PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances – which are widely used across industries and in life sciences applications, from cosmetics and food-contact-material to medical devices and pharmaceuticals – have become an increasing focus of regulatory scrutiny across Europe.  In the EU, broad legislative measures aim at restricting the manufacture, placing on the market, and use of PFAS across a wide range of industries, resulting in industry and policy consequences.  In contrast, the United Kingdom is considering more targeted regulatory approaches, signaling a potential divergence from the EU framework.  The life sciences sector is particularly affected by these developments, given its historic reliance on PFAS in discovery, development, manufacturing, packaging, delivery, and safe use of medicines and healthcare products.  These substances are often used for safety and performance reasons, e.g., in diagnostic assays and implantable medical devices, and play a key role in many pharmaceutical manufacturing processes.  While carve-outs are likely to apply for certain uses, a broad legislative measure will undoubtfully have sweeping consequences for the life sciences industry. This blog post examines the evolving European regulatory landscape and considers the implications of forthcoming PFAS restrictions for businesses operating in the life sciences sector in Europe.