Agenda | PFAS Summit Europe
Day 1 — Main Conference May 14, 2025
7:30 am
Continental Networking Breakfast and Registration
8:45 am
Co-Chairs’ Welcome Remarks
Claudio Mereu, Partner, Bird & Bird LLP (Belgium)
9:00 am
PANEL
PFAS and the EU’s Green Deal – Navigating Towards Climate Neutrality by 2025
Dr. Marc Ruttloff, Partner, Gleiss Lutz
Martin Ahlhaus, Partner, Produkt Kanzlei
Setting the stage for upcoming discussions, we will look at the role of PFAS regulations within the EU’s Green Deal framework and its ambitious climate neutrality targets. We will delve into the alignment of environmental and economic goals, the anticipated impact on industries, and the regulatory measures pushing for sustainable alternatives to PFAS by 2025.
The panel will also examine several regulatory measures already put into place to ensure carbon neutrality and ban PFAS chemicals, including the Plastics Packaging and Waste Regulation, Food Packaging Regulations, Essential Use, and Greenwashing directive.
9:45 am
PANEL
The Future of the Proposed PFAS Restriction Dossier: New EU Policy Shifts and Regulatory Impacts
Ales Bartl, Ph.D, Partner, Keller & Heckman LLP (Belgium)
Kirsten Metz, Senior Manager Chemicals and Environmental Policy | Vice-Chair of Orgalim Chemicals Task Force, ZVEI
Pavel Glukhov, Partner, EU Focus Group
- Update on ECHA’s latest REACH proposal, including the potential full ban, sector-specific derogations, and ongoing public consultations shaping future decisions
- Examining the EU’s efforts to align environmental and economic goals under the Green Deal
- Understanding how the post-election political landscape could shift PFAS regulation
- Emphasizing the need for science-based PFAS regulation while addressing socio-economic challenges of transitioning away from PFAS
10:30 am
Morning Networking Coffee Break
11:00 am
PANEL
Seeking and Understanding Derogations for PFAS, under ECHA’s Proposal and Member State Provisions
Claudio Mereu, Partner, Bird & Bird LLP (Belgium)
Cándido García Molyneux, Of Counsel, Covington & Burling LLP (Belgium)
Olivier Brault, President, Federation of the European Cookware, Cutlery and Housewares Industries (FEC)
- Understanding what derogations for PFAS entail, looking at the specific criteria and circumstances under which derogations are granted at the EU and Member State levels
- Examining the scope and value of derogations granted by member states
- Analyzing how different sectors – such as electronics, life sciences, and construction products – will be affected by the possibility of not obtaining derogations for PFAS use
- Speculating on the potential changes to derogation policies as new scientific data emerges and as public perception of PFAS evolves
11:45 am
Fireside Chat with Member States and Dossier Submitter Representatives: Insights from Germany and The Netherlands
Dr Frauke Averbeck, Scientific Officer, Federal Office for Chemicals, Germany
Thijs de Kort, Deputy Head of Bureau REACH, RIVM (National Institute for Public Health and the Environment)
Moderator: Preslava Dilkova, Partner, Jones Day (Belgium)
12:15 pm
Networking Lunch
1:15 pm
CROSS-INDUSTRY ROUNDTABLE
Lessons from Key Sectors on PFAS Ban Preparedness
René Schröder, Director General, European Semiconductor Industry Association (ESIA)
Arthur Vandenberghe, Sustainability Policy Officer, FIM and Chair, Orgalim
Cindy Vandecasteele, Senior Environmental Policy Manager, European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA)
Join thought leaders from diverse industries, semiconductors to automotive and electronics—to understand how they are managing the impact of ECHA’s PFAS ban proposal. We’ll review compliance concerns and the legal and regulatory challenges of finding viable alternatives.
