Government proposes EU-wide ban on PFAS in clothing and consumer goods

The Swedish government has proposed a ban on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in multiple consumer products, including clothing, kitchenware, footwear, cosmetics and ski wax.

The proposal, announced by Climate and Environment Minister Romina Pourmokhtari, would take effect on 1 January 2028 and represents what the government calls the most comprehensive PFAS restriction in the EU.

Pourmokhtari acknowledged implementation challenges for imported goods, particularly those entering via platforms such as Shein and Temu. “We can regulate nationally, conduct spot checks and highlight companies that systematically violate Swedish law,” she said. “The simplest way to avoid PFAS is to buy Swedish-made products.”

Agricultural pesticides are excluded from the proposed ban. The European Commission is expected to present its own broader PFAS restriction proposal in 2027, covering the same product categories.

PFAS are synthetic chemicals that persist in the environment and accumulate in living organisms. Studies have linked exposure to reduced birth weight, elevated blood cholesterol, altered liver enzymes and weakened vaccine response.