PFHxA added to REACH Annex XVII

Highlighting a recent change to the European Union’s list of substances that are restricted for use in consumer products.

In October 2024, the EU Commission added a new entry to the restricted substances annex of REACH (the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals).

REACH (EC) No.1907/2006 Annex XVII includes all the restrictions relevant to consumer products and mixtures that have been adopted under the framework of REACH. This recent addition to Annex XVII is entry number 79.

Entry 79 implements restrictions on the use of undecafluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), its salts and related substances (which are defined in the regulation as ‘those substances that have the potential to degrade or be transformed to PFHxA’). PFHxA is part of a family of chemicals known as ‘per- and poly-fluorinated alkyl substances’ (PFAS), which are highly resistant to degradation and persist for long periods of time when released into the environment. These substances are a growing cause of concern due to studies showing their increasing prevalence in the environment, particularly in groundwater, surface water and soil.

This restriction prohibits the placing on the market and the use of certain articles and mixtures containing PFHxA and its salts. From 10th October 2026, the following items listed in entry 79 are not to contain a concentration equal or greater than 25 parts-per-billion (µg/kg) for the sum of PFHxA and its salts:

• textiles, leather, furs and hides in clothing and related accessories for the general public
• footwear for the general public
• paper and cardboard used as food contact materials
• mixtures for the general public
• cosmetic products.

The restriction also applies to the sum of PFHxA-related substances which must not be equal or greater than 1,000 parts per billion (mg/kg) in the above items.

Looking further into the future of PFHxA

From 10th October 2027, the restriction for textiles, leather, furs and hides will also apply to non-clothing items for the general public.

Entry 79 contains exemptions for some Category III personal protective equipment (PPE), for medical devices and for textiles used as construction textiles. There is also a different implementation timescale of 10th April 2026 when certain firefighting foams will be covered by this regulation. However, some uses of PFHxA in firefighting foams will still be permitted until 10th October 2029.

Publishing Data

This article was originally published on page 4 of the December 2024 issue of SATRA Bulletin.

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