The government is proposing a comprehensive ban on PFAS in common consumer products. At the same time, Climate and Environment Minister Romina Pourmokhtari acknowledges that imported goods from foreign e-commerce platforms may be difficult to monitor.
The ban will cover, among other things, clothing, shoes, kitchen utensils, cosmetics, ski wax, and waterproofing agents. The government wants the rules to take effect on January 1, 2028. Agricultural pesticides, however, are not included because that area is regulated by the EU, reports Swedish Radio (SR).
– As far as we know, this is the most ambitious ban in the world on PFAS in consumer products, says the Minister of Climate and the Environment Romina Pourmokhtari.
Imports will be a challenge
The minister says that products sold through platforms such as Shein and Temu may be difficult to stop.
– What we can do is regulate at the national level, conduct spot checks, and draw attention to cases where companies systematically violate the laws we have in Sweden, she says, If you buy Swedish makeup and Swedish children's clothing, you don't need to worry that they contain toxins.
PFAS are found in thousands of products
PFAS are persistent chemicals used in products such as refrigerants, water-repellent treatments, firefighting foam, cosmetics, and packaging. According to the Swedish Chemicals Agency, approximately 3,000 metric tons of PFAS are released into the environment in Sweden each year.
In 2027, the European Commission is expected to present its own proposal for a broad restriction on PFAS within the Union.
