PFAS Testing, Certification & Compliance

What are PFAS?

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of at least 10,000 substances used in the manufacture of many consumer products. PFAS are often added to textiles (such as outdoor jackets, work or protective clothing) for water and oil repellent finishing.

Why are PFAS so dangerous?

Planet

PFAS can affect the environment during production, use, care and disposal of products. These highly stable “forever chemicals” do not degrade in groundwater and soils. Instead, PFAS can accumulate in living organisms and be ingested by humans through the food chain.

People

Studies have shown widespread contamination of the blood and breast milk in the global population. PFAS have been linked to effects on the thyroid, hormonal system, liver damage and cancer, among others.

Info - PFAS Basic Factspdf

PFAS in Textiles, Apparel, Footwear & Leather - The Challenges

Maintaining performance while removing hazards
Knowing where PFAS are used within complicated supply chains
Keeping up with:
- Rapidly changing state, federal and international regulations
- Industry initiatives and innovations
- Customer RSLs and consumer demands
Balancing budget and risk
Communicating with customers and suppliers

PFAS Regulations

The PFAS substance group has become the focus of NGOs and legislators.

Types of PFAS Regulations
U.S. PFAS Laws
EU PFAS Laws
Legal Actions - Examples
Videos

Types of PFAS Regulations

In general, there are 4 types of PFAS regulations/requirements being enacted or proposed:

BAN on intentionally added PFAS (e.g., California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maine, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, U.S. TSCA, EU, UK, France)
REPORTING/notification (e.g., California, Maine, Minnesota, New Jersey, Vermont, Washington, U.S. TSCA, U.S. EPA)
LABELING/warning (e.g. California, Indiana)
Manufacturer CERTIFICATE of compliance (e.g. California, Minnesota)

U.S. PFAS Laws

How are PFAS regulated in the U.S.?

In the U.S., many bills for state regulations on consumer products have been introduced. On Jan. 1, 2023, the first laws went into effect.

In contrast to the targeted restriction of individual substances as defined in the EU, the entire group of organically bound fluorine (total organic fluorine (TOF)) has been regulated in the U.S.
Some state laws target specific chemicals, products or categories, while others cover all products
Compliance requires different testing approaches

EU PFAS Laws

How are PFAS regulated in Europe?

In Europe, the first compounds of this group, PFOS and PFOA, were restricted several years ago. Further individual compounds have been included with more to follow
In France, the sale, production, export and import of clothing textiles containing PFAS are banned from 2026 onwards. In 2030, the ban will include all non-essential textile products

French PFAS Ban

France Law No. 2025-188 prohibits the manufacture, import, export and sale of items containing PFAS above specific residual concentration limits.

What is the French PFAS Ban?

The February 2025 law No. 2025-188 bans per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in multiple product categories (including textiles and footwear).

Timeline:

2026 (January): Ban begins for textiles & footwear, with limited exemptions for civil Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
2030: Ban expands to cover all textile products

PFAS Thresholds:

Concentrations exceeding these limits are considered to be intentionally added and are subject to the ban.

Individual PFAS (excluding polymers): Up to 25 parts per billion (ppb)
Sum of all PFAS (excluding polymers): Up to 250 ppb
Total PFAS (including polymers): Up to 50 parts per million (ppm)

Legal Actions - Examples

PFAS in Textiles

Apparel, carpets, fabric treatments, rugs, textile furnishings, upholstered furniture and others
(California, Colorado, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, Washington)
Personal Protective Equipment/PPE
(California, Colorado, Indiana, Maryland, New York, Vermont, Washington)

PFAS in Firefighting Foam

Phasing out use
(U.S. Department of Defense)
Banning use and/or creating takeback programs
(California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont, Washington)
Banning incineration
(Illinois, New York)

Legal Actions over PFAS

State Attorneys general and class actions are suing over contamination:
(Alaska, Arisona, Arkansas, Colorado, Deleare, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Washington, Washington DC, Wisconsin)
- Polluting companies
- PFAS manufacturers
- Firefighting foam manufacturers
- U.S. Department of Defense (DOD)
- PFAS in school uniforms
- False advertising
- Claims including “health”

Videos

Recording - Functional Fabric Fair - April 2025 - Jeremy Stangeland (Patagonia), Jeffrey Margulies (Norton Rose Fulbright), and Dr. Jan Beringer and Tim Sherry (Hohenstein) discussed post-PFAS consumer communication—exploring the technical, marketing and legal implications of empowering consumers and setting clear expectations for product use and care.

Webinar - November 2024 Update - PFAS Test Methods and U.S. and EU Regulations

2024 US Legal Update with Norton Rose Fulbright

What to consider next?

Substitutes for PFAS performance parameters
Inventory management and disposal
- Product end-of-life phase out
Legacy contamination at manufacturing facilities
Ongoing supply chain management and product testing

PFAS Compliance Steps

Monitor and adapt to changing regulatory landscape with a dedicated, 3rd party consultant
- Prepare to comply with upcoming notification frameworks
Audit products and components - internal DC’s and global suppliers
Assess supply chain and chemical inputs
Implement restricted chemical lists (RSLs) and PFAS test plan
- Identify and utilize testing pathways
Communicate with consumers and suppliers

Hohenstein's Proactive Approach to PFAS

PFAS Screening
PFAS Certification

PFAS Screening

PFAS Testing and Compliance

With no standardized set of analytics, testing depends on the market (e.g., target analysis vs. extractable organic fluorine (EOF) vs. total organic fluorine (TOF)). Choosing the right testing approach and performance analysis must always be in line with the latest scientific knowledge. The wrong approach could cause damage to people, planet, reputations and budgets.

You're not alone. Our experts are dedicated to this issue. In the face of growing regulations and complex analysis, we bring technical expertise and analytical know-how. Our smart testing plans ask the right questions. They assess risks specific to the supply chain and product type. They also consider functionality and performance claims.

Partner with us

PFAS Certification

PFAS Certification with OEKO-TEX®

$Green OEKO-TEX® Logo + "Inspiring Confidence"$

OEKO-TEX® Association for protecting people and the planet through a safer, more sustainable textile and leather industry.

For sourcing or marketing, an independent OEKO-TEX® certification shows safety from PFAS. OEKO-TEX® bans the use of perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS/PFC) in textiles, leather and footwear for STANDARD 100, LEATHER STANDARD, ORGANIC COTTON and ECO PASSPORT certifications.

OEKO-TEX® + PFAS

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PFAS Testing - RSL and Regulatory Compliance