Press release

PFAS: EU urged to ban all uses following expert committees’ opinions

26 March 2026

The European Chemicals Agency’s two expert committees have today published their opinions regarding the long-awaited EU restriction of PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals”. Both committees recommend restricting PFAS in the EU.

ClientEarth lawyer Hélène Duguy said:

“The committees have spent the last three years carefully dissecting the scientific and socio-economic evidence about PFAS and the harms they cause. It was no easy task, but their conclusion is clear: the EU needs a restriction on PFAS.

“By now, PFAS pollution is ubiquitous and the health impacts on EU citizens are becoming clearer every day. Our policymakers owe it to people and our ecosystems across Europe to act now and prevent this emerging large-scale public health disaster.

“There’s still some work the committee looking at socio-economic costs needs to do around exemptions to the future restriction – and this is where the committee must remain vigilant. Data gaps should never be rewarded with a free pass and the protection of public health should remain the priority. The restriction should be designed in a way that incentivises proactive PFAS phase-out and safe substitutions.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

The Risk Assessment Committee (RAC) has adopted its final opinion, while the Socio-Economic Assessment Committee (SEAC) has adopted a draft opinion that is today open for a three-month public consultation.

About ClientEarth

ClientEarth works in over 60 countries across Africa, the Americas, Asia-Pacific and Europe. We shape, implement and enforce the law, to build a future for our planet in which people and nature can thrive. 

We are tackling climate change, protecting nature and stopping pollution, with partners and citizens around the globe. We hold industry and governments to account and defend everyone’s right to a healthy world.