DAC Beachcroft, an international law firm known for its work in the insurance, health, real estate and commercial risk sectors, reports that the 2026 timeline for PFAS-related claims and regulation could see significant developments.
Their analysis points to increasing legal risks faced by manufacturers and increased pressure on global regulators to clarify compliance frameworks.
DAC Beachcroft noted that environmental and personal injury claims are expected to surge further as the US, EU and UK tighten controls on PFAS.
Despite technological advances in methods that can break down PFAS compounds, the process remains costly, and those costs may ultimately fall on manufacturers and their insurance companies linked to contamination.
DAC Beachcroft highlights that in the United States, nearly $11 billion in settlements have been reached to resolve one manufacturer’s liability for drinking water contamination and certain environmental claims. The company added that while the first bellwether trial in the AFFF multi-district litigation was recently postponed, it expects additional injury-based litigation to follow in the U.S. and other jurisdictions.
Momentum is also building in Europe, DAC Beachcroft said. In France, several activist groups are preparing claims for residents allegedly harmed by PFAS as a result of chemical and petrochemical activities in the Rhône Valley. In the UK, two major claims firms have begun investigating potential environmental and personal injury claims linked to suspected PFAS contamination in North Yorkshire.
DAC Beachcroft also expects the regulatory environment to become more stringent, although key deadlines may change. In the U.S., tighter drinking water thresholds, industry-specific rules and broader reporting obligations may influence the situation in the year ahead, but the company noted that states will continue to roll out their own measures in the absence of clear federal direction.
Across the EU, member states approved a proposal in April 2025 to ban the use of all PFAS in firefighting foams, subject to phased implementation and sector-specific subsidies, but an exact compliance date has not yet been set. DAC Beachcroft further anticipates that the US Environmental Protection Agency will confirm that the deadline for meeting maximum contaminant levels of PFOA and PFOS in drinking water will be extended from 2029 to 2031.
Additionally, DAC Beachcroft reports that proposed broad PFAS restrictions under REACH will now take longer to be finalized, with the European Chemicals Agency’s scientific review delayed until the end of 2026. Amid all these developments, DAC Beachcroft’s assessment suggests that the year ahead will see more litigation, tougher regulatory requirements and growing focus on chemical manufacturers and supply chains.
