As set out in the mission letters from the Commission President, the Executive Vice-President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy and the Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy were given the task to work on the Chemicals Industry Package and to provide clarity on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

For this, the Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (DG GROW) and the Directorate-General for Environment (DG ENV) work closely together the Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE) and other Commission services.

For example, DG SANTE is following the discussions related to possible measures on PFAS in food contact materials and in medical devices in the context of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006[1] and in food packaging in the context of Regulation (EU) 2025/40[2].

With respect to actions taken by the Commission to reduce the impact of PFAS on public health, including those under the remit of DG SANTE such as presence of PFAS as contaminants in food and their use as active substances in plant protection products, the Commission refers the Honourable Member to replies E-001626/2025[3], E-000268/2024[4], E-003754/2023[5], E-002285/2023[6] and E-000375/2023[7].

The Commission is addressing PFAS contamination through different environmental and health legislation. Those pieces of legislation ensure that soil, (drinking) water and food comply with EU safety standards. Maximum levels for PFAS are set in drinking water and various foods.

Last updated: 1 July 2025