SG 097/25
The European Union (EU) has aligned the terminology and specifications for perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and its derivatives under its legislation on persistent organic pollutants (POPs) with those for PFOA and PFOA-related compounds.
On June 27, 2025, the EU issued Regulation (EU) 2025/718 to amend its entry for PFOS and PFOS derivatives under Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 on POPs (POP Recast Regulation, consolidated version to October 2024). The revisions will enter into force on July 17, 2025.
Key highlights include:
- Aligning the nomenclature with that for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts and PFOA-related compounds
- Strengthening the unintentional trace contaminant (UTC) limit level for PFOS, its salts and PFOS-related compounds for consistency with PFOA, its salts and PFOA-related compounds (See Table 1 below)
- Replacing the specifications for PFOS as an UTC in semi-finished products, articles and coated materials with language and specifications consistent with PFOA (Table 1 below)
- Removing point 4 regarding the specific exemption for the use of PFOS and its derivatives as a mist suppressant for non-decorative hard chromium plating due to alternative substitutes
- Deleting point 5 related to analytical standards
PFOS and PFOS-related compounds have unique properties with high resistance to friction, heat and chemical agents and are used as water, grease, oil and soil repellents. They are widely used in the manufacture of consumer goods, including but not limited to apparel, carpets, firefighting foams, food packaging, leather, non-stick cookware, printing inks, sealants and textiles.
Highlights of the first three points in the amendment and a comparison with those in Part A to Annex I of the POP Recast Regulation are summarized in Table 1.
| Regulation (EU) 2025/718 amending Part A to Annex I of Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 | Part A to Annex I of Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 | |
|---|---|---|
| Substance | Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), its salts and PFOS-related compounds | Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid and its derivatives (PFOS) |
| Specific exemption on intermediate use or other specification point 1 | ≤ 0.025 mg/kg PFOS or any of its salts as UTC in substances, mixtures or articles | ≤ 10 mg/kg PFOS as UTC in substances or mixtures |
| Specific exemption on intermediate use or other specification point 2 | ≤ 1 mg/kg sum of all PFOS-related compounds as UTC in substances, mixtures or articles | < 0.1% PFOS as UTC in semi-finished products, articles or parts thereof or < 1 µg/m² PFOS of the coated material in textiles or other coated materials |
| Date of applicability | From December 3, 2025 | In force |
Table 1
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