Sweden has announced plans to ban ‘forever chemicals’ in consumer products as early as 2028.
“This is a major victory for human health and for the Swedish environment,” the Minister for Climate and the Environment, Romina Pourmokhtari, said in a statement released on 23 July.
“PFAS should not be found in clothing, cosmetics, kitchen utensils and other everyday products when there are working alternatives.”
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of more than 10,000 synthetic chemicals that take thousands of years to degrade naturally, earning them the nickname ‘forever chemicals’. Chronic exposure to PFAS has been linked to adverse health impacts, including the promotion of certain cancers.
The European Union is expected to present legislative proposals on PFAS in 2027, but it could take much longer before EU-wide restrictions are officially approved and implemented.
