A new whitepaper launched at Chemspec Europe 2026 is sounding the alarm for the global chemicals industry.

 

The report, PFAS: The Science, Regulation, and Road to Substitution, has clearly warned that companies may be greatly underestimating how quickly and how broadly PFAS regulation is advancing—and what it could mean for business continuity.

 

The report, prepared for Chemspec Europe 2026 by Global Product Compliance Group and S&P Global, argues that the window to prepare for sweeping regulatory change is rapidly narrowing, with period up to 2030 positioned as a decisive transition phase for the sector.

 

Experts behind the paper warn that companies failing to act now could face supply chain disruption, regulatory exposure, and restricted market access as governments move toward large-scale PFAS restrictions across key global markets.

 

More than 10,000 substances are now estimated to fall under the PFAS category, with the number continuing to grow as regulatory definitions expand. These chemicals are widely used across electronics, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, coatings, semiconductors, food packaging, and medical devices—placing vast portions of modern industry under increasing scrutiny due to concerns over environmental persistence and potential health risks.

 

In the European Union, the proposed universal PFAS restriction is expected to become the most far-reaching chemical regulation in REACH history, with implementation anticipated between 2027 and 2028.

 

“PFAS are used almost everywhere across modern industry, which is exactly what makes regulation so complex,” said Sorosh Ziarati, Regulatory Affairs Coordinator, Global Product Compliance Group, during a session launching the whitepaper at Chemspec Europe 2026. 

 

“Companies can no longer afford to wait and see. The organisations that begin mapping PFAS exposure, securing alternatives, and engaging with consultation processes now will be in a far stronger position than those reacting at the last minute.”

 

The whitepaper outlines a framework for companies navigating the transition, urging action across four key areas, including treating PFAS management as a strategic transformation rather than a compliance task, mapping full enterprise exposure, accelerating substitution efforts, and strengthening supply chain transparency.

 

1. Treat PFAS as a strategic business transformation opportunity, not a compliance exercise. Move beyond routine regulatory updates and manage PFAS as a company-wide programme, bringing together regulatory, R&D, procurement, and supply chain teams to align with rapidly evolving restriction timelines and derogation pathways.

 

2. Get visibility first and map your PFAS exposure across the entire business. Build a clear, end-to-end picture of where PFAS exist today, across products, processes, equipment, and suppliers, and understand which uses are likely to be banned, restricted, or allowed under time-limited exemptions.

 

3. Start substitution work early, not when deadlines hit. Prioritise reformulation and alternative chemistry development now for high-risk uses, supported by supplier engagement, analytical capability, and customer qualification processes to avoid last-minute disruption.

 

4. Make supply chain transparency a competitive advantage. Tighten supplier disclosure requirements, strengthen verification and testing, and prepare for rising demand from customers and investors for independently verified PFAS-free products.

 

During the launch session, Ziarati also highlighted the importance of industry engagement in ongoing regulatory consultations, noting that key decisions are still being shaped ahead of the EU consultation deadline on 25 May 2026.

 

“Industry still has an opportunity to shape how implementation happens,” he explained. “Questions around exemptions, transition timelines, and essential use are still evolving. Companies need to engage now if they want their operational realities reflected in the final framework.”

 

Chemspec Europe Event Director Christiane Beck said the whitepaper provides the kind of practical guidance the sector urgently needs as it confronts one of its most significant regulatory shifts.

 

“PFAS is one of the defining strategic and regulatory challenges facing the fine and speciality chemicals sector today. 

 

"What makes this whitepaper so valuable is its ability to move beyond headlines and provide companies with detailed, practical insight into what the transition could mean for their products, operations, and long-term competitiveness. These are exactly the conversations the industry needs to be having right now, and what Chemspec Europe is all about.”