Sweden Proposes National PFAS Ban in Certain Consumer Products, Including Cosmetics

On July 23, 2026, the Swedish Ministry of Climate and Enterprise officially released a legislative proposal on a National Ban on Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Certain Consumer Products. The draft proposal is currently open for public consultation until November 30, 2026, and the proposed ban is expected to enter into force on January 1, 2028, following completion of the legislative process.^1-2

Background of Sweden's National PFAS Ban

The proposed national ban is intended to address concerns over the potential health and environmental impacts associated with PFAS, while advancing regulatory action ahead of the ongoing EU-level legislative process.

As highly persistent and mobile "forever chemicals", PFAS have been associated with various potential health risks, including cancer, thyroid disease, impaired immune function, and endocrine disruption. In Sweden, concerns over human exposure have been reinforced by findings that, considering background exposure, PFAS intake levels exceed the tolerable weekly intake (TWI) for a proportion of the population, including 16–24% of young children and 2–22% of adolescents. Beyond human health concerns, PFAS have also been widely detected in the environment, including in wildlife monitored under Sweden's national environmental monitoring program, and in drinking water and surface water samples.

Although a comprehensive PFAS restriction within the framework of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 Concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) is being developed at the EU level, the complexity of the dossier means that several years may be required before it becomes legally binding. In parallel with ongoing EU-level efforts, Sweden has proposed an interim national ban, following similar initiatives in Denmark and France, to reduce PFAS releases and address concerns regarding public health and environmental protection in the short term. As an interim measure, the national ban would no longer apply once an equivalent EU restriction enters into force.

Key Regulatory Requirements

Rather than introducing a standalone act, Sweden's proposed national ban will be implemented by amending two existing administrative ordinances:

• The Chemical Products (Handling, Import and Export Prohibitions) Ordinance (1998:944), which will establish the substantive requirements of the ban;

• The Environmental Supervision Ordinance (2011:13), which will reassign supervisory responsibilities for PFAS restrictions on cookware.

The main compliance obligations arising from these amendments are summarized below.

1. Scope of Application

The proposed ban targets products supplied to consumers on the Swedish market. It specifically covers five product categories:

1) Clothing and footwear;

2) Impregnation agents for clothing and footwear;

3) Cosmetic products (as defined in Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on Cosmetic Products);

4) Kitchen utensils intended to come into contact with food; and

5) Ski wax.

2. Concentration Limits

Under the proposal, "PFAS" is defined by reference to the definition set out in Regulation (EU) 2025/40 on Packaging and Packaging Waste. For the covered products, the ban shall apply where the concentration of PFAS, measured in homogeneous materials, is equal to or exceeds any of the following limit values:

In addition, when applying the limit for the sum of all PFAS, if the total fluorine content is found to be 50 mg/kg (50 ppm) or above, the fluorine content shall be presumed to originate from PFAS. This presumption may be rebutted if the supplier can demonstrate that the fluorine content originates from non-PFAS substances.

3. Exemptions and Exclusions

To accommodate specific functional needs and circular economy considerations, the proposal establishes the following exemptions and exclusions:

• EU Regulatory Overlap: The national ban shall not apply where a corresponding prohibition already applies under REACH Regulation or Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 on Persistent Organic Pollutants;

• Recycled Clothing: Clothing containing at least 20% recycled material derived from post-consumer waste;

• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Personal protective equipment intended to protect users against risks covered by Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2016/425 on Personal Protective Equipment, and waterproofing agents used for the re-impregnation of such PPE;

• Used Products: Products that have been used and are suitable for continued use in their existing state or after repair.