On December 17, 2025, the European Chemicals Agency's (ECHA) Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) and Committee for Socio-economic Analysis (SEAC) made significant progress at their December meeting. They held in-depth discussions on the assessment of the restriction proposal for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and, for the first time, issued a classification and labeling opinion for the new hazard category of "very persistent and very bioaccumulative" (vPvB) substances.

On November 10, 2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a significant proposal to adjust reporting rules for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). If finalized, manufacturers would no longer need to submit complex data to the EPA for four key categories: low-concentration scenarios, imported articles, byproducts/impurities, and small-scale research and development (R&D) uses.

On November 5, 2025, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) published mapping of PFAS uses, serving as an industry support document for the upcoming public consultation on PFAS restrictions. The mapping systematically outlines PFAS applications across 14 major industrial, professional, and consumer sectors, including battery manufacturing, textiles, electronics, and PFAS production.

While the regulations took effect on July 1, 2025, core restrictions will be enforced starting July 1, 2026, with businesses permitted to sell existing inventory until January 1, 2027.

The regulation will enter into force on October 23, 2025.

On October 7, 2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that, under the automatic listing mechanism of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (NDAA), sodium perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHxS-Na, CAS RN 82382-12-5) has been formally added to the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI). The listing will take effect on January 1, 2026. With this addition, the total number of PFAS subject to TRI reporting has increased to 206.

To assist stakeholders in preparation, ECHA will host an online briefing on October 30, 2025.

On August 27, 2025, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) announced updated progress on the EU’s proposed "most stringent ever" restriction on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). According to the latest timeline, the full scientific evaluation of the restriction proposal is expected to conclude by the end of 2026, paving the way for the European Commission to enact legislation that would comprehensively limit the production and use of over 10,000 PFAS chemicals. According to the latest timeline, the full scientific evaluation of the restriction proposal is expected to conclude by the end of 2026.

The update expands the assessment scope to include eight additional industry sectors, laying the groundwork for the final opinion by ECHA’s committees.

On May 14, 2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on its decision to retain the existing Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) in drinking water established in 2024, while extending the compliance deadline for public water systems from 2029 to 2031. Concurrently, the agency proposed to revoke standards for PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA (GenX chemicals), and PFBS mixtures, initiating a re-evaluation process. A new "PFAS OUT Program" was unveiled to bolster technical support.