Date: 14 August 2026

Prepared for: Importers, Manufacturers, Suppliers and Buyers of Cosmetic Products for the Swedish Market

Regulatory Update: Sweden Proposes National PFAS Ban in Consumer Products including Cosmetics

On 23 July 2026, the Swedish Ministry of Climate and Enterprise published a legislative proposal introducing a national ban on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in certain consumer products. The proposal is currently open for public consultation until 30 November 2026, and if adopted, the ban is scheduled to take effect on 1 January 2028.

If your product portfolio includes cosmetics sold in Sweden, whether through traditional retail or e-commerce channels, this proposal warrants your close attention.

Background:  

PFAS – often referred to as "forever chemicals" – comprise a collective term covering more than 10,000 identified synthetic fluorinated compounds known for their extreme persistence in the environment. Sweden faces significant PFAS contamination challenges; as of January 2026, approximately 22,000 potential PFAS contaminated sites had been identified across the country.

An EU wide PFAS restriction under REACH is under development but may take years to finalise. Sweden has therefore proposed an interim national ban giving companies selling into Sweden a nearer deadline to plan around, which will automatically cease to apply once an equivalent EU restriction enters into force.

Scope of the Proposed Ban

The proposal would apply to consumer products containing PFAS above set limits, including:

l Clothing and footwear

l Waterproofing agents for clothing and footwear

l Cosmetic products (as defined under the Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009/EC)

l Kitchen utensils intended to come into contact with food

l Ski wax

Proposed Concentration Limits

The ban would apply when the PFAS concentration in a homogeneous material reaches any of the following thresholds:

The proposed limits are fully aligned with those in the draft EU REACH restriction on PFAS, ensuring future consistency once EU level legislation takes effect.

Exemptions

The proposal includes several exemptions:

l Clothing with ≥ 20% post consumer recycled material

l Personal protective equipment (PPE) and associated waterproofing agents

l Second-hand goods suitable for continued use

Timeline:  

What this means for you

If you supply cosmetics to Sweden, three actions are key:

l Screen your product against the PFAS limits (25ppb / 250ppb / 50ppm). Where total fluorine exceeds 50ppm, you must demonstrate it does not originate from PFAS.

l Obtain supplier documentation on PFAS content, identify products needing reformulation, and allow time for safety, stability and performance testing – particularly for complex systems.

l Monitor the legislative process. The final text may change before adoption. Note that this is an interim measure; once an EU wide PFAS restriction takes effect under REACH, the Swedish ban will lapse.

Key point to understand: 

EU cosmetic compliance does not automatically satisfy Sweden's proposed PFAS limits. This is a national interim measure ahead of anticipated EU wide rules and with Denmark and France already having adopted similar bans, there is a clear trend of Member States acting before harmonised legislation. We recommend treating PFAS compliance as a distinct workstream in your Nordic and European regulatory planning.

For further information, the full legislative proposal (Promemoria KN2026/01597) is available on the Swedish Government website. Should you require support, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Reference: Sweden - National Ban on PFAS in Certain Consumer Products (Promemoria KN2026/01597, July 2026)

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