11 June 2026, EU: The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has officially classified trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) as toxic to reproduction (Category 1B), concluding it “may damage the unborn child” and is “suspected of damaging fertility” [1]. PAN Europe urges European authorities to act immediately and ban all PFAS pesticides that release TFA into the environment.
TFA is a persistent PFAS – a ‘forever chemical’ – and the most widespread PFAS contaminant in Europe’s water resources, food and environment. It is also a direct breakdown product of almost all PFAS pesticides. ECHA’s conclusion on TFA’s toxicity confirms what scientists and civil society have warned over the past two years: TFA is a planetary boundary threat and binding actions to reduce emissions are urgent [2].
“The announced decision confirms what we have been warning since 2023: TFA is not a harmless PFAS metabolite. It can be toxic to humans and the harm is greatest during life’s most vulnerable periods- pregnancy and early childhood,” said Dr Angeliki Lysimachou, Head of Science and Policy at PAN Europe
The classification follows a comprehensive scientific assessment presented at the 77th meeting of the ECHA’s Risk Assessment Committee (RAC) last week regarding the proposal for hazard classification of TFA [3]. RAC’s conclusions are based on evidence showing developmental harm in offspring of laboratory animals following prenatal TFA exposure: eye and skeletal malformations in rabbits; immune system and thyroid effects in rats; indications of effects on sperm quality. RAC also classified TFA as mobile, persistent and toxic, a serious hazard for the environment.
PAN Europe attended the RAC discussions as an observer and commends the experts for their rigorous assessment.
“We applaud the RAC committee for its rigorous, objective and independent assessment. The evidence was carefully examined and the scientific justification was of the highest standard, as it should be in such an important committee,” said Dr Peter Clausing, senior toxicologist from PAN Germany, who attended the RAC discussions alongside PAN Europe.
The outcome validates PAN Europe’s own scientific work, which scrutinised the same animal studies and reached similar conclusions. In its report Manufacturing Doubt, PAN Europe criticises how the industry had systematically downplayed these findings [4]. The RAC’s rejection of the industry’s position is very welcome.
PAN Europe and its network have repeatedly documented the widespread TFA contamination across Europe, linked to PFAS pesticide use, detecting the substance in rivers, groundwater, drinking water, mineral water, wine and food products, with concentrations continuing to rise [5].
EFSA is currently assessing a health-based guidance value for safe TFA exposure levels – a process PAN Europe’s network has criticised as insufficiently protective [6]. But no safe threshold can substitute for stopping contamination at source: at current rates of increase, exposure will reach harmful levels regardless of where the limit is set.
The classification has direct regulatory implications. Under EU pesticide legislation, substances that contaminate groundwater with metabolites of toxicological concern cannot remain authorised nor be re-approved.
“The toxicity of TFA is now beyond dispute. Every year of delay means more pollution that future generations will have to live with. The pesticides law is clear: Policymakers at EU and Member State level are now legally obliged to ban all PFAS pesticides and TFA-emitting substances – without delay,” said Salomé Roynel, Policy Officer at PAN Europe.
Contact:
Angeliki Lysimachou, Head of Science and Policy, angeliki@pan-europe.info, +32 496 392930
[1] Link to RAC 77 minutes, Consensus on TFA opinion on the harmonised
Classification for TFA p.5-6 https://echa.europa.eu/documents/d/guest/rac77_final_minutes_en(link is external)
[2] Arp HPH et al. 2024 The Global Threat from the Irreversible Accumulation of Trifluoroacetic Acid (TFA). Environ Sci Technol. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.4c06189(link is external)
PAN Europe position paper “Banning PFAS pesticides and other sources of TFA”
[3] ECHA publishes proposal to classify TFA as reprotoxic – PAN Europe asks for urgent ban of all PFAS pesticides (May 2025) https://www.pan-europe.info/press-releases/2025/05/echa-publishes-propos…
[4] PAN Europe, 2025. Manufacturing Doubt: How Industry Downplays TFA’s Toxicity
[5] For PAN Europe reports on “PFAS and TFA” visit https://www.pan-europe.info/campaigns/ban-pfas-pesticides-and-tfa
[6] PAN EUrope, 2025. Unseen and Unregulated: TFA, the ‘forever chemical’ in Europe’s Cereals
Global Agriculture is an independent international media platform covering agri-business, policy, technology, and sustainability. For editorial collaborations, thought leadership, and strategic communications, write to pr@global-agriculture.com
