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Expandly Blog

EU PFAS Restrictions in Cosmetics Go Full Force on 10 October

The transitional arrangement under EU REACH expires. Cosmetics containing restricted PFAS compounds cannot enter the EU market after that date. US beauty brands need a formulation audit completed before Q4.

In This Article

01What the REACH PFAS transitional period covers
02Which cosmetic categories carry the most risk
03REACH vs Cosmetics Regulation — two frameworks
04Stock in circulation vs new production rules
05Completing the Q3 formulation audit

Key Takeaways

►PFAS transitional period in cosmetics ends 10 October
►Restricted PFAS products cannot enter EU market after that
►REACH applies separately from cosmetics regulation
►Formulation audit needed before Q4 EU shipments

The EU REACH transitional period covering PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in cosmetics expires on 10 October 2026. After that date, any cosmetic containing restricted PFAS compounds cannot legally be placed on the EU market. US beauty brands with active EU sales or planned EU launches need a PFAS formulation audit completed before Q4.

10 Oct 2026 PFAS transitional period in cosmetics expires under EU REACH — restricted compounds cannot enter the EU market from this date (Source: REACH24H)

PFAS restrictions in cosmetics sit under EU REACH, a chemical safety regulation that applies separately from EU Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009. The same product may be subject to both frameworks simultaneously. The transitional arrangement gave manufacturers time to reformulate or source PFAS-free alternatives. That window closes 10 October, making this the third autumn beauty compliance deadline after INCI (30 July) and allergens (31 July).

Products already on the EU market before 10 October can continue to sell through existing stock. No new production containing restricted PFAS may enter the EU after the deadline. For brands with active EU inventory and Q4 shipments planned, this is a hard manufacturing gate: any production run shipped to the EU after October 10 must be PFAS-free for any affected formulations.

The highest-risk categories are those where PFAS-containing ingredients are common: certain sunscreen formulations, waterproofing treatments, and long-wear cosmetics. A formulation review against the EU REACH restricted substances list, cross-referenced with the brand's current EU product range, is the audit step required before Q4 shipments are finalized. This is a separate list and a different exercise from the INCI or allergen checks, even though the products affected may be the same.

  • EU REACH transitional arrangement for PFAS in cosmetics expires 10 October 2026
  • Cosmetics containing restricted PFAS compounds cannot be placed on the EU market after that date
  • REACH is a separate regulatory framework from EU Cosmetics Regulation — both may apply to the same product
  • US brands should audit formulations against the EU REACH restricted substances list before finalizing Q4 EU shipments

Three beauty compliance deadlines, three different regulatory frameworks. July 30, July 31, October 10. Each requires a separate audit against a different list — and all three apply to brands selling cosmetics in the EU.

Expandly helps US ecommerce brands expand into Europe — compliance, marketplaces and fulfilment, all handled. We’ve supported 2,000+ brands make the move.

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  • Product label review and Responsible Person service for EU and UK market entry

The bigger picture

EU beauty compliance in 2026 runs across three separate frameworks

EU cosmetics compliance is not a single checklist. INCI nomenclature sits under Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009. Allergen declarations sit under the same regulation but a separate amendment. PFAS restrictions sit under EU REACH. Each requires a different audit, against a different restricted list, under different enforcement. For US brands entering the EU market, understanding that these are parallel frameworks — not a single EU cosmetics compliance process — is the prerequisite for getting the compliance setup right. Building all three into a single pre-launch review is the most efficient approach.

  • Identify any PFAS-containing ingredients in your EU or planned EU product range and cross-reference against the EU REACH restricted substances list before October 10
  • Run the PFAS audit in parallel with the INCI and allergen reviews — the same SKUs are affected by all three, even though the frameworks are separate
  • If you have Q4 EU production planned, build October 10 into your manufacturing timeline as a hard compliance gate — no restricted PFAS may enter the EU after that date

PFAS Transitional Period Expires

EU REACH transitional arrangement covering PFAS in cosmetics — after this date, products with restricted PFAS cannot be placed on the EU market

10 Oct 2026

Source: REACH24H

Autumn EU Beauty Deadlines

Three distinct obligations across three regulatory frameworks: INCI (30 Jul), Allergens (31 Jul), REACH PFAS (10 Oct)

3 deadlines

Source: EU Official Journal / REACH24H / Cosmeservice

EU Responsible Person, Included

Cosmetics, supplements and electronics sold in the EU require a designated Responsible Person. Expandly provides this designation as part of your compliance setup, with no separate service or third party required.

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brands expanded with Expandly

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