EU tightens PFAS limits in drinking water and bans BPA-lined cans

From 13 July 2026 Italy will apply new drinking‑water controls that extend quality checks from the public supply network to the tap in bars, restaurants, schools and hospitals. A national ceiling of 20 ng/L is set for the combined amount of four priority PFAS, based on EFSA assessments. Further steps include stricter rules on materials that contact water by the end of 2026 and mandatory monitoring of the pollutant TFA from January 2027.

From 20 July 2026 the EU will prohibit single‑use cans coated with bisphenol A (BPA) for beer, soft drinks, energy drinks and ready‑to‑drink beverages. The 18‑month transition period ends, and any empty BPA‑coated cans placed on the market before the cutoff may be filled for an additional 12 months, while already‑filled stock can be sold until shelves are cleared. Large containers above 1,000 L are exempt. The ban follows a revised EFSA tolerable daily intake of BPA, now 0.2 ng per kg of body weight per day, reflecting its endocrine‑disrupting and reproductive toxicity.