Critical PFAS Insights Revealed in New Industry Whitepaper at Chemspec Europe

New report highlights accelerating regulatory developments and outlines what companies must do to prepare for global PFAS restrictions

A new whitepaper, launched at Chemspec Europe 2026, is warning that companies across the chemicals value chain may be underestimating both the speed and commercial impact of incoming PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) regulation. Experts behind the report are urging businesses to begin transition planning now, or risk supply chain disruption, regulatory exposure, and loss of market access.

Titled PFAS: The Science, Regulation, and Road to Substitution, the whitepaper was prepared for Chemspec Europe 2026 by Global Product Compliance Group and S&P Global. It argues that the current period until 2030 will represent a decisive transition window for industry, as regulators move rapidly toward broad PFAS restrictions across major global markets.

More than 10,000 substances are now estimated to fall under the PFAS category, with additional compounds continually being classified under expanding regulatory definitions. Used extensively across sectors including electronics, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, coatings, semiconductors, food packaging, and medical devices, PFAS chemicals are increasingly coming under scrutiny due to concerns around environmental persistence and potential health impacts.

This has created a regulatory challenge of unprecedented scale for the industry. In the European Union for example, the proposed universal PFAS restriction is set to become the most extensive chemical regulation in REACH history, with implementation expected 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.”

In this critical transition period, the whitepaper sets out the insights companies need to navigate change, from scientific fundamentals through to regulatory developments and practical transition planning. Companies are urged to act across four priority areas:

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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 session at Chemspec Europe, Ziarati also stressed the importance of industry participation in ongoing consultations surrounding restriction proposals, particularly the current EU consultation which closes 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.”

Christiane Beck, Event Director for Chemspec Europe, said the whitepaper reflects the type of practical, forward-looking guidance the industry urgently needs.

“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.”

Download the full PFAS: The Science, Regulation, and Road to Substitution whitepaper via the official Chemspec Europe website.