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The Swedish government has announced plans to ban PFAS in several consumer products, becoming the latest EU country to take national action against the persistent chemicals ahead of broader bloc-wide measures.
Announced on 23 July, the proposal would cover clothing, footwear, impregnating agents for clothing and footwear, kitchen utensils, cosmetic products and ski wax. It would take effect from 1 January 2028.
The ban would apply to products containing PFAS above one of three thresholds aligned with those proposed under the EU PFAS restriction. Products would be prohibited if they contain:
- 25 µg/kg of an individual non-polymeric PFAS;
- 250 µg/kg of all non-polymeric PFAS combined; or
- 50 µg/kg of total PFAS.
For cookware and other kitchen utensils, the limits would apply only to food contact surfaces.
The proposal includes a limited number of exemptions, notably for clothing containing at least 20% post-consumer recycled (PCR) material. The government said this is intended to support circularity and avoid disrupting textile recycling. Second-hand products, personal protective equipment (PPE) and PFAS-containing products used to re-impregnate such equipment would also be exempt.
EU clash
According to the government, the national rules would be repealed once EU-wide restrictions covering the same uses enter into force.
The European Commission is expected to present a broad PFAS restriction proposal in 2027, including for the products targeted by Sweden. However, the REACH restriction process could take several more years to result in legislation, with transition periods likely before any EU rules apply.
The Swedish government said it could not wait for EU legislation, adding that "it is not justified that this use should continue to lead to exposure to humans and the environment in Sweden".
EU minister Jessica Rosencrantz said in a press release that "we cannot wait for the EU when it comes to giving Swedes stronger protection. Instead, our national ban paves the way for the entire EU to follow Sweden's example".
Business groups have warned that national PFAS restrictions introduced before EU-wide rules could fragment the single market and create additional compliance burdens for companies operating across multiple member states.
France has already banned PFAS in certain clothing, footwear, cosmetics and ski waxes, with some exemptions, while Denmark introduced restrictions on PFAS in a number of consumer products earlier this month.
The government has launched a public consultation on the draft, with feedback welcome until 30 November. The proposal is drafted as amendments to existing ordinances, suggesting it could be adopted following consultation without requiring parliamentary approval.
ClientEarth lawyer Hélène Duguy welcomed the announcement, saying that Sweden was one of the first countries to push for an EU-wide PFAS restriction, but "that process has been moving at a slow pace".
"Faced with growing evidence of PFAS contamination and harm, Sweden has understood the imperative to act now rather than wait for the EU," she said.
National action plan
The proposed ban forms part of a broader national PFAS action plan, first announced in April.
The plan is structured around six focus areas:
- mapping the presence and spread of PFAS in society, including through wastewater and waste streams;
- tracking PFAS contamination in humans and the environment, with several agencies given until February 2027 to propose how environmental monitoring should be strengthened;
- promoting technological development to replace PFAS with safer alternatives, prevent emissions and facilitate remediation;
- identifying and remediating contaminated sites and landfill areas;
- advancing national measures to phase out PFAS; and
- strengthening cooperation between authorities, stakeholder engagement and the dissemination of knowledge.
The government said the action plan will be developed further and reviewed no later than 1 October 2029.