- Examining cross-industry perspectives on how different sectors are being affected by PFAS restrictions and what are they doing to adapt:
- Automotive
- Electronic
- Semiconductors
- Exploring the impact of PFAS restrictions in industries like electronics and refrigeration, which have also been affected by the complexities of the FGAS regulation
2:00 pm
Fireside Chat
Kristin Schreiber, Director, European Commission, DG GROW
Moderator: Ruxandra Cana, Partner, Steptoe LLP (Belgium)
3:00 pm
PANEL
Fluoropolymers in Focus: A Case Study on Industry Applications, Regulatory Frameworks, and Compliance Challenges
Bruno Ameduri, Director of Research, National Center for Scientific Research, Charles Gerhardt Institute
Paul Blondeau, Representative, The Fluoropolymers Product Group
Jonathan Pantanowitz, EMEA Commercial Director Advanced Performance Materials, The Chemours Company
Moderator: Ales Bartl, Ph.D, Partner, Keller & Heckman LLP (Belgium)
- Understanding how fluoropolymers are regulated across key global regions, focusing on their safety profile during the use phase
- Clarifying the differences between fluoropolymers and other PFAS substances
- Developing strategies for effectively communicating scientific data and the importance of fluoropolymers in critical industries in an evolving legal and regulatory framework
- Assessing the impact of major European producers’ withdrawal from fluoropolymer production, including the 2025 pending closure of Bavaria’s only fluoropolymers recycling plant
4:00 pm
PANEL
The PFAS Puzzle: Innovation, Substitution, Essential Use, and the Road Ahead
Elisa Consoli, REACH & Chemicals Manager, Aerospace, Security and Defence Industries Association of Europe (ASD)
Jonathan Crozier, Head of Chemicals Policy & Environment Policy, BASF Europe
Pierre Germain, Technical and Regulatory Affairs Manager, European Association of Chemical Distributors (Fecc)
Patricia Muñoz, FluoroProducts and PFAS for Europe (FPP4EU), Sector Group Manager, Cefic
Moderator: Claudio Mereu, Partner, Bird & Bird LLP (Belgium)
- Understanding the difficulties in replacing PFAS for high-performance uses, particularly in industries like automotive and electronics
- Defining what makes an alternative truly viable and determining who decides if a substitution is beneficial or harmful
- Understanding the essential use concept in determining when PFAS can be phased out, focusing on applications critical to health, safety, or the environment
- Discussing the importance of essential use guidelines for industries as they assess the necessity of PFAS in certain applications and explore alternatives
- Evaluating where industries stand on PFAS substitutes and how innovation might evolve over the next 10-20 years with potential tighter regulations
- With PFAS under scrutiny in both PPWR and REACH, how are packaging companies assessing PFAS alternatives, to prevent “regrettable substitution”?
5:00 pm
Closing Remarks – Conference Adjourns
Day 2 — Main Conference May 15, 2025
7:30 am
Continental Networking Breakfast and Registration
8:15 am
Co-Chairs’ Opening Remarks and Recap of Day One
Pavlina Chopova-Leprêtre, Partner, Mayer Brown Europe-Brussels LLP
8:30 am
Roundtable Discussions
Select your table of choice to benefit from smaller-group benchmarking and discussion. Compare notes with your industry peers on the latest best practices and expand your network. Each table will be led by industry leaders.
- What Does a ‘Reasonable Transition Period’ Look Like for Different Sectors?
- Anticipating Compliance Pitfalls in the PFAS Restriction Dossier
9:30 am
International Perspectives on PFAS Regulation: U.S., UK, Australia Approaches
Caroline May, Partner, Norton Rose (UK)
Join our panelists for an in-depth comparative analysis of PFAS regulation across key jurisdictions, including the U.S., UK, and Australia. We will explore lessons learned from the U.S., including recent legal developments, and UK’s distinct approach to PFAS.
