During the meeting of the Reach committee of April 29, 2025, the Member States voted for the prohibition of all PFAS in the anti-Intrusty Mosses. This is an important step in the fight against PFAS pollution.
Why PFAS in fire mosses?
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) estimates that nearly 18,000 tonnes of anti -fire mosses containing PFAS is used each year in Europe.
In His report updated in January 2025, The BRGM (Bureau of Geological and Mining Research) counts 489 PFAS substances associated with the use of anti-fire foam. 180 of these substances have been identified in the soils and sediments analyzed and 87 were found in surface and underground waters. The report specifies that in France, only a few PFASs have been sought on sites that have used anti -fire mosses.
Action 7 of Interministerial action plan on PFAS planned to identify, before the end of 2024, 300 priority sites potentially polluted in PFAS due to the use of anti-fired foams. This list has not been published on date.
The use of anti-fire foam on industrial sites is an important source of emission, contaminating floors and water. For example, the drinking water of 11 municipalities in the agglomeration of Saint Louis, near Basel-Mulhouse airport has been restricted to consumption Because too polluted at the PFAS due to the use of anti-fire foam at the airport level. Recently future generations also put forward in its report concerning PFAS emissions via industrial aqueous dischargesPFAS pollution on the Total Energies Refining Donges sites (Pays de la Loire), CNPP in Saint-Marcel (Normandy) and Chemours France in Villers-Saint-Paul (Hauts de France) in connection with the manufacture or use of anti-fire mosses. Note that the inspection of classified installations asked Total to comply with a period set for July 2025 for the substitution of all emulnesters containing PFAS, a period that Total is committed to respecting. This proves that it is possible to do without anti -fire foam containing PFAS!
PFAS: What does this restriction plan?
The subject has been under discussion for several years. Indeedthe European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) had presented its restriction proposal on February 23, 2022 for the REACH regulation for all per- and polyfluoroalkylas (PFAS) substances in anti-fire foam. The European Commission proposal collected this April 29, 2025, 26 favorable votes and an abstention. It will therefore be presented to the European Parliament and the EU council in the coming months. A final adoption is possible by the end of 2025.
It would be the first time that the whole family of the PFASs would be targeted by a restriction in the context of the Reach regulations for a particular use, Proof that all PFASs are deemed problematic.
This restriction nevertheless provides for a limit value for the sum of all PFAS at 1 mg/l which remains high In view of the persistence of PFAS substances in the environment. In addition, a five -year transition period has been agreedwith the exception of certain specific uses, for which transition periods will be between 18 months (Anti-fire training sites, municipal services) and ten years (SEVESO sites, Offshore petroleum and gas industry, military and civilian ships already in service).
Restriction on the PFAS family
This restriction on the anti -fire mosses, which aims for the whole of the PFAS family, is a positive signal which echoes several encouraging advances in the past few months. For example, on April 10, The European Parliament and the EU Council had found common ground On a new regulation relating to toys safety in order to exclude PFAS substances. In France, on February 20, 2025, the bill aimed at protecting the population from the risks linked to per- and polyfluoroalkylas (PFAS) substances voted by a large majority, Prohibiting in 2026 the manufacture, import, export and placing on the market of Fart products, cosmetics, clothing textiles, shoes and their waterproofing containing PFAS.
However, given the persistence of PFAS in the environment, it is necessary to prohibit the source all emissions and not on a case -by -case basis. This is the objective of the restriction request filed in 2023 Through Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden to restrict at European level all the uses of all PFAS, including PFAS polymers. This restriction provides derogations limited in time for certain essential uses without alternative identified to date. The proposal is currently evaluated by the scientific committees of the ECHA and will then be sent to the European Commission.
Future generations supports this restriction request which is decisive for limiting PFAS emissions at source.
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