EU PFAS Foam Restrictions: The 23 October 2026 Stage and What It Means for Saudi Facilities
On 23 October 2026 a new stage of the EU restrictions on PFAS-containing firefighting foams (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) took effect. From that date, portable fire extinguishers containing PFAS foam may no longer be placed on the EU market, and use and labelling conditions now apply to foams that may still be used.
The rules are set by Commission Regulation (EU) 2025/1988 of 2 October 2025. The regulation does not apply in Saudi Arabia, but it affects foam supply chains and the policies of multinational owners. This item explains what has changed and what Saudi facility owners should review now.
Key takeaways
- Regulation (EU) 2025/1988 bans placing on the market and use of firefighting foams with total PFAS of 1 mg/L or more from 23 October 2030, with transition periods by use.
- The market derogation for PFAS portable extinguishers ended on 23 October 2026; for alcohol-resistant foams in portable extinguishers it runs to 23 April 2027.
- From the same date: use on class B fires only, a site foam management plan, collection and treatment of waste, and labelling of stock.
- Seveso establishments (excluding civil aviation) and offshore oil and gas installations have until 23 October 2035.
- C6 AFFF foams still contain PFAS, even when they are free of PFOA and PFOS.
What changed on 23 October 2026
The regulation was published in the Official Journal on 3 October 2025, entered into force on 23 October 2025, and added entry 82 to Annex XVII of REACH. It defines PFAS as any substance containing at least one fully fluorinated methyl (CF3) or methylene (CF2) carbon atom.
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| 23 October 2026 | End of the market derogation for PFAS portable extinguishers; use and labelling conditions start |
| 23 April 2027 | End of the market derogation for alcohol-resistant foams in portable extinguishers, and of the use derogation for training, testing and public fire services |
| 23 October 2030 | General ban on placing on the market and use of foams with total PFAS of 1 mg/L or more |
| 31 December 2030 | End of the use derogation for existing PFAS portable extinguishers |
| 23 October 2035 | End of the derogation for Seveso establishments (excluding civil aviation), offshore oil and gas installations, military vessels and civilian ships with foam already on board |
From 23 October 2026, users of foams still permitted must meet four conditions: use them only on class B (flammable liquid) fires; reduce emissions and exposure as far as possible; collect unused foam stock, PFAS waste and contaminated wastewater and treat it so that the PFAS is destroyed; and keep a site-specific management plan, reviewed annually and kept for at least 15 years. Foams placed on the market, other than portable extinguishers, and users’ unused stock and waste must carry a warning label stating that they contain PFAS.
What the EU rules on PFAS-containing firefighting foams mean for Saudi facilities
The EU regulation places no direct obligations in the Kingdom, and at the time of writing we found no comparable published Saudi restriction on PFAS foams. Its effects still reach Saudi facilities in three ways:
- Supply chain: manufacturers selling in Europe need fluorine-free alternatives for that market, which may affect the availability of some products elsewhere.
- Parent company policy: sites owned by European or multinational groups may follow internal replacement policies ahead of any local requirement.
- Exporters: plants that supply European customers may be asked how they manage PFAS on site.
What about AFFF in use today?
Some AFFF concentrates on the market are C6 products, based on short-chain fluorinated chemistry. Being free of PFOA and PFOS does not make a foam PFAS-free. Our page on SafeGuard foams, for example, notes that BIOSOLV C6 AFFF uses C6 fluorinated materials, is PFOA- and PFOS-free according to the manufacturer, and falls within the scope of the EU restrictions. It also notes that the manufacturer offers a fluorine-free concentrate.
What facility owners should review now
- Foam inventory: identify the foam type in every fixed system, extinguisher and store, from the datasheet or container label.
- Owner policy: ask whether the parent company or main customer has a PFAS foam replacement policy.
- Replacement is not a like-for-like swap: fluorine-free foams may differ in proportioning rate, viscosity and application rate. Check the concentrate’s compatibility with proportioners and discharge devices, and its listing scope per the manufacturer’s instructions, before any changeover, as our guide to foam suppression systems explains.
- Testing and training: minimise foam discharge during tests and training, and collect the run-off where possible.
- Extinguishers: check the foam type in portable extinguishers during routine servicing, as part of an annual maintenance contract.
FAQ
Does the EU regulation ban AFFF in Saudi Arabia?
No. It applies in the European Union only. Follow what the competent Saudi authorities issue, along with owner requirements and project documents.
Is a PFOA- and PFOS-free foam PFAS-free?
Not necessarily. C6 foams contain fluorinated substances that fall within the EU regulation’s definition of PFAS.
Can an existing system simply be refilled with fluorine-free foam?
Not before checking compatibility with the proportioning and discharge equipment, the proportioning and application rates, and the manufacturer’s instructions, because system performance depends on its components working together.
Conclusion
The 23 October 2026 stage ended the EU market window for PFAS extinguishers and started the use, labelling and management plan conditions. In Saudi Arabia it creates no direct obligation, but it is good reason to inventory the foams in use, understand the owner’s policy and plan any future changeover carefully.
Not sure which foam your systems use? We can review the datasheets and installed systems with you and set out the options if you decide to change over. Talk to the AZEIDK team
