---
title: "The SEAC consultation on PFAS restriction: Implications for sealing applications"
description: The SEAC consultation has now reached a critical stage for companies involved in sealing applications. The ESA is coordinating input to support a clear industry case for securing an exemption for fluoropolymers.
---

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# [The SEAC consultation on PFAS restriction: Implications for sealing applications](https://www.europeansealing.com/news/the-seac-consultation-on-pfas-restriction-implications-for-sealing-applications)

 Written by [ESA](https://www.europeansealing.com/news/author/esa) | May 21, 2026 7:56:05 AM

The consultation launched by the Committee for Socio-Economic Analysis (SEAC) represents a critical phase, particularly for industries such as **sealing applications **that rely heavily on fluoropolymers based on long chain molecules which are non-toxic, non-bioaccumulative, non-hazardous for humans or the environment.

****

## ** The PFAS restriction process**

PFAS are widely used due to their durability, chemical resistance, and thermal stability. However, concerns over their persistence, mobility, and toxicity have led regulators to consider a broad restriction covering manufacturing, market placement, and use across multiple sectors.

The restriction proposal considers three main regulatory options:

**Sealing applications **– although critical – were not among the initially assessed sectors and are now part of additional sectors requiring further evaluation.

## **Why sealing applications matter**

Fluoropolymers such as PTFE, FEP, and PFA are essential in sealing technologies due to their: high temperature resistance, chemical inertness, long service life and ultra-low contamination properties.

These characteristics make them indispensable not only in sectors like energy, chemicals, semiconductors, and aerospace, but basically in ALL industrial sectors. Importantly, studies indicate that substitutes often fail to meet these performance requirements, making replacement technically challenging or infeasible.

## **The SEAC draft opinion consultation**

### **Key features**

SEAC launched its consultation on **26 March 2026**, with a **60-day window closing on 25 May 2026**.

The consultation has several distinctive features:

Unlike the earlier Annex XV consultation, this phase is more structured and restrictive in format, limiting the depth of technical evidence that stakeholders can submit.

### **A critical limitation: Lack of sector-specific assessment**

A key concern for the sealing industry is that:

This creates a risk that the unique functional requirements and constraints of sealing applications may not be fully captured in the socio-economic analysis.

### **What SEAC is looking for**

The consultation aims to gather targeted input on:

For sealing applications, this means stakeholders must clearly demonstrate:

### **Industry stakes: Economic and strategic impact***

The potential implications of PFAS restriction are substantial:

Sealing applications are deeply embedded in critical value chains, including clean energy, transport, and advanced manufacturing. Disruptions in sealing performance could cascade across these sectors.

### **ESA’s role and strategy in the SEAC consultation**

The European Sealing Association (ESA) is actively coordinating industry input. Its actions include:

This coordinated approach is essential given the limitations of the consultation format.

**The SEAC consultation presents several challenges:**

- Character limits and lack of attachments constrain the ability to provide detailed technical evidence.
- Generalised questions may not reflect the complexity of sealing applications.
- Without prior sector-specific assessment, sealing applications risk being undervalued in decision-making.

Active and well-structured participation is therefore critical.

## **Conclusion**

The SEAC consultation represents a critical stage in the PFAS restriction process. For the sealing industry, the stakes are especially high given the essential role of fluoropolymers, the current lack of viable alternatives, and the potential impact on the European economy.

**At ESA, our objective is to secure an exemption for fluoropolymers.**

Sandy Van den Broeck,  
ESG Director, ESA

 

 

 

*Source: Richards, R., White, R., Stenning R., 2025, The Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and their role as enablers in the competitiveness of European industry: Inception Report, publication for the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), Policy Department for Transformation, Innovation and Health, European Parliament, Luxembourg.

This document is available at: [http://www.europarl.europa.eu/supporting-analyses](http://www.europarl.europa.eu/supporting-analyses).

[View full post](https://www.europeansealing.com/news/the-seac-consultation-on-pfas-restriction-implications-for-sealing-applications)

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