PFAS

France Ecological Planning Council Announces 2026 Measures on PFAS and Plastics

France’s Ecological Planning Council has outlined 2026 priorities including a ban on PFAS in clothing and cosmetics, launch of a "Plan Plastique" to help meet EU plastic packaging recycling targets by 2030, and new rules for sewage sludge management. These signals point to tightening French expectations on PFAS use and plastic packaging, with future implementing measures likely to increase compliance pressure on textiles, cosmetics and packaging supply chains.

25 May 2026, 20:27vie-publique.frFrance

PFAS Precursors Show Synergistic Air–Water Interface Adsorption, Increasing Retention in Unsaturated Soils

A May 2026 Environmental Science & Technology study finds that key PFAS precursors, including 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate and perfluorohexanesulfonamido propylamine, undergo strong and synergistic adsorption at the air–water interface in unsaturated soils, greatly increasing their retention compared with PFOA. These results suggest that vadose-zone PFAS precursor reservoirs may be larger and more persistent than many current transport models assume, signalling that regulators and operators may need to revisit conceptual site models and risk assessments for contaminated sites.

25 May 2026, 20:26pubs.acs.orgGlobal

Netherlands House Motion Urges Germany and EU to Phase Down PFAS Discharges into the Rhine

A Dutch parliamentary motion calls on the government to press Germany and EU partners to phase down PFAS discharges from the Rhine towards zero and address the resulting extra water purification costs for the Netherlands. This signals rising political pressure for tighter cross-border PFAS and water-quality controls, which could translate into stricter discharge limits and higher compliance expectations for industrial emitters and water utilities.

25 May 2026, 18:24zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nlNetherlandsGermanyEuropean Union

European Committee of the Regions Opinion on the European Chemicals Industry Action Plan

The Official Journal has published a non-binding opinion from the European Committee of the Regions on the European Chemicals Industry Action Plan, setting out recommendations on energy, funding, permitting, PFAS substitution and remediation, circularity and the Critical Chemicals Alliance to support a competitive, decarbonised EU chemicals sector. While it does not itself create obligations, the opinion signals political pressure on the Commission and Member States to adjust ETS and CBAM design, simplify and harmonise chemicals regulation, and prioritise investment and regional support measures that will shape future compliance expectations for chemical producers and downstream industries.

25 May 2026, 18:21eur-lex.europa.euEuropean Union

European Parliament Debates Baltic Sea Multiannual Fisheries Plan and Pollution Pressures (Report A10-0121/2026)

In May 2026 the European Parliament debated Isabella Lövin’s report on the Baltic Sea multiannual plan, highlighting collapsing cod and herring stocks and mounting chemical pollution including PCBs, dioxins and PFAS ahead of a plenary vote. While not yet a binding measure, the debate signals potential tightening of EU fisheries and contaminant controls in the Baltic, with ecosystem-based rebuilding trajectories likely to shape future obligations for coastal states and operators.

25 May 2026, 18:20europarl.europa.euEuropean Union

EPA Announces Over $9 Million for Kansas to Address PFAS in Drinking Water

In May 2026, US EPA Region 7 awarded over $9 million in Emerging Contaminants grant funding to Kansas to help small, rural, and disadvantaged communities test and treat PFAS and other emerging contaminants in drinking water. This targeted funding, together with EPA’s PFAS OUT initiative and proposed PFOA and PFOS drinking water rules, signals sustained federal support and tighter future compliance expectations for water systems managing PFAS risks.

25 May 2026, 18:20epa.govUnited States

EU Commission Issues Guidance on Water Framework Directive Permitting for Mining and Other Projects

In May 2026 the European Commission issued detailed guidance on how to apply the EU Water Framework Directive and related directives when permitting new and existing projects, with a particular focus on mining and metal processing activities. This clarifies how regulators can use new flexibilities and exemptions while still protecting water quality, helping critical raw material and other strategic projects navigate permitting with clearer expectations on chemical status, pollutant controls, and long-term compliance timelines.

25 May 2026, 17:14environment.ec.europa.euEuropean UnionEuropean Economic Area

Minnesota MPCA Proposes Air Toxics Regulations For Metro Area Facilities (Revisor ID R04807)

MPCA has formally proposed new air toxics regulations and related air permit amendments for facilities in the Minneapolis–St Paul metro area, with comments due in July 2026 and public hearings in October. If adopted, the framework would introduce screening thresholds, risk analyses and potential reduction plans for hazardous air pollutants and PFAS, raising compliance, monitoring and investment expectations for a wide range of industrial emitters.

25 May 2026, 17:12mn.govUnited States

Missouri HB2270 Proposes PFAS Firefighting Foam Reporting and 2028 Sale Ban

In May 2026, Missouri’s HB2270 advanced to committee, proposing state rules and a 2028 phase-out for PFAS-containing firefighting foams. If enacted, manufacturers, airports, defence users and facility operators would face new reporting, recall and product reformulation obligations to prevent PFAS foam discharges to state waters.

25 May 2026, 17:10documents.house.mo.govUnited States

Illinois EPA Reaffirms State PFAS Drinking Water Standards and Deadlines After Federal Rollback

Illinois EPA has confirmed that Illinois’ PFAS drinking water and groundwater standards remain in force, and that state PFAS Maximum Contaminant Levels and monitoring obligations for community water systems are unaffected by the Trump Administration’s rollback of federal PFAS drinking water requirements. For utilities and PFAS‑exposed businesses this means Illinois compliance planning must still assume initial PFAS monitoring by April 2027 and full MCL compliance by April 2029, preserving the original state timeline and risk profile regardless of changes at federal level.

