Key takeaway
What This Development Means
C(2026) 6059 would add C9-C21 PFCAs, their salts and related compounds to the EU POPs Regulation from 16 December 2026, subject to scrutiny and publication. Manufacturers should match each material and use to the general trace limits and the precise transitional conditions.
Are the EU long-chain PFCA limits already legally binding?
No. The Commission adopted the delegated regulation on 7 September 2026, but Parliament and Council scrutiny and Official Journal publication must still occur. If those steps are completed without objection, the act will enter into force 20 days after publication and apply from 16 December 2026.
Do the same long-chain PFCA limits apply to every product?
No. General limits apply broadly, but the annex provides specific thresholds and transitional periods for isolated transported intermediates, certain fluoroplastics, fluoroelastomers, PTFE micropowders, installed firefighting foams and specified semiconductor spare parts. Businesses must match each material and use to the exact derogation conditions.
Source basis: European Commission Delegated Regulation C(2026) 6059 final (7 September 2026)
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
The measure adds 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 are 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 is 10 milligrams per kilogram.
Entry 68 of Annex XVII to the REACH Regulation continues to restrict C9-C14 PFCAs until the Commission removes overlap. Other PFAS and product-specific controls remain unchanged.
Derogations And Transitional Limits
Until 16 December 2030, fluoroplastics and fluoroelastomers containing perfluoroalkoxy groups may contain up to 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. Semiconductor spare-part derogations extend to 30 December 2030 for certain C9-C14 uses and 16 December 2031 for specified C15-C21 uses.
C9-C14 articles in use before 31 December 2023 and C15-C21 articles in use before 17 December 2026 may continue in use.
What Organisations Should Do
Manufacturers and importers should map fluoropolymers, elastomers, PTFE micropowders, semiconductor parts and foam systems against the annex, then obtain evidence. Distributors and downstream users should update specifications. Employers and waste operators should identify foam systems and waste streams.
The analytical insight is that this is a group listing with very low contaminant limits, not a risk-based permission for intentional use. Screening only named legacy PFCAs may miss longer-chain related compounds and derogation expiry dates. Foresight has examined global action following the 2025 Stockholm decisions, Japan's long-chain PFCA export controls and Switzerland's proposed PFAS limits.
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