ECHA Updates PFAS Restriction Proposal – Helsinki, 20 August 2025
ECHA has published its updated proposal on PFAS restrictions under REACH — and sealing applications are now officially in focus.
The revised report, shaped by over 5,600 consultation comments, doesn’t just look at blanket bans. Importantly for our industry, it also considers alternative options that could allow continued PFAS use where risks can be managed.
For sealing manufacturers, this opens the door to a possible pathway for continued use of fluoropolymers. In other words, ECHA is looking at scenarios where PFAS could remain in play for critical sealing applications — a development that could prove highly beneficial for our sector.
ECHA’s committees are now reviewing the proposal before the European Commission makes the final call.
For sealing manufacturers, it is clear: our industry is being considered — and the door is open for solutions that support continued PFAS use in critical sealing applications!
We’ll be keeping a close eye on the process and continue to keep you updated — but for now, the key takeaway is: sealing applications are officially on the table, and the discussion includes options that could support our industry’s needs.
For more resources, case studies, and industry updates on the proposed PFAS restriction, visit the ESA’s new PFAS Information Hub.
Sandy Van den Broeck,
ESG Director, ESA