IN Brief:
- The new PFAS Certification Mark is based on the organisation’s PPP/TRF 25207 testing programme.
- Assessment combines total fluorine screening with targeted analysis of selected PFAS and ongoing manufacturing checks.
- Results apply to specified samples, substances and reporting limits; certification is not a blanket guarantee that all PFAS are absent.
TÜV SÜD has introduced a certification programme for products tested for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), including food-contact materials and packaging. Its PFAS Certification Mark is based on laboratory analysis and continuing production surveillance, rather than an isolated test of one finished sample. The scheme is intended to provide verifiable support for defined chemical-related product claims as restrictions and testing requirements vary between markets. It does not constitute a general declaration that a material is free from every member of the PFAS family.
The certification programme, identified as PPP/TRF 25207, combines total-fluorine screening with targeted tests for selected PFAS. TÜV SÜD evaluates the results against its defined certification requirements and specifies that conclusions apply to the samples or components actually examined. The list of target substances, analytical methods and reporting limits determine the scope of the result. Because the public announcement does not publish a complete analyte list or numerical limits, a certificate must be read alongside its particular testing documentation rather than as an unrestricted substance-free claim.
That distinction is central to food-contact packaging, where fluorinated chemistry has been used in some applications because of resistance to water, oils and grease. PFAS is a broad family of substances, rather than a single ingredient that can be measured through one universal test. A targeted method can look for defined individual compounds, while a fluorine measurement provides a broader screening signal. Total fluorine alone does not establish which chemicals are present or whether a detected amount originates from a particular PFAS.
A laboratory result is also tied to the sample that entered the test. Packaging products may include substrates, barrier layers, inks, adhesives and other components with different chemical compositions. A converter changing a coating supplier or modifying an adhesive formulation could alter the substance profile of the finished package. Under the new programme, production surveillance becomes part of the basis for certification, making changes in materials and manufacturing controls relevant after the initial assessment has been completed.
Ongoing manufacturing surveillance is a condition of the mark. TÜV SÜD says that the assessment therefore extends beyond one-off laboratory examination to regular checks or monitoring of production. This creates a route for comparing an inspected product with the processes and material inputs used to make subsequent batches. The announcement does not identify an inaugural certified food-packaging product or specify an identical sampling frequency for every product category. Changes to coating, adhesive or substrate sourcing may still require further evaluation against the conditions of the certificate.
Regulatory duties remain separate from the voluntary mark. Regulation (EU) 2025/40 on packaging and packaging waste restricts PFAS in food-contact packaging, while additional obligations can arise under REACH and the EU rules on persistent organic pollutants. TÜV SÜD’s existing food-contact certification information refers to these frameworks, but compliance depends on the material, its intended use and the applicable legal criteria. A test mark awarded under a specified programme cannot replace the supplier’s assessment of the complete packaging article against the rules governing its target market.
Manufacturers procuring film, cartons, coated paper or other food-contact articles generally need to establish the composition and suitability of the parts that can contact food. Screening data may identify material requiring more detailed targeted testing, while technical documentation can link a result to a particular grade, source and manufacturing location. The new scheme creates a possible independent verification route for certain PFAS-related product claims, but it does not replace migration testing, general food-contact compliance work or validation of the article under its intended conditions of use.
The changing chemistry of materials further complicates assessment. A paper or board package may need a barrier to control grease transfer, while a polymer film can depend on surface treatments or processing additives for performance. Replacing a restricted chemistry therefore has to be evaluated against sealability, mechanical integrity, shelf life and food-contact safety. The new certificate measures and monitors a defined chemical attribute; it does not certify that an alternative package matches its predecessor in barrier properties or operational performance on a packing line.
The new scheme is available for several product groups, including textiles, household goods, personal protective equipment, electrical products, food-contact materials and packaging. TÜV SÜD’s laboratories offer targeted testing and fluorine screening, alongside investigations where results suggest a possible source of contamination. The range of eligible materials makes the certification report particularly important: the substances assessed and detection or reporting limits may differ with product construction and the applicable scheme requirements. An unqualified statement that a material has been ‘PFAS tested’ supplies less information than the actual analytical scope.
Only authorised holders can use the relevant certification mark on products covered by the approval. TÜV SÜD’s guidance governs display of its marks, and the launch of a testing programme does not give unrelated packaging producers permission to reproduce the symbol. Suppliers adopting the service will still need to link test reports to individual material grades and maintain documentation when formulations or production inputs change. The independent assessment provides evidence about a defined set of chemical tests and production controls; legal food-contact compliance and packaging performance require their own supporting evidence.
