New ‘forever chemical’ limits hit Czech shops: What changes for buyers?

New limits on a group of “forever chemicals” have taken effect in Czechia, covering products ranging from waterproof jackets and footwear to cosmetics and paper food packaging.

The restrictions began applying Oct. 10 under EU chemicals legislation. Czechia’s Industry and Trade Ministry says they target PFHxA, its salts and related substances used in certain consumer goods. Manufacturers and importers must ensure affected products meet strict concentration limits.

For shoppers, this means changes to the chemicals permitted in products entering the market. Waterproof clothing, shoes and cosmetics can still be sold if they comply, while goods placed on the market before the deadline benefit from an exemption. The measure does not require households to throw away existing purchases.

The restriction covers clothing and related accessories for the general public, including rain jackets and handbags, as well as consumer footwear, cosmetics, paper and cardboard food-contact materials and mixtures sold to consumers.

The limits are 25 parts per billion for the combined concentration of PFHxA and its salts, and 1,000 parts per billion for related substances, measured in the relevant homogeneous material.

PFHxA belongs to the much broader PFAS family, widely used for properties such as resistance to water, grease and dirt. The chemicals’ persistence has prompted concern about continued releases and accumulation in the environment. The October restriction addresses a particular subgroup, rather than banning every PFAS substance.

The transition is already visible in Czech outdoor retail. HUDY’s consumer guidance discusses the shift toward water-repellent treatments without PFAS and identifies products carrying “PFAS-free” or “PFC-free” descriptions.

The retailer says fluorine-free surface treatments can deliver comparable performance for ordinary outdoor use. It also emphasizes maintenance—following washing instructions and renewing suitable treatments—to preserve water repellency. Those are the retailer’s product claims, rather than a guarantee covering every garment or use.

Czech researchers are also examining where PFAS end up after manufacture and use.

A review published by researchers at the T. G. Masaryk Water Research Institute documents monitoring in Czech river basins and efforts to improve detection. It reports that PFHxA was among substances detected in surface-water monitoring in the Vltava basin.

The researchers also included the Kopaninský stream near Prague’s Václav Havel Airport in pilot monitoring. Their review discusses previous findings of elevated PFAS concentrations there and identifies the airport as a possible pollution source. Those findings concern environmental water and should not be read as measurements of household tap water.

National monitoring is developing alongside the product restrictions. The State Health Institute says Czech drinking-water monitoring requirements for PFAS began in 2024, ahead of the applicable limit taking effect in 2026.

For Czech businesses, the immediate task is checking affected materials, formulations and supplier documentation against the new rules. For consumers, the practical change is more gradual: compliant products and older exempt stock may coexist on shelves, so the deadline alone does not mean every item on sale is PFAS-free.