribution of products containing intentionally added PFAS in eleven specific categories:

• Carpets or rugs
• Cleaning products
• Cookware
• Cosmetics
• Dental floss
• Fabric treatments (substances applied to fabrics)
• Juvenile products (for children under 12)
• Menstruation products
• Ski wax
• Textile furnishings
• Upholstered furniture

The ultimate ban on all intentionally added PFAS in all product categories takes effect statewide in 2032, unless the use is deemed “currently unavoidable.”

California Textile and Apparel Limits (Effective January 1, 2025)

• California Assembly Bill 1817 targets “textile articles” with a two-pronged restriction: a ban on intentionally added PFAS and a measurable threshold limit.
  Initial TOF Limit: Effective January 1, 2025, new textile articles cannot contain intentionally added PFAS, nor can they contain PFAS at or above 100 parts per million (ppm) as measured by Total Organic Fluorine (TOF).
• Future Reduction: This stringent TOF threshold will be reduced further to 50 ppm beginning January 1, 2027.

The California law broadly defines textile articles, covering apparel, accessories, bedding, towels, and more, and requires a rapid transition to PFAS-free alternatives and robust analytical testing.

European Union: Current & Proposed Regulations

EU-wide

The EU is pursuing a comprehensive approach to phase out PFAS under its Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability. Current measures include targeted restrictions under REACH and the new Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation, while a proposed universal PFAS ban, submitted by five Member States, is under evaluation by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) to establish a single, wide-ranging restriction across all sectors.

• Three “legacy” PFAS are already controlled under the POPs Regulation 2019/1021: PFOS and PFOA (entries revised in 2025) and PFHxS (added in 2023) with very low residual limits, tightening disposal/marketing across the bloc.
• Under REACH Annex XVII, entry 68 restricts C9–C14 PFCAs and related substances; entry 79 (Reg. (EU) 2024/2462) adds broad PFHxA restrictions for multiple product categories. The EU’s broader chemical framework, REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals), continues to play a central role in managing PFAS risks across the internal market. Through successive amendments to Annexe XVII, the regulation systematically targets specific PFAS groups based on persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity profiles. These measures aim to progressively phase out the most hazardous long-chain and short-chain PFAS compounds from industrial and consumer applications, ensuring coherence with forthcoming comprehensive PFAS restrictions under EU law.
• The new Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) entered into force on 11 Feb 2025 and sets PFAS concentration limits for food-contact packaging (implementation phased after entry into force). At the European Union level, the regulatory landscape on PFAS is expanding beyond national measures toward harmonised controls. The new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) represents a significant step in aligning sustainability objectives with chemical safety. By introducing restrictions on PFAS in food-contact packaging, the EU aims to protect consumers from long-term exposure through materials that come into direct contact with food, while also encouraging the development of safer, circular packaging alternatives.
• The EU’s “universal PFAS” restriction under REACH, covering >10,000 PFAS and most uses—remains under development, with an updated proposal published in Aug 2025.

France

France has also advanced proactive national measures against PFAS, positioning itself among the first EU Member States to implement a broad, legally binding ban. The French government has prioritised consumer safety and environmental protection, targeting high-exposure categories such as personal care products and textiles. Its regulatory approach combines direct prohibitions with financial accountability mechanisms to accelerate the transition toward safer alternatives.
Law No. 2025-188 bans PFAS in cosmetics, textiles/footwear, and ski waxes from 2026 (with longer phase-outs for all textiles), plus a polluter-pays levy; a decree will align definitions with the EU-wide proposal.

Recently, on 30 December 2025, the French government published Decree No. 2025-1376, introducing strict measures to prevent risks associated with PFAS. The decree applies to a wide range of products, including cosmetics, textiles, footwear, and waterproofing agents. Under this regulation, the manufacture, import, export, and marketing of products containing PFAS will be prohibited as of 1 January 2026. A 12-month transition period is granted for the sale of existing stock produced before this date.

Denmark

In recent years, Denmark has taken a leading role within the European Union in implementing stringent regulations to limit the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in consumer products. Recognising the environmental persistence and health risks associated with these substances, Danish authorities have introduced national measures to reduce PFAS exposure, especially in everyday items such as textiles, footwear, and outdoor gear.

Executive Order BEK No. 464 prohibits clothing, footwear, and waterproofing agents at ≥50 mg F/kg total fluorine (non-PFAS fluorine exempt if proven).

In 2025, PFAS regulations in Europe accelerated dramatically, touching everything from cosmetics and textiles to packaging and cookware.

Other markets

• Canada: The Government proposed class-based PFAS management (excluding fluoropolymers) and launched Phase 1 prohibitions, starting with firefighting foams.
• Japan: Ban on 138 PFAS effective 10 Jan 2025 under CSCL; separate water standards emerging.
• Australia: AICIS opened a class evaluation to compile data on 522 PFAS to inform forthcoming controls.
• Taiwan: Draft plan to regulate 269 PFAS as “concerned substances.”

Proactive strategies for PFAS testing and compliance

The Importance of Comprehensive PFAS Testing

Effective PFAS testing helps:

• Detect contamination risks across products and materials.
• Establish baseline levels for internal monitoring and regulatory reporting.
• Support mitigation strategies, including chemical substitution, filtration, and other remediation technologies.

Choosing the right laboratory

• Seek ISO-accredited laboratories with PFAS expertise.
• Ensure proven methods are used.
• Prefer labs capable of handling complex matrices and translating data into actionable compliance insights.

Expert insight: Testing is not a one-time activity. Ongoing monitoring is essential to keep pace with evolving legislation and newly identified PFAS substances.

Developing a Robust Regulatory Compliance Plan

• Risk assessment: Map PFAS usage across operations, products and supply chains.
• Monitoring & reporting: Implement automated systems for accurate submissions to relevant authorities.
• Mitigation strategies: Explore safer alternatives, deploy filtration technologies, and consider advanced treatments.
• Training & awareness: Keep teams updated on federal, state, and international PFAS regulations to ensure consistent compliance.

Embedding compliance into business strategy protects companies from fines, strengthens supply-chain resilience, and enhances corporate reputation.

Conclusion

PFAS regulations in 2025 reflect a global commitment to managing these persistent chemicals. From U.S. federal and state regulations to EU-wide restrictions and national bans in France and Denmark, businesses face increasingly stringent requirements.

Key takeaways:

• PFAS compliance is global; companies must monitor multiple jurisdictions.
• Proactive testing, monitoring and mitigation are essential.
• Supply-chain transparency is now a core expectation alongside compliance and remediation.
• Incorporating PFAS compliance into strategic operations safeguards legal, financial and reputational interests.

If you need to benchmark your current PFAS exposure, verify compliance against POPs and PPWR thresholds, or plan a PFAS phase-out strategy across cosmetics, apparel, footwear and packaging, we’re here to help.

Contact us to schedule an exploration meeting, PFAS testing programme, or regulatory briefing tailored to your product lines and markets.