EU PFHxA restriction: 10 October 2026 deadline

On 10 October 2026, a new compliance deadline for cosmetic products became applicable in the European Union.

As of this date, cosmetic products shall not be placed on the market or used if the concentration is equal to or greater than 25 ppb for the sum of PFHxA and its salts, or 1,000 ppb for the sum of PFHxA-related substances, measured in homogeneous material.

The restriction was introduced by Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/2462 of 19 September 2024, which amended Annex XVII to REACH.

Definition of PFHxA-related substances

PFHxA-related substances belong to the broader PFAS family and are defined based on their chemical structure. Broadly speaking, the definition captures substances containing certain perfluoropentyl (C5F11-) or perfluorohexyl (C6F13-) groups.

However, the restriction also establishes several specific exclusions. Therefore, the presence of these structural elements alone does not necessarily mean that a substance falls within the scope of the restriction.

Why the use of PFHxA in cosmetics is regulated under REACH

The restriction is primarily driven by environmental and human health concerns associated with PFHxA, its salts, and PFHxA-related substances. As PFAS, these substances are considered very persistent and mobile in the environment, particularly in aquatic systems.

Their use in certain applications has therefore been identified as posing an unacceptable risk to human health and the environment.

The restriction was hence introduced under REACH rather than the EU Cosmetics Regulation, as REACH provides the regulatory framework for addressing risks to the environment, while the Cosmetics Regulation primarily focuses on the safety of cosmetic products for human health.

The restriction focuses on uses where the associated risks are not adequately controlled, suitable alternatives are available, and the socio-economic costs of the restriction are considered proportionate to the expected benefits for human health and the environment.

PFHxA in the context of the upcoming PFAS restriction

ECHA and its scientific committees have also been assessing a broader restriction covering PFAS across numerous product categories and uses, including cosmetics.

The PFHxA restriction represents an important step towards reducing PFAS releases , as also forming part of the ongoing regulatory efforts to address PFAS in the EU.

The concentration limit of 25 ppb for individual PFAS is the threshold proposed by ECHA and its scientific committees under the broader PFAS restriction proposal. The experience and analytical considerations developed in the context of existing PFAS restrictions, including PFHxA, have therefore contributed to assessing how these substances could be regulated as a group.