Discussions covered the full spectrum of PFAS-related pollution challenges, including how to phase out so-called “forever chemicals”.
Commissioner Jessika Roswall held a high-level dialogue on Monday (15 June) with over 20 stakeholders from all parts of society to discuss the pressing challenges related to PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) pollution.
The talks, announced in the Chemicals Industry Action Plan, brought together a broad range of perspectives, including NGOs, affected communities, researchers, water and waste treatment operators, PFAS producers and users, and users of PFAS alternatives.
Discussions covered the full spectrum of PFAS-related pollution challenges — from sources and environmental health impacts to monitoring, remediation tools, and the innovation needed to substitute and phase out “forever chemicals”.
Regulatory measures
A series of actions was set out in the Chemicals Industry Action Plan, adopted in July 2025. Work is ongoing towards a future universal PFAS restriction.
Once the European Chemicals Agency delivers its final scientific assessment by the end of 2026, the Commission will present a restriction proposal aimed at minimising PFAS emissions.
The Commission will also consider a ban on PFAS in consumer goods. For industrial applications, continued use may be permitted for critical uses where adequate alternatives are not yet available, but only under strict conditions and until acceptable substitutes have been developed.
“PFAS pollution is an immense challenge that needs to be addressed collectively. We need to protect our environment, the health of current and future generations, but we also need to incentivise innovation and provide our businesses with regulatory clarity.
We support the transition away from forever chemicals and will seek a ban on PFAS in consumer goods and industrial uses where adequate alternatives exist.”
Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy Commissioner Jessika Roswall
Innovation, substitution and remediation
The Commission’s work does not stop with regulation. In March 2026, EU Innovation and Substitution Hubs were launched. These hubs will support the identification of alternatives to PFAS and help accelerate the development of safer and more sustainable solutions.
Alongside efforts to reduce the sources of PFAS pollution, cooperation on the clean-up of already contaminated sites is also a priority under the polluter-pays principle, with public money allocated to clean up orphan sites where no liable entity could be found.
The Commission is taking preparatory steps for a possible public-private initiative to boost PFAS detection and remediation technologies.
Next steps
The Commission is developing an EU-wide PFAS monitoring framework to centralise information, identify pollution hotspots, highlight successful remediation practices and collect data from relevant legislation.
Together, these measures will provide regulators, citizens and businesses with clearer information and more effective tools to address PFAS pollution.
Background
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a large family of man-made chemicals used across a wide range of industrial and consumer applications. Due to their extreme persistence in the environment and the human body, they are commonly referred to as “forever chemicals”.
Their accumulation poses serious risks to human health and ecosystems, with the costs of PFAS pollution ultimately borne by society as a whole. The groups most impacted by PFAS pollution include newborns, children, people living near contaminated sites, and workers at those sites.
The Commission is committed to taking the necessary action to prevent the wide-ranging societal consequences of PFAS pollution, while maintaining a balanced approach, until PFAS substitutes no longer exist for certain key industrial applications.
More information
PFAS pollution | European Commission
New study confirms huge and growing costs of PFAS pollution | European Commission
