{"id":53469,"date":"2026-08-25T10:54:43","date_gmt":"2026-08-25T08:54:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gesi.de\/pfas-what-changes-will-regulation-eu-2025-1988-bring-about-for-fire-extinguishing-agents\/"},"modified":"2026-08-25T11:01:33","modified_gmt":"2026-08-25T09:01:33","slug":"pfas-what-changes-will-regulation-eu-2025-1988-bring-about-for-fire-extinguishing-agents","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gesi.de\/en\/pfas-what-changes-will-regulation-eu-2025-1988-bring-about-for-fire-extinguishing-agents\/","title":{"rendered":"PFAS – What Changes Will Regulation (EU) 2025\/1988 Bring About for Fire Extinguishing Agents?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a family of substances that, according to the OECD\u2019s definition, contain at least one perfluorinated methyl (CF3-) or methylene (-CF2-) carbon atom without an H, Cl, Br, or I atom bonded to it.[1]<\/a> Since the carbon-fluorine bond is one of the most stable bonds in organic chemistry,[2]<\/a> PFAS are used in a wide variety of applications due to their extreme chemical inertness. Because of their stability, they are also known as \u201cforever chemicals.\u201d[3]<\/a> However, the widespread use of these substances, which are difficult to break down, is set to be severely restricted in the future. <\/p>\n\n

To address the associated environmental and health risks, the European Union has now adopted Regulation (EU) 2025\/1988 on fire extinguishing agents.[4]<\/a> But what exactly does this entail, and what changes will businesses face?<\/p>\n\n

Use in Fire Extinguishers to Date<\/h2>\n\n

Due to their outstanding properties\u2014particularly their thermal and chemical stability, as well as their ability to form a continuous film of water over fire sources\u2014PFAS were frequently used as fire extinguishing agents, such as aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF), to combat liquid fires.<\/p>\n\n

Why are PFAS problematic?<\/h2>\n\n

When used as fire retardants, PFAS seep into the soil and thus reach the underlying groundwater. Due to their stability, they accumulate in various organisms and eventually enter the human body through drinking water and the food chain.[3]<\/a> Precisely because PFAS are chemically extremely stable and therefore long-lasting, they can have far-reaching negative effects on metabolism and internal organs[5]<\/a> and are, in some cases, suspected of being carcinogenic.[3]<\/a> PFAS share this persistence with other groups of substances that are regulated under the criteria for persistent, mobile, and toxic substances (PMT\/vPvM)<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n

New Limits, Transition Periods, and Bans<\/h2>\n\n

Regulation (EU) 2025\/1988 entered into force on October 23, 2025[4]<\/a>. It expands Annex XVII of the REACH Regulation to include Entry 82, which strictly regulates the use of PFAS in firefighting foams. The best-known PFAS, such as perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), and perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA)\u2014including their salts and related compounds\u2014are exempt from this new regulation. These substances are already regulated under other EU regulations, primarily in Annex I of Regulation (EU) 2019\/1021 and in entries 68 and 79 of Annex XVII of the REACH Regulation. <\/p>\n\n

As of October 23, 2030, firefighting foams with a total PFAS concentration of at least 1 mg\/l may neither be placed on the market nor used anywhere in the EU. In addition, a labeling requirement will apply as of October 23, 2026 (excluding portable fire extinguishers). Furthermore, the following special provisions and different deadlines apply in certain cases: <\/p>\n\n