European Commission Adopts Long-Chain PFCA Limits Under EU POPs Regulation

European Commission Sets Long-Chain PFCA Limits

The European Commission has adopted new long-chain PFCA limits for C9-C21 perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs), their salts and related compounds under the Persistent Organic Pollutants Regulation, Regulation (EU) 2019/1021. Commission Delegated Regulation C(2026) 6059 final was adopted on 7 September 2026, but it is not yet in force.

The European Parliament and Council must first complete scrutiny. If neither objects and the regulation is published, it will enter into force 20 days later and apply from 16 December 2026.

What Changes And What Remains Unchanged

Once operative, the adopted measure would add the C9-C21 group to Part A of Annex I to the EU POPs Regulation, implementing the listing agreed under Stockholm Convention decision SC-12/12. The general unintentional trace contaminant limits would be 0.025 milligrams per kilogram for the sum of C9-C21 PFCAs and their salts, and 0.26 milligrams per kilogram for the sum of related compounds in substances, mixtures and articles.

For an isolated transported intermediate used under the strictly controlled conditions in Article 18(4) of the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals Regulation to manufacture fluorinated substances with a perfluorocarbon chain of six atoms or fewer, the combined limit would be 10 milligrams per kilogram.

Entry 68 of Annex XVII to the REACH Regulation continues to restrict C9-C14 PFCAs until the Commission removes overlap. Commission adoption does not itself remove entry 68. The POPs trace-contaminant exceptions do not generally authorise intentional addition below the numerical thresholds.

Derogations And Transitional Limits

Until 16 December 2030, fluoroplastics and fluoroelastomers containing perfluoroalkoxy groups would have unintentional-trace-contaminant limits of 0.1 milligrams per kilogram of C9-C14 PFCAs and 15 milligrams per kilogram of C15-C21 PFCAs. From 17 December 2030, the limit becomes 0.1 milligrams per kilogram for the full C9-C21 sum.

For polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) micropowders produced by ionising irradiation or thermal degradation, and industrial or professional mixtures and articles containing them, the corresponding transitional limits are 1 milligram per kilogram for the C9-C14 PFCA-and-salt sum and 15 milligrams per kilogram for the C15-C21 PFCA-and-salt sum. From 17 December 2030, the full-group limit becomes 1 milligram per kilogram.

Unintentional emissions from manufacture and use of these fluoroplastics, fluoroelastomers and PTFE micropowders must be avoided or reduced as far as technically and practically possible.

Class B firefighting foams already installed in systems have specific limits until 3 August 2028: 1 milligram per kilogram for the PFCA-and-salt sum and 10 milligrams per kilogram for any related compound individually or in combination. A combined 10 milligrams per kilogram limit covers residual contamination in fluorine-free foam installed after equipment cleaning using best available techniques.

Point 8 permits the specified C9–C14 substances in semiconductors used for spare parts and repair of electronic equipment placed on the market before 31 December 2023, until 30 December 2030. Point 9 covers C15–C21 substances until 16 December 2031 only where they were initially used in the semiconductor being replaced or repaired.

C9-C14 articles already in use in the Union before 31 December 2023 and C15-C21 articles already in use in the Union before 17 December 2026 may continue in use.