Committee Newsletters

PFAS in France and Europe: A Fragmented Regulatory Framework and a Growing Wave of Litigation

August 31, 2026

Toxic and Hazardous Substances Litigation

By Sylvie Gallage-Alwis, Elias Boukachabine, and Hannah Wilhelm

PFAS regulation and litigation are accelerating across France and Europe, with industrial operators increasingly facing claims over historical activities that were lawful at the time, even as scientific knowledge, regulatory thresholds and testing methods continue to evolve. Establishing causation remains a central challenge because PFAS may originate from multiple sources and environmental pathways, while reliable reference values and the regulatory framework are still developing. Ultimately, courts and regulators will need to balance environmental and public-health objectives with technological feasibility and legal certainty, particularly as Europe considers broader PFAS restrictions despite the limited availability of viable substitutes for certain applications.

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