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The UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) opened a public consultation on restricting per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in firefighting foams (FFFs). Comments on the UK REACH technical dossier and proposed restrictions are welcome before February 18, 2026.
Proposed measure
The UK HSE concludes that the use of PFAS in FFFs presents a risk to the environment and human health, and the risk is not adequately controlled by measures already in place. Therefore, a potential measure to address the risk, i.e., a restriction on the placing on the market and use of the whole PFAS class in firefighting foams, was assessed and considered appropriate. The PFAS under restriction will be defined as “any substance that contains at least one fully fluorinated methyl (CF3) or methylene (CF2) carbon atom without any hydrogen, chlorine, bromine, or iodine atom attached to it.”
The Annex 15 restriction report presents HSE’s scientific analysis and evidence base for potential restrictions on PFAS use in FFFs. This report points out that the proposed restriction reduces the potential for regrettable substitution with other PFAS that have the same risks as those already identified.
Restriction scope
Firefighting foams are created by combining liquid foam concentrate, water, and air at the location of use. As a result, foam concentrates that contain PFAS are the focus of this restriction report. However, other fire suppression systems, such as gaseous suppression systems, are not included in this scope, even if they contain PFAS.
Transition periods
To be in line with the transition periods for EU restriction on PFAS in FFFs, the UK HSE’s proposed restriction includes sector-/use-specific transition periods (see tables below).
Source: Annex 15 Restriction Report - Proposal for a restriction
Next stage
The UK HSE has determined that a restriction on PFAS in FFFs under UK REACH is warranted. The proposal will be finalized after the public consultation on the Annex 15 restriction report. Comments from stakeholders will help inform the next stage of the UK REACH restriction process, i.e., the opinion-forming stage. A technical opinion on the proposed restriction is anticipated within 12 months of the publication of the Annex 15 restriction report, for a decision on whether to bring a restriction into law.
