Orgalim pushes for a REACH-able PFAS solution
Brussels, May 2026: Europe’s debate on PFAS is entering a critical new phase, as policymakers, industry and legal experts assess how far the EU should go in restricting the so-called “forever chemicals” and what this could mean for Europe’s industrial future.
The discussion took centre stage during the session “PFAS Under Review: Decoding the RAC and SEAC Opinions and What Comes Next for Europe’s Restriction Proposal," which was the opening session of the PFAS Summit Europe 2026. The panel explored the latest developments in the EU restriction process and the growing political attention surrounding the file and brought together experts from across industry and legal practice, including Julio Mateos, Adviser for Environment at Orgalim; Pavel Glukhov from EU Focus Group; and Jean-Philippe Montfort from Mayer Brown LLP.
A major focus of the discussion was the recent opinion published by the Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) and the consultation led by the Committee for Socio-Economic Analysis (SEAC), both part of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). Speakers examined what the scientific and socio-economic assessments could mean for the future shape of the restriction, as well as the timeline for the European Commission’s eventual proposal.
We are increasingly centred on a broader political question: how can Europe reduce environmental and health risks while also protecting its industrial competitiveness?
But beyond the technical details, the debate increasingly centred on a broader political question: how can Europe reduce environmental and health risks while also protecting its industrial competitiveness?
Mateos highlighted that PFAS are used in a wide range of strategic technologies, including semiconductors, batteries, renewable energy equipment and advanced manufacturing. In many cases, industries still lack viable alternatives that can deliver the same performance and safety standards.
Participants also noted that the political context around PFAS is evolving. While the discussion originally emerged under the European Green Deal, increasing attention is now being placed on competitiveness, resilience and industrial security under the Clean Industrial Deal agenda.
Another key point raised during the session was the updated background document, which recently expanded the assessment to include eight additional key industrial sectors as a sign of the growing economic and industrial implications tied to the proposal.
Across discussions, a common message emerged: policymakers will need to strike a careful balance between environmental ambition and industrial realism. Speakers warned that overly broad restrictions risk creating unintended consequences for Europe’s technology industries at a time when the EU is pushing to accelerate the green and digital transition.
The issue has also gained visibility across Brussels policy circles in recent weeks. Arthur Vandenberghe, Vice-Chair of Orgalim’s Chemicals Task Force and representative of FIM, presented Orgalim’s priorities during a European Parliament breakfast hosted by MEP Köhler, while Orgalim’s key messages were also shared during a webinar organised by Plastics Europe’s Fluoropolymers Product Group.
As the SEAC process comes to a close and attention turns towards the Commission’s next move, one message stood out clearly from the Brussels debate: Europe’s approach to PFAS could become a defining test of how the EU balances sustainability goals with industrial competitiveness in the years ahead.