SEAC to Complete PFAS Restrictions Assessment by End of 2026: What It Means for HFO 1234yf

By the end of 2026 or early 2027, the Socio-Economic Analysis Committee (SEAC) at the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) will publish its opinion and recommendations on possible restrictions or bans on PFAS. This is the final step on the ECHA side; the subsequent decision rests with the European Commission and EU Member States.

What Has Already Been Established and What SEAC Is Assessing

The Risk Assessment Committee (RAC) completed its work on PFAS in March 2026 and concluded that these substances pose a risk across the entire EU, requiring regulatory action. SEAC, in turn, is still reviewing 3,511 comments received during the consultation process before issuing its final opinion.

According to information published by the European Fluorocarbons Technical Committee (EFCTC) in early November, the SEAC draft acknowledges that a full, immediate ban is likely disproportionate given current technical and economic constraints. Instead, the committee supports a ban with targeted exceptions for specific applications. Specific details are not yet publicly disclosed.

Impact on Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Equipment

PFAS restrictions under REACH could affect the refrigeration and air-conditioning industry primarily through the refrigerant HFO 1234yf — a substance classified under the PFAS class and a component of many refrigerant blends. The question SEAC is examining in the context of exceptions is for which specific applications and for what duration transition periods may be provided, and whether PFAS-free alternatives exist in the short- to medium-term.

Next Steps

Once the final SEAC opinion is adopted, the document will be forwarded by ECHA to the European Commission and Member States. The process then proceeds as follows:

• Member States vote on the REACH Committee draft;
• the document undergoes review in the European Parliament and the Council of the EU, after which legislation may be adopted;
• regardless of the specific bans and restrictions in individual application areas, an 18-month transition period applies after the law is published.

EFCTC emphasises that the final SEAC opinion is the last step on the ECHA side, and everything that follows is determined by the European Commission and Member States. The full document is available on the EFCTC website.

Source: cci Dialog.