[Regulatory Update] EU restricts PFHxA and related substances under REACH Annex XVII — phased application for textiles, leather and other products from October 2026

Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/2462 (adopted on September 19, 2024) added entry 79 to Annex XVII of the REACH Regulation, restricting PFHxA, its salts and PFHxA-related substances. Application dates differ by use. From October 10, 2026, the restriction applies to clothing and related accessories for the general public, footwear for the general public, paper and cardboard used as food contact materials, mixtures for the general public and cosmetic products; from October 10, 2027, it extends to other textiles, leather, furs and hides for the general public. For firefighting foams, it applies from April 10, 2026 (training, testing and public fire services) and from October 10, 2029 (civil aviation). Certain personal protective equipment, medical devices, in vitro diagnostic medical devices and construction textiles are excluded from the restrictions on textiles, footwear, paper, mixtures and cosmetics.