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EU POPs regulation officially revises control limits for PFOS

Time：

2025-07-01

The EU POP regulation has officially revised the control limits for PFOS. For substances, mixtures, and articles, PFOS and salts should be ≤ 0.025 mg/kg, and the total amount of PFOS related substances should be ≤ 1 mg/kg. It will come into effect on December 3, 2025.

On June 27, 2025, the Official Journal of the European Union published the Authorization Law (EU) 2025/718, officially revising the limits for perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), its salts, and related substances in Annex I of the EU Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Regulation (EU) 2019/1021. The main control limits are that for substances, mixtures, and articles, PFOS and salts are ≤ 0.025 mg/kg, and the total amount of PFOS related substances is ≤ 1 mg/kg.

The revised regulations will come into effect on July 17, 2025, and the revision regarding the limit values will take effect on December 3, 2025.

01. Main revision content

The definition of PFOS involved in this clause has been redefined: perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, its salts, and PFOS related substances C8F17SO2X (X can be OH, metal salts (O-M+), halides, amides, and other related compounds, including polymers).

The UTC (unintentional addition concentration limit) for PFOS and its salts has been adjusted to 0.025 mg/kg.

The UTC of PFOS related substances segmented decreased to 1mg/kg.

Specific exemptions have been removed, and it is deemed unnecessary to establish exemption clauses.

02. Regarding PFOS

Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, referred to as PFOS, is a general term for perfluorooctane sulfonic acid based compounds. It has oil repellent, hydrophobic, antifouling and other characteristics, and is widely used in paper, coatings, textiles, carpets, fire foam, imaging materials, aviation hydraulic oil and other fields. The chemical properties of PFOS are also very stable, and it is often used as an intermediate in the production of coatings, fire extinguishing agent foam, floor treatment agent, food contact materials, especially fiber paper materials and non stick pan coatings.

PFOS is the first perfluorinated and polyfluoropolymers (PFCs) to be regulated in the European Union, and its restrictions are based on data from a long time ago. With the emergence of more scientific data and the similar properties of PFOS and PFOA,

03. POPs regulations

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are a class of natural or synthetic organic pollutants that have long-term residues, bioaccumulation, semi volatility, and high toxicity, and can migrate over long distances through various environmental media (atmosphere, water, organisms, etc.), posing serious hazards to human health and the environment.

The main purpose of POPs regulations is to protect human health and the environment from the hazards of POPs, by reducing their production, use, and emissions, lowering their concentrations in the environment, and thereby reducing potential threats to ecosystems and humans. The regulations also require proper management and disposal of waste containing POPs to prevent secondary pollution to the environment.

04. Compliance Suggestions

In recent years, the EU's POPs regulations have been updated frequently and enforcement efforts have been continuously strengthened. There have also been more and more cases of Chinese products being reported for violating POPs regulations when exporting to the EU. Enterprises should pay timely attention to regulatory developments, respond to adjustment strategies, ensure that products comply with new regulatory requirements, and reduce the risk of violations.

Jiayu Testing has a professional testing technology team equipped with advanced instruments and equipment, proficient in various regulatory standards. We specialize in providing customized testing services for POPs substances and global environmental regulation testing consulting services for electronic and electrical products, food contact materials, toys, and children's products. We provide you with a comprehensive and complete one-stop testing and certification solution. Welcome to contact us at 400-9269-886!