Recently, The European Union (EU) has introduced Regulation 2024/2462 to tighten restrictions on certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in consumer products, including cosmetics. This regulation specifically targets undecafluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), its salts, and related substances, amending Annex XVII of the REACH Regulation (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals).
Under the new rules, PFHxA and related compounds in cosmetic products will face stringent concentration limits—25 parts per billion (ppb) for PFHxA itself and 1,000 ppb for related substances. These limits will apply to any cosmetic product placed on the market after the transition period, which ends on October 10, 2026.
The European Commission (EC) emphasizes that this regulation is designed to address the “unacceptable risks” posed by PFHxA to both human health and the environment, citing the substance’s persistence in water and its challenging removal from drinking water, contaminated sites, and wastewater. Exposure to PFHxA is long-term, and the Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) has previously noted the likelihood of PFHxA being absorbed through the skin, making cosmetics a potential additional source of human exposure.
The EC also highlights the availability of alternatives and asserts that the socio-economic costs of complying with the regulation will be outweighed by the benefits to human health and the environment. However, exemptions for “key technologies” have been mentioned, though legal specifics on these exemptions remain unclear.
The move comes amid a broader global push to regulate PFAS, with other regions, including the U.S. state of Colorado, also planning bans on PFAS in various consumer products by 2026.
