Sweden has announced plans to ban PFAS in certain consumer products, as part of their new national action plan on PFAS, which the government adopted on 23rd July. The Swedish government has opened a consultation on the proposed ban, which would restrict the use of PFAS in a range of products, including clothing, footwear, kitchenware, cosmetic products and ski wax. Read more in their press release (in Swedish).

PFAS are a group of around 10,000 chemicals often referred to as ‘forever chemicals’ as they are highly persistent and take generations to break down in the environment. They are used in industrial manufacturing and in a wide range of consumer products due to their ability to repel both grease and water. Exposure to some PFAS has been linked with adverse health impacts, including certain cancers, reduced fertility, and the disruption of the immune system.

The Swedish government wants to act ahead of the EU universal PFAS ban that proposes to cover all 10,000 PFAS as a group. Swedish Environment and Climate Minister Romina Pourmokhtari said in a statement: “Sweden has no intention of standing by while ‘forever chemicals’ continue to spread in our home, in nature and in our bodies.”

If adopted, the Swedish ban would come into force from 1^st January 2028. Once the Commission sets restrictions under the EU universal PFAS ban, the national ban will be lifted.

The ban follows similar action in other member states, including France and Denmark. In 2025, France introduced a ban on PFAS in certain consumer products, which entered into force at the start of 2026, while a ban on PFAS in consumer textiles (such as clothing and shoes) in Denmark came into force in July 2026.

We welcome action from national governments to better protect their citizens from harmful forever chemicals. However, national bans such as this may only protect people within that country. Additionally, national bans often do not address industrial uses of PFAS, despite them being a major source of emissions.

A comprehensive, EU-wide restriction on PFAS covering both consumer and industrial uses is crucial to ensure that people all over the EU receive equal protection from these harmful chemicals.

Outside of the EU, action to address PFAS pollution in the UK is falling behind its neighbours. In 2025, a committee in the UK Parliament launched an inquiry into whether the UK government’s plans to tackle PFAS pollution are adequate. The inquiry resulted in a set of recommendations and timelines. See how the UK government responded, and our analysis of their response, in our new blog.

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