EUROPEAN UNION

PFAS universal restriction under REACH – opinions expected in March. ECHA’s Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) is expected to adopt its Opinion on the proposed universal PFAS restriction under REACH during its meeting of 2–6 March 2026. The Committee for Socio-Economic Analysis (SEAC) is scheduled to discuss and agree on its draft Opinion during its meeting of 10–13 March. Following agreement by SEAC, the draft Opinion is expected to be submitted to a public consultation.

Commission mandates ECHA and EFSA to assess TFA. The European Commission has mandated ECHA and EFSA to carry out a study on the behaviour of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) in water and soils. ECHA announced the launch of this work on 14 January. The mandate includes examining the formation of TFA in biocides and pesticides, evaluating existing recommendations and identifying new methods to measure TFA concentrations in surface and groundwater. The agencies are expected to deliver their opinion by 1 June 2027. In its letter, the Commission refers to growing concerns about TFA and associates these with broader awareness of risks linked to PFAS.

MEMBER STATES

France

PFAS water pollution levy confirmed in 2026 budget. The French government is finalising the 2026 budget, confirming the entry into force of a levy on PFAS pollution of water on 1 March 2026. Proposals to postpone implementation to 1 January 2027 were rejected. While the government abandoned plans to pass on the European tax on non-recycled plastic packaging to industry and reduced the planned increase in the tax on incinerated waste, it maintained the PFAS levy. Several Senate amendments were removed, including provisions introducing sanctions related to extended producer responsibility schemes and a new upstream waste tax.

Financing drinking water depollution under examination. Four inspection bodies (IGEDD, CGAAER, IGF and Igas) have been tasked with examining how to finance drinking water depollution. In their letter of mission, the ministries concerned note that non-compliance situations are expected to multiply with the extension of PFAS monitoring by regional health agencies. The report is expected in March. The government indicates that the PFAS levy and the levy on diffuse pollution paid by agricultural users of pesticides could be used to finance depollution. The future interministerial action plan is expected to include preventive and protective measures alongside curative projects and may rely on the polluter-pays principle where contamination sources are identified, subject to economic viability considerations.

UNITED KINGDOM

Environment Agency (“EA”) issues report on developing PFAS thresholds in the water environment. The EAhas published the results of work by its Chief Scientist’s Group to develop thresholds for assessing and managing PFAS in the water environment. While it is made clear that this report is not official guidance, this document will be of note to water undertakers, businesses, and generally for anyone interested in the evolving PFAS regulatory landscape and in particular in the water environment.

Environmental Quality Standards (“EQS”) set the concentration threshold for substances in the water environment above which there may be adverse effects. Despite PFAS being frequently detected in English rivers, lakes, estuaries and coastal waters, only one PFAS (perfluorooctane sulfonate (“PFOS”)) has an EQS. The EA explains that it has borrowed from the method for EQS derivation, using similar principles to work out thresholds for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), and PFOS (although noting that the values derived in this report do not change the existing EQS for PFOS).

The report highlights the challenges in setting EQS (which generally target individual substances) for PFAS citing the high number of PFAS substances, their chemical diversity, and the fact that “sufficiently reliable and relevant (eco)toxicity data are only available for a few PFAS.” Water companies have a duty to ensure that water is wholesome (and were instructed in March 2025 by the Drinking Water Inspectorate to monitor a wide range of PFAS and update risk assessments accordingly), but there are no statutory standards for PFAS in drinking water in England and Wales, so this report is a notable publication from the EA.

OTHER

European Parliament study on PFAS derogations prompts reactions. A study commissioned by the European Parliament’s Industry Committee and published in late 2025 examines how PFAS support EU industrial competitiveness and the potential impacts of a general or partial restriction. The study focuses on the use of fluoropolymers and fluorinated gases in aerospace, defence, semiconductors and green technologies and concludes that substitution potential is low or moderate. It estimates the cost of a restriction at €562.8 billion in the first year and recommends unlimited derogations for certain sectors, as well as excluding fluorinated gases from the scope of the restriction. Industry groups have taken up the study’s conclusions, while environmental NGOs criticise its methodology, limited timeframe and the absence of assessable health and environmental benefits where effects are described as unknown.

Commission study quantifies societal costs of PFAS pollution. A study released by the European Commission on 29 January estimates that PFAS pollution could cost Europe at least €440 billion by 2050 under a baseline scenario, rising to nearly €2 trillion under more ambitious clean-up objectives. Even in a scenario involving a full ban on PFAS, residual costs of approximately €330 billion by mid-century are projected. The analysis, carried out by consultancies WSP, Ricardo and Trinomics, notes that in a scenario where emissions continue and authorities rely largely on wastewater treatment to meet strict environmental standards, the total bill would rise to around €1.7 trillion by 2050, driven mainly by clean-up costs. The Commission presented the study as underlining the urgency to act, with Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall stating that providing clarity on PFAS with bans for consumer uses is a top priority for both citizens and businesses.