How will the EU’s PFAS restrictions affect Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Have you read about how some EU politicians tested for PFAS compounds in their blood?

The result showed that PFAS compounds were present in the blood of all 24 tested politicians. In half of those tested, the concentrations exceeded levels associated with harmful effects on health.

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a large group of synthetic chemicals that are resistant to water, fats, stains, high temperatures, and corrosion. While these properties make them useful in many applications, there is also a downside—hence the need for stringent regulation of these substances.

With this purpose, a new amendment to the REACH Regulation in the European Union has recently been adopted, imposing restrictions on the use of PFAS substances in fire-fighting foams.

The PFAS group encompasses thousands of different chemicals, and the best-known substances in this group are PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, as well as other longer or shorter PFAS. Due to their chemical structure and especially strong C–F (carbon–fluorine) bonds, PFAS substances degrade very slowly in the environment. Because of these properties, they are often called “forever chemicals.”

Let us look together at what the new EU restriction on PFAS substances in fire-fighting foams stipulates and why it matters.

By Commission Regulation (EU) 2025/1988 of 3 October 2025, Annex XVII to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (REACH) is amended concerning the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in fire-fighting foams. The Regulation enters into force on 23 October.

The adopted restriction means that from 23 October 2030 onwards, it will be prohibited to place on the market or use fire-fighting foams containing PFAS at a concentration equal to or greater than 1 mg/L (for the sum of all PFAS).

Different transitional periods are defined for certain sectors or uses where technical substitution is not immediately feasible (e.g. civil aviation or offshore oil platforms). The restriction does not apply to specific PFAS substances for which restrictions are already in force (e.g. PFOS and PFOA). Other conditions are prescribed for the use of fire-fighting foams containing PFAS substances, as well as for labeling of unused quantities and waste containing PFAS. It is assessed that such a group restriction is the most appropriate measure to reduce the risk of PFAS in fire-fighting foams.

An interesting aspect of this restriction is that it covers the entire PFAS group, which has not been done before. Up to now, individual substances like PFOS and PFOA have been regulated.

What is the situation regarding PFAS substances in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

In our country, regulations explicitly banning PFAS in fire-fighting foams have not yet been adopted, unlike in the EU. However, there are bans for certain specific PFAS substances.

The Regulation on Restrictions and Bans of Chemicals of the Republic of Srpska prescribes restrictions for PFOS and PFOA substances, with certain exceptions defined:

• a maximum PFOS content is prescribed in substances, mixtures, and products;

• products with PFOS that were on the market before October 2010 may be used until the end of their life cycle;

• placing PFOA as a substance on the market has been prohibited since June 2022;

• PFOA may still be found in mixtures or products, but only at a certain maximum concentration.

In the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, PFOS substances are regulated by the Decision on the Ban or Restriction of Import, Manufacture, Trade, and Use of Certain Hazardous Industrial Chemicals in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (“Official Gazette of the Federation of BiH”, Nos. 52/16 and 47/19).

Since chemical legislation in BiH is aligned with EU regulations, we can expect that in the coming period bans on PFAS substances in fire-fighting foams will also be adopted here.

Important: when you produce, import, or use chemicals or incorporate them into other products, verify their regulatory status. Bans and restrictions generally include defined transitional periods, which allow you to plan your chemical-related activities in time.

If you need help checking the status of any chemical, contact me at nina.pajovic@bens-consulting.eu