Following the publication of European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)’s updated European Union PFAS restriction proposal in August 2025, the Agency’s scientific committees have proceeded with their evaluation of the dossier. The Committee for Socio-Economic Analysis (SEAC) and the Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) have now examined the proposal and agreed on their respective draft and final opinions.
ECHA has announced that a public consultation on SEAC’s draft opinion will open on 26 March 2026. The opinions have been published on this same day for stakeholders to review.
SEAC’s draft opinion
SEAC is one of ECHA’s two scientific committees tasked with evaluating restriction proposals under the REACH Regulation. The Committee’s role is to assesses the proposal’s expected benefits for human health and the environment, alongside its socio-economic impacts.
SEAC adopted its draft opinion on 10 March 2026.
In parallel, RAC – ECHA’s committee responsible for assessing risks to human health and the environment – adopted its final opinion on 2 March 2026 regarding PFAS.
Have your say on SEAC’s draft opinion
SEAC’s draft opinion will be open for a 60-day public consultation from 26 March to 25 May 2026. Stakeholders are invited to submit evidence-based comments to help inform Committee’s final assessment.
SEAC is expected to adopt its final opinion by the end of 2026.
ECHA has released consultation guidelines, along with a mapping of PFAS uses, to support stakeholders in preparing and submitting relevant information.
Following the adoption of both final opinions, the European Commission will prepare a proposal for a PFAS restriction. This proposal will then be discussed and voted on by the REACH (Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) Committee, which is composed of representatives from EU Member States.
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References
ECHA. (2025). Consultation on the SEAC draft opinion on restricting per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) – Guidance for respondents. Retrieved on December 2025.
ECHA. (2026). ECHA’s Risk Assessment Committee adopts its opinion on PFAS restriction proposal. Retrieved on 3 March 2026.
ECHA. (2026). ECHA’s Socio-Economic Analysis Committee agrees its draft opinion on PFAS restriction proposal. Retrieved on 10 March 2026.
ECHA. (2026). ECHA to launch consultation on draft SEAC PFAS opinion. Retrieved on 25 March 2026.
ECHA. (2026). RAC’s Evaluation of sector-/use-specific aspects of the opinion on an Annex XV dossier proposing restrictions onPer- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Cosmetics. Retrieved on 26 March 2026.
ECHA. (2026). [Draft] Evaluation of sector-/use-specific aspects of the opinion on an Annex XV dossier proposing restrictions on Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Retrieved on 26 March 2026.
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