“ This study underlines the urgent need to act." , reacted European Commissioner Jessika Roswall, in charge of the environment. Consumers are worried, and rightly so.Commissioned by the European Commission, this report establishes four scenarios depending on the extent of the measures decided by Brussels against the PFASwith costs ranging from 330 billion euros up to 1,700 billion by 2050.
Four scenarios and billions of euros
The most expensive scenario includes extensive soil remediation and wastewater treatment to ensure that the European Union meets high environmental standards in water, for around twenty PFAS.
The €330 billion scenario, meanwhile, corresponds to the total cessation of the production and use of PFAS, but without additional treatment of drinking water or specific treatment of wastewater.
The study ultimately estimates a cost of €440 billion if the European Union does nothing more than it is currently doing. This time, it would be the healthcare costs that would skyrocket, particularly for at-risk populations: children, people living near sites contaminated by these "perennial pollutants," and workers exposed in industry. The study's authors acknowledge that they likely significantly underestimated the health costs by limiting their analysis to only four PFAS (PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, and PFNA).
Cosmetics, kitchen utensils, packaging… PFAS are everywhere, used for their non-stick, waterproofing, or heat-resistant properties. These per- and polyfluoroalkyl chemical substances take a very long time to decomposeHence their nickname, "eternal pollutants." They can have adverse effects on health, with increased cholesterol levels and cancers, effects on fertility and the fetal development…
A European law on PFAS is expected by the end of the year.
Prepared by consulting firms, the report published on Thursday is intended to help the European Union draft future legislation on PFAS. From pizza boxes to clothing, the European Commission wants to ban these perennial pollutants in everyday consumer products, with exceptions for strategic sectors, such as the medical field. However, its proposed legislation is not expected before the end of 2026 at the earliest, with considerable uncertainty surrounding the exemptions that certain industries might receive. Before legislation can be passed, Brussels needs two crucial opinions from the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA): one in March on the risk assessment of PFAS, and another at the end of 2026 on the socio-economic impact of a ban in the EU.
A sectoral approach
Environmental organizations accuse the EU of delaying legislation under pressure from industry lobbyists. European Commissioner Jessika Roswall, for her part, acknowledges " difficult discussions "for products that are not intended directly for consumers."
Pending future legislation, the European Union has already taken action against certain PFAS on a sectoral basis. In drinking water, a directive has imposed since January a maximum threshold of 0.1 micrograms per liter for the combined concentration of 20 PFAS (including PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS) considered to be " concerning for water intended for human consumption" . MEPs have also legislated on food packaging with maximum concentrations of PFAS from August, and on toys, in which perennial pollutants and endocrine disruptors will be banned by 2030.
There France, for its part, has taken the lead with everyday products.Since January 1st, a law has banned the use of certain PFAS in clothing, footwear, cosmetics, and ski waxes, with a few exceptions. In these sectors, manufacturers have 12 months to sell off stocks of products produced before January 1st, a concession for the textile industry, which nevertheless hopes for a coherent policy in all member states by 2027, with France being a pioneer in this area.
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