Table of Contents
PFAS compliance is no longer governed by a single regulation, country, or authority.
For manufacturers of complex products and components, PFAS is now regulated through overlapping global bans, U.S. state laws, federal reporting rules, and industry-specific controls—each with different definitions, timelines, and enforcement mechanisms.
This page serves as a manufacturer-focused map of global PFAS regulations, connecting country-specific, state-level, and industry-driven requirements into one structured view.
If you are looking for the system-level approach to managing PFAS across products and suppliers, start with PFAS Compliance for Manufacturers
Why PFAS Compliance Has Become a Structural Problem for Manufacturers
PFAS regulations are intentionally fragmented.
Governments regulate PFAS through different legal models—often simultaneously. A product that is compliant in one jurisdiction may be banned, reportable, or restricted in another, even when the PFAS use is identical.
This creates operational risk for manufacturers managing:
- large BOMs and part libraries
- multi-tier supplier ecosystems
- global product distribution
- long product lifecycles
PFAS compliance is no longer a chemical list problem. It is a data, supplier, and jurisdiction-mapping problem.
This growing complexity is explored further in The Ever-Evolving Landscape of PFAS Regulations and Business Risks
The Four PFAS Regulatory Models Every Manufacturer Must Understand
Understanding how PFAS is regulated matters more than memorizing individual laws.
1. Class-Wide PFAS Restrictions (Primarily Europe)
Some regulators are moving toward regulating PFAS as a single chemical class, rather than listing individual substances.
This approach:
- captures thousands of PFAS at once
- relies on use-based derogations
- signals long-term phase-outs for many applications
In Europe, this model is driven by ECHA’s updated PFAS restriction proposal, supported by broader REACH-level actions outlined in EU’s PFAS Crackdown: What You Must Know About REACH Restrictions
Impact for manufacturers: High exposure for fluoropolymers, surface treatments, coatings, seals, insulation materials, and performance-critical components.
2. PFAS Reporting & Disclosure Regimes (Data-Heavy)
Some jurisdictions focus on mandatory PFAS data disclosure, rather than immediate bans.
These rules require companies to report:
- PFAS identity
- quantities
- uses
- historical presence in products and components
In the United States, this obligation is defined under TSCA Section 8(a)(7) and expanded through EPA’s finalized PFAS reporting rule
A consolidated view of U.S. obligations is covered in PFAS Compliance in the U.S.: 12 State Laws Plus TSCA 8(a)(7) Reporting
In Canada, manufacturers must comply with Canada’s 2025 PFAS Reporting Mandate building on earlier CEPA Section 71 data-collection requirements.
3. Product-Category PFAS Bans (Highly Fragmented)
Many governments are banning intentionally added PFAS in specific product categories.
These bans vary significantly by jurisdiction, making SKU-level compliance difficult without material-level visibility.
In the United States, state-level bans now represent the most immediate risk. Key examples include:
- Minnesota’s sweeping PFAS ban
- Maine’s PFAS reporting program for products
- New York’s PFAS ban under Senate Bill S992-B
- Vermont’s ban on PFAS in consumer products
- Connecticut’s PFAS regulation framework
- Rhode Island’s PFAS BAN Act
- Illinois’ PFAS Reduction Act
- Tennessee’s PFAS regulation under SB1786
- Kentucky’s PFAS regulations under HB116
- Maryland’s PFAS Pollution Control Act
Cosmetic-focused laws such as Washington’s Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act and Washington State’s expanded PFAS restrictions under Safer Products illustrate how product-specific bans continue to expand.
Outside the U.S., France’s PFAS ban—now passed into law with decrees in motion signals aggressive national enforcement across textiles, cosmetics, and other consumer applications.
4. Industry-Specific PFAS Controls
Some PFAS regulations are driven by industry-specific risk profiles, not consumer exposure.
Electronics, medical devices, and healthcare products face heightened scrutiny due to PFAS use in performance-critical and safety-sensitive applications.
Manufacturers in these sectors should review:
- PFAS Compliance for Electronics and 2025 Regulations
- PFAS in Electronics: Restrictions and Compliance Strategy
- PFAS Compliance in Medical Devices and Healthcare Products
Industry-level preparedness is also discussed in Empowering Compliance Engineers: PFAS Regulations Update (2025 Edition)
Global PFAS Regulatory Landscape by Region
Europe
Europe is driving the most aggressive long-term PFAS restrictions globally.
Manufacturers should begin with:
United States
PFAS regulation in the U.S. combines federal reporting obligations with rapidly expanding state-level bans.
A consolidated manufacturer-focused overview is available in PFAS Compliance in the U.S.
Canada
Canada’s PFAS enforcement currently centers on mandatory information-gathering under CEPA.
Manufacturers must comply with Canada’s 2025 PFAS Reporting Mandate
Asia-Pacific
Key developments include:
- Japan’s ban on 138 PFAS substances (effective Jan 10, 2025)
- Australia’s PFAS ban and business impact in 2025
PFAS Compliance by Industry and Supply Chain Impact
Sector-specific implications are explored in:
- PFAS Compliance for Electronics
- PFAS Compliance in Medical Devices
- The Global Shift Away from PFAS and Its Supply-Chain Impact
- Navigating the PFAS Quandary: Industry Impacts and Resilience Strategies
Why Traditional PFAS Declarations No Longer Work
Supplier “PFAS-free” statements fail because:
- PFAS definitions differ by law
- “intentionally added” thresholds vary
- historical PFAS use is now reportable
- declarations cannot be reused across jurisdictions
A deeper business-risk view is covered in Navigating Business Risks from PFAS Regulations
What Manufacturers Need to Manage PFAS at Scale
Manufacturers need:
- material-level substance visibility
- traceable supplier evidence
- regulation-agnostic datasets
- continuous monitoring and revalidation
This transition is explored further in:
Managing PFAS across countries and products requires more than declarations. Acquis helps manufacturers track PFAS at the material level and stay compliant as regulations change globally.