The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced an 8-month delay in the mandated reporting of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The adjustment aims to address the complex administrative burden for businesses and regulators.
Initially, under a rule finalized last year, manufacturers and importers of PFAS since 2011 were required to begin reporting on November 12, 2024, with most companies expected to complete submissions by May 8, 2025. The EPA now plans to open the submission period on July 11, 2025, closing it for most companies on January 11, 2026.
This change was published in the Federal Register on September 5. The EPA cited delays in developing and testing the software application necessary for collecting information from thousands of companies as a reason for the postponement.
“The proposed revision of the submission period would facilitate compliance with the rule and help ensure that the collection includes accurate data on manufactured PFAS in the United States,” stated the EPA notice in the Federal Register.
When initially published in 2023, the EPA estimated that industry would need approximately 129,000 hours to gather necessary information at a cost of $800 million. The cost to EPA was projected at an additional $1.6 million.
The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) commented this week that this decision highlights the significant burden placed on both manufacturers and regulators due to retroactive reporting requirements spanning over a decade.
“We are pleased to see the EPA delay this retroactive reporting requirement—as NAM has called for—which will temporarily prevent an increase in regulatory burden facing manufacturers,” said Chris Phalen, NAM Vice President of Domestic Policy.
Phalen added: “More broadly, today’s announcement reflects the massive administrative burden this proposal would impose on both the business community and regulators while failing to provide insights for effective and prioritized public health efforts. We urge the agency to reverse course entirely unless and until it has the capacity to effectively enforce the standard.”
The EPA clarified that no changes are being proposed regarding the scope of reporting requirements mandated by its Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) regulations—only adjustments to submission dates.
PFAS are synthetic chemicals used extensively since their introduction in industry and consumer products during the 1940s. These substances are found across various products including firefighting foams, textiles, electronics, cooking ware, automotive products, toys, transportation equipment, and musical instruments.
