PFAS in your production line: what the EU restriction means for process equipment

Where the EU restriction stands In 2023, five European countries proposed restricting the whole PFAS group under REACH. In March 2026, ECHA's risk assessment committee (RAC) concluded that an EU-wide restriction is justified. The socio-economic committee (SEAC) supports it too, with time-limited exemptions for uses where alternatives don't yet exist. SEAC's final opinion is expected by the end of 2026, after which the European Commission will propose the final rules.

Why it matters for your plant, even with exemptions

• Exemptions come with conditions. SEAC proposes that remaining uses be paired with emission controls and PFAS management plans. That means more documentation for your sites.
• Your customers will ask. Food, pharma and consumer brands are setting their own PFAS-free targets and passing questions down the supply chain.
• Spare parts count. A line can be compliant on paper while its consumables, such as filters, seals and membranes, still contain fluoropolymers. Every replacement is a new purchase decision.
• Late changes cost more. Switching parts during a planned replacement is cheap. Switching under a deadline, with requalification, is not.

Three questions to ask your team

1. Do we know which equipment and spare parts in our lines contain PFAS?
2. Which of them do we replace regularly, and could we switch at the next replacement?
3. Can our suppliers document that their parts are PFAS-free?

The parts you replace most often are the easiest place to start, because each replacement is a natural moment to switch. If filters are on your list, see how Piab's PFAS-free sintered filter fits existing lines.

One example of a PFAS-free spare part that fits straight into existing lines.