PFAS are extremely chemically stable and persistent, do not degrade readily in the environment and accumulate over the long term. They are widely used in industrial production and consumer products. PFAS have caused global contamination of the environment, wildlife and people, accumulate in the human body, pose a direct threat to human health and are worsening the biodiversity crisis. More and more perfluorinated compounds are being, or are about to be, brought under regulatory control.

PFAS in Denmark

Scope of application. Denmark has published a draft order banning per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in consumer products. The proposed measures target clothing, footwear and waterproofing agents containing PFAS to reduce their environmental and health impact. The draft order bans the import and sale of clothing, footwear and waterproofing agents containing PFAS at concentrations above 50 mg/kg. The restriction applies only to consumer products for private use, including purchases made by individuals online. Key dates are:

1 July 2025: the order enters into force.
1 July 2026: the import and sales ban begins to apply.
1 January 2027: pre-imported stock may be sold until this date.

(1) Production and export are exempt, ensuring the measure targets only the domestic consumer market.

(2) Key exemptions and points to note:

Personal protective equipment: items critical to user safety as defined in Regulation (EU) 2016/425 are exempt because suitable alternatives are lacking.
Medical devices: products covered by the EU Medical Device Regulation are excluded.
Products already regulated at EU level: products already covered by the EU REACH and Persistent Organic Pollutants regulations are not subject to the national ban.
Textiles that contribute little to PFAS emissions, such as curtains and household textiles, and reused and recycled materials are also exempt.

PFAS in the Netherlands

Scope of application. In November 2024 the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) announced that PFAS have been fully added to the list of substances of very high concern (ZZS) and stressed that Dutch companies must substantially reduce their use and environmental emissions. The deputy director of RIVM made clear that companies unable to eliminate PFAS emissions entirely will be required to prepare and submit an updated emission reduction action plan every five years.

The update formally adds all previously identified PFAS that were not yet listed to the ZZS list and removes them from the list of potential substances of very high concern (pZZS). More than 100 substances and their classifications, including PFAS, were expected to be formally added to the ZZS list by the end of the month, with the exact date still to be announced.

Substances on the ZZS list are identified under Article 57 of the EU REACH Regulation, other relevant EU regulations and the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (OSPAR). Because they may be toxic to reproduction, carcinogenic or accumulate in the food chain, they are regarded as posing a potential risk to human health and ecosystems. RIVM maintains and updates the list at least twice a year to reflect the latest changes in international regulation.

NTEK capability

NTEK offers PFAS testing and consulting services as well as regulatory training:

Total fluorine screening
Organic fluorine screening
Quantitative PFAS analysis
Fluoropolymer composition analysis