Sweden’s government opened a formal consultation (remiss KN2026/01597) on a draft national ban on PFAS in clothing, footwear, waterproofing agents, cosmetics, ski wax, and kitchenware, targeting entry into force on January 1, 2028 — ahead of the EU’s own planned 2027 restriction proposal.
What Happened
On July 23, 2026, Sweden’s Ministry of Climate and Enterprise opened the consultation on the promemoria ‘Nationellt förbud mot PFAS i vissa konsumentprodukter,’ proposing to prohibit the sale of PFAS-containing clothing/footwear, waterproofing/impregnation products, cosmetics, kitchenware, and ski wax. Sweden is moving ahead of Brussels, since the European Commission’s own broad EU-wide PFAS restriction proposal is not expected until 2027.
What’s New
- Proposed ban covers clothing and footwear, waterproofing/impregnation products, cosmetics, kitchenware, and ski wax containing PFAS.
- Sweden intends to withdraw the national rule once equivalent EU-wide restrictions take effect.
- Follows France (in force since January 2026) and Denmark, which already have national PFAS restrictions on similar consumer categories.
- Part of a new Swedish national action plan on PFAS to limit environmental release.
Key Dates & Compliance Deadlines
Swedish Ministry of Climate and Enterprise opened formal consultation.
Responses due to the Ministry.
Draft national ban proposed to take effect.
Affected Industries
Apparel and footwear manufacturers; textile waterproofing/impregnation product makers; cosmetics manufacturers; kitchenware/cookware producers; ski wax manufacturers selling into Sweden.
Who Is Affected
Manufacturers, importers, and retailers of PFAS-containing clothing, footwear, waterproofing agents, cosmetics, kitchenware, and ski wax in the Swedish market.
Substances / Products in Scope
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as a chemical class, across the listed consumer product categories.
Prohibitions, Restrictions & Exemptions
Proposed prohibition on sale of PFAS-containing clothing, footwear, waterproofing/impregnation products, cosmetics, kitchenware, and ski wax from January 1, 2028; not yet finalized — subject to consultation feedback through November 30, 2026.
What Companies Should Do
- Submit consultation feedback by November 30, 2026 if selling into the Swedish market.
- Begin reformulation/alternative-material assessment for the listed product categories.
- Compare scope against France’s and Denmark’s existing national PFAS restrictions, which include category-specific exemptions.
- Track the EU’s own 2027 PFAS restriction proposal, which Sweden’s national ban is designed to precede and eventually be superseded by.
This is a high-relevance item for cookware, apparel, and cosmetics exporters to Sweden — France’s cookware exemption (after industry lobbying) suggests scope may still narrow before finalization, worth monitoring during the consultation period.
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