Sweden to Ban PFAS-Containing Consumer Products Starting 2027

At a Glance: On July 23, 2026, Sweden announced a national ban on consumer products containing PFAS "forever chemicals," effective January 1, 2027. The restriction targets clothing, cosmetics, food-contact kitchenware, ski waxes, and waterproofing treatments, enforcing strict concentration limits. Second-hand goods, recycled apparel, and personal protective equipment are exempt, with enforcement managed under the Environmental Code.

On July 23, 2026, Sweden's Ministry of Climate and Enterprise published a legislative memorandum announcing that a national-level ban on PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) will take effect on January 1, 2027—prohibiting consumer products containing these "forever chemicals" from being placed on the market ahead of comprehensive EU-wide regulations. This makes Sweden another EU member state, following Denmark and France, to take strong national action against PFAS.

1. Scope of the Ban

According to the memorandum, the new regulation will prohibit the supply of PFAS-containing goods to Swedish consumers across five major categories:

Clothing and footwear
Water-repellent treatments for clothing and footwear
Cosmetics
Kitchenware (food-contact parts only, such as non-stick cookware coatings)
Ski waxes

2. Limit Values (Aligned with EU Proposals)

PFAS concentrations, calculated per homogeneous material, must not exceed:

Individual non-polymeric PFAS: 25 μg/kg
Sum of all non-polymeric PFAS: 250 μg/kg
Sum of all PFAS: 50 mg/kg

3. Exemptions

The ban does not apply to:

Second-hand products (to promote reuse)
Clothing containing ≥20% recycled material (from post-consumer waste)
Personal protective equipment (PPE) and water-repellent treatments used for re-impregnating such equipment

4. Enforcement and Penalties

Regulatory Authorities: The Swedish Chemicals Agency (Kemikalieinspektionen) and municipal governments are responsible for market surveillance.
Penalties: Violations of the ban will be subject to criminal liability under the provisions of the Environmental Code concerning the management of hazardous chemicals.

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Further information

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