The European Union (EU) is accelerating the regulation of PFAS (“forever chemicals”) and some decisions already have a date, especially in packaging that comes into contact with food. The changes will be phased and with different deadlines, but supermarkets in Portugal must prepare to adjust formulas and packaging.
Scientific and public pressure on PFAS has increased in recent years. Brussels keeps a broad restriction under REACH on the table, while approving measures by specific sectors and products. The impact will reach the shelves, albeit gradually and with transition periods.
PFAS are very persistent compounds used for their resistance to water, grease and heat. It associates prolonged exposure with thyroid, fertility, liver problems and certain cancers, which is why the EU has been tightening rules.
In everyday life, these chemicals appear in multiple items: waterproof textiles, utensils and coatings, firefighting foams and, crucially for the consumer, food contact packaging. This is where the most immediate changes for distribution and supermarkets in Portugal emerge.
What has already been decided (and when it comes into force)
The new European packaging regulations (PPWR) establish that, from August 12, 2026, food contact packaging that exceeds maximum limits set for PFAS cannot be placed on the market, requiring reformulations and alternatives free of these compounds.
Furthermore, the EU approved specific restrictions on PFAS in firefighting foams, with transition deadlines by type of use, a step that shows the strategy of moving forward by sectors while the horizontal restriction is evaluated.
Some Member States have gone further: Denmark has banned PFAS in paper and cardboard materials for food contact since 1 July 2020, becoming a reference for future European rules on packaging.
What is still under discussion in Brussels
On August 20, 2025, ECHA published an updated version of the proposal for a broad restriction on PFAS under REACH, after analyzing thousands of contributions. The dossier remains under technical-scientific analysis.
According to ECHA itself, the evaluation calendar points to conclusions by the end of 2026, so the horizontal and transversal ban (for “all non-essential uses”) is not yet in force.
In parallel, some countries have already legislated at national level. France approved, in February 2025, a law banning PFAS in cosmetics, textiles (including footwear) and ski waxes from 2026, with extension to all textiles in 2030; food packaging is aligned with EU rules.
What does this mean for supermarkets in Portugal
In the short term, the biggest adjustment will be in food contact packaging: suppliers will have to comply with the new limits for PFAS by August 12, 2026, which may involve visible changes to materials (e.g. replacing grease-repellent barriers) and labels.
Depending on the outcome of the REACH restriction, reformulations of detergents, home textiles and other articles with anti-grease/water treatment may occur in the medium term. Retail will have to manage shipping deadlines, new technical sheets and communication to the consumer.
For the consumer, the changes should be progressive, with replacement by “PFAS-free” alternatives. Authorities recommend following updates on official channels and operator notices. In Portugal, the Portuguese Environment Agency centralizes regulatory information.
Next steps and how to follow up
In summary: food packaging with limits for PFAS in 2026 (PPWR), firefighting foams already restricted in the EU (2025), French law to start in 2026 for several categories, and REACH assessment towards a broad restriction by the end of 2026. It is a path of convergence that will tend to reduce the presence of these chemicals in everyday life.
Until then, manufacturers and distributors must adjust supply chains and review declarations of compliance. For those who buy, the main change will be to see packaging and labels changing, without an immediate impact on food safety, the objective is to reinforce this safety.
Science will continue to inform policy decisions: the EEA and recent studies on risks associated with exposure support the regulatory trajectory. The message is clear, less PFAS in the environment and in products over the next few years.
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