25 May 2026, 15:48epa.illinois.govUnited States

New Hampshire Legislature Sets Conference Committee Hearing on PFAS Agriculture and Drinking Water Bill HB1275

New Hampshire lawmakers have scheduled a 26 May 2026 conference committee hearing on PFAS bill HB1275, which would grant farmers PFAS-related liability protection, tighten biosolids land-application controls, adjust PFAS product exemptions, and redefine the PFAS drinking water standard. If enacted, the measure would introduce new PFAS limits and testing duties from 2027–2028 while shielding agricultural operators from certain contamination claims, so farms, biosolids handlers, and water utilities should monitor the conference outcome and prepare for potential changes to land-application and drinking water compliance strategies.

25 May 2026, 15:48gc.nh.govUnited States

Netherlands Parliament Publishes Schedule of Health Ministry PFAS and Food Contact Materials Policy Letters Through Q1 2027

In May 2026, the Dutch Parliament published a schedule of upcoming health ministry policy letters through Q1 2027, including work on PFAS, food contact materials and NVWA oversight. These milestones signal future direction on PFAS risk management and circular food-contact rules in the Netherlands, so compliance teams should monitor the resulting letters for concrete regulatory changes but need not act yet.

25 May 2026, 15:47zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nlNetherlands

Netherlands Issues De Staat Van Ons Water 2025 Water Policy Report

On 22 May 2026 the Dutch government released its 2025 State of Our Water report, setting out progress and next steps on national water safety, water quality, climate adaptation and international cooperation. The report flags tightening trajectories on nutrients, PFAS, microplastics, medicine residues and spatial planning that will drive stricter discharge controls, new treatment investments and more location-sensitive permitting over the next few years.

25 May 2026, 15:45zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nlNetherlands

California Assembly Amends AB 1603 PFAS Pesticide Phase-Out Bill Ahead Of Third Reading

California is advancing AB 1603, a bill that would phase out PFAS pesticide ingredients in agricultural-use pesticides through new registration bans, restricted-material controls from 2028, and broad prohibitions targeting 2030 and 2035. If enacted, this would force pesticide manufacturers and agricultural users in California to plan for alternative chemistries, permit-based use of PFAS pesticides from 2028, and complete removal of PFAS-containing agricultural pesticides by 2035.

25 May 2026, 15:38leginfo.legislature.ca.govUnited States

California Assembly Further Amends PFAS Pesticide Bill AB 1603

On 21 May 2026, the California Assembly further amended PFAS pesticide bill AB 1603 at third reading, clarifying that its PFAS controls apply to pesticides registered for agricultural use and exclude pet and livestock treatments while keeping the existing phase-out dates. If enacted in its current form, the bill would bar new PFAS pesticide registrations, classify PFAS-containing agricultural pesticides as restricted materials from 2028, phase out 23 named PFAS actives by 2030, and ban all PFAS pesticide ingredients in California agriculture by 2035, requiring pesticide manufacturers and growers to plan substitutions and registration changes well in advance.

25 May 2026, 15:38leginfo.legislature.ca.govUnited States

France: NGOs Sue State Over PFAS Pollution

On 21 May 2026, French NGOs Générations Futures, Notre Affaire à Tous and Bloom, together with affected residents, filed an administrative lawsuit in Paris accusing the State of years of inaction on PFAS pollution and seeking orders to stop releases and apply polluter-pays principles. This escalates PFAS from a regulatory to a liability crisis in France, raising the likelihood of stricter PFAS controls, significant remediation costs and greater legal exposure for PFAS emitters and users.

25 May 2026, 15:38r.newsletter.generations-futures.frFrance

PAN Europe Urges European Commission To Apply EU Court Rulings On Pesticide Approvals

In May 2026 PAN Europe highlighted three recent EU court rulings on cypermethrin, dimoxystrobin and pesticide co-formulants, pressing the European Commission to align its plant protection product approvals with these judgments. The cases signal stricter scrutiny of pesticide renewals, extensions and co-formulant data, raising litigation and regulatory risk for companies relying on long approval extensions, unvalidated risk mitigation measures or incomplete toxicity dossiers.

25 May 2026, 15:37pan-europe.infoEuropean Union

Health Canada Issues Registration Decision RD2026-13 for Isocycloseram Insecticide Products

In May 2026 Health Canada issued Registration Decision RD2026-13, granting approval for the PFAS-class insecticide isocycloseram and several associated products for use on a wide range of crops in Canada. This adds new PFAS-based pesticide options and crop residue limits that registrants, growers and downstream food and feed supply chains must monitor while reinforcing regulatory scrutiny of PFAS, pollinator impacts and food-chain exposure.

25 May 2026, 15:36canada.caCanada

Louisiana SR144 Creates Upper Pontchartrain Basin Task Force and Urges Suspension of New Industrial Permits

Louisiana has adopted Senate Resolution 144 creating an Upper Pontchartrain Basin Task Force, commissioning a multi‑year scientific assessment by The Water Institute, and urging state and local authorities to pause approvals of new or expanded industrial permits in the basin until that work is complete. If agencies act on this non‑binding resolution, companies planning industrial projects in the Upper Pontchartrain Basin, including facilities needing DEQ air, water, or waste permits, should anticipate heightened scrutiny, potential permitting delays, and possible future statutory or regulatory changes once the assessment and task force recommendations are delivered.

25 May 2026, 15:34legis.la.govUnited States

EU EESC Issues Opinion on Sodium Battery Manufacturing and Strategic Autonomy

The EU’s Economic and Social Committee has issued a non-binding opinion urging accelerated development of a sodium battery manufacturing ecosystem to boost strategic autonomy, energy system resilience and alignment with the Green and Blue Deals. This signals likely future EU support and expectations for PFAS-free, low-impact, circular sodium battery value chains, with implications for battery makers, materials suppliers and energy infrastructure planners across Europe.

25 May 2026, 15:34eur-lex.europa.euEuropean Union