On Monday 15 September, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) announced that it would be launching a public consultation on the provisional opinion of its Socio-Economic Analysis Committee (SEAC) on the proposal for a universal restriction of ‘eternal pollutants’ (PFAS) (see EUROPE 13695/13), in spring 2026.
The consultation will open after the committee meeting, which is scheduled for March 2026. Participants will be asked to identify the potential impacts of restricting the use of PFAS in their sector. To do this, they will have to specify whether alternatives to PFAS are both available and feasible. There will be no question here of gathering information on the risks associated with PFAS, as the Risk Assessment Committee (RAC) is responsible for this area.
Interested parties will be able to attend an information session on 30 October. The SEAC plans to adopt its final opinion by the end of 2026. This timetable risks further delaying the proposal from the European Commission, which had warned that it would not submit a proposal to ban PFASs in consumer products before 2026 (see EUROPE 13563/15). (Original version in French by Florent Servia)