PFAS testing: why demand is rising before the EU-wide restriction lands
The EU is advancing a universal restriction on PFAS under REACH, while existing PFOA/PFOS limits already apply. Here is the testing manufacturers are ordering now — and what it costs.
Where the EU rules stand
Two forces drive PFAS testing demand. First, the proposed universal PFAS restriction under REACH is advancing: ECHA's Risk Assessment Committee adopted its opinion on 2 March 2026 and the Socio-Economic Analysis Committee issued its draft opinion for consultation, but a final Annex XVII restriction is not expected before 2027 at the earliest — so brands are screening their portfolios ahead of it. Second, and already binding, the POPs Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 limits PFOA, PFOS and PFHxS, and several Member States have national bans on PFAS in food-contact paper and board.
The testing that answers the question
PFAS analysis works in two layers. A screening layer measures total or extractable organic fluorine to flag whether PFAS are present at all; a confirmation layer quantifies individual PFAS by LC-MS/MS against a defined target list. For food-contact paper and board, EN 17681-1/-2 is the reference.
- +Total / extractable organic fluorine screening — a fast, low-cost first pass
- +Targeted PFAS by LC-MS/MS — quantifies named substances against a target list
- +PFAS in food-contact materials — EN 17681-1/-2
- +Total organic fluorine on textiles and coatings — for durable water-repellent finishes
What it costs
A targeted PFAS determination on food-contact material is indicatively from €365 net, scaling with the number of materials and the length of the target list. Screening for total fluorine first is the cheapest way to decide whether full quantification is needed at all.
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