- Exploring how these jurisdictions are addressing PFAS bans/restrictions
- Analyzing recent legal developments in the U.S. and what Europe can learn from these approaches
- How will the second Trump Administration address PFAS under new EPA leadership
- Understanding how the UK is charting its own course with PFAS regulations
- Discussing similarities and opportunities for global cooperation in PFAS regulation, and how different regions can learn from each other’s successes and challenges
10:15 am
Morning Networking Break
FOCUS ON LITIGATION
10:45 am
Decoding PFAS Challenges: Environmental and Socio-Economic Insights and Future Directions
David Carlander, Director, PhD, Chemicals, RPA (Risk and Policy Analysts)
Dirk Nuyens, Senior Partner & Global Account Director, ERM
- Socio-economic impacts of a PFAS restriction on companies, the supply chain and Member States
Regulatory and Remedial Challenges:
- Europe is experiencing a significant increase in PFAS-related issues, prompting evolving regulatory frameworks at both country and EU levels
- Remediation of PFAS-contaminated water and soils is complex and depends on the specific PFAS compounds present
Case Study – Belgium:
- A significant case involved a PFAS manufacturing site in Belgium, which required extensive environmental assessments and risk evaluations over a large area
Economic and Environmental Impact:
- Managing PFAS environmental liabilities will be costly, with significant societal and economic impacts
- Sustainable and proportional management of PFAS legacy is essential, including cost-effective remedial solutions and addressing risks to the circular economy
11:30 am
Navigating the Road Ahead: Emerging PFAS Litigation in Europe, Class Actions and Third-Party Funding and Corporate Liability
Ruxandra Cana, Partner, Steptoe LLP (Belgium)
Nathalie Smyth, Partner, Jones Day
This session will delve into the rapidly evolving PFAS litigation landscape across Europe with a focus on how plaintiffs’ counsel and third-party litigation funders are increasingly targeting environmental claims.
With only a few cases historically brought forward, Europe is now seeing an uptick in legal actions as funders recognize the potential for significant payouts in environmental liability cases. There are also concerns as to how the EU’s new Products Liability directive may affect PFAS litigation and how existing class action mechanisms may be used.
Panelists will discuss proactive measures businesses can take to mitigate risk, especially as new obligations under the EU’s due diligence regulations require transparency around PFAS usage and environmental impact disclosures.
12:15 pm
Networking Lunch
1:15 pm
Scientific Insights into PFAS Detection, Risk, and Environmental Impact
Stefano Scomparin, Senior Regulatory Affairs Specialist, Mérieux NutriSciences
Frank P. M. Karg, President, HPC INTERNATIONAL SAS/France Scientific Director, Groupe HPG AG International
Hear from our speakers on the latest scientific advancements in detecting and understanding PFAS, focusing on their varying hazard levels. Join us and appreciate the importance of having a nuanced approach as opposed to one-size-fits-all bans.
- Environmental behavior of PFAS and Bio-transformations
- PFAS Source identification & Differentiation in large Contamination Plumes via MVA-AI: Multi Vector Analysis based on Artificial Intelligence
- TERQ: Toxicological Exposure Risk Quantification for Cumulative PFAS Health Risk Assessments and Definition of Site-Specific Remediation Goals, including volatile PFAS (as FTOHs, etc.)
- Overview of Remediation Technologies with focus on in-situ PFAS Treatments in Soil and Groundwater, for ex. by use of Biopolymer Proteins
2:00 pm
Anticipating The Future Outlook of The EU PFAS REACH Restriction Proposal
Thomas Delille, Partner, Squire Patton Boggs
Preslava Dilkova, Partner, Jones Day (Belgium)
This session will explore how the EU PFAS restriction proposal will be considered in the course of the Commission’s new mandate manifested by a shift of approach from a Green Deal focus to boosting competitiveness and simplification.
- Explaining in a broad-brush way how the current change in the policy objectives of the Commission may affect the future of the broad PFAS restriction, as well as other potential new initiatives; highlighting the importance of the present momentum for companies, following a period of intense regulatory activity
- Addressing the views of key stakeholders in the Council (including individual Member States), and main political groups in the European Parliament in consideration of the visible shifts in dynamics within the two institutions
- Presenting the views of the newly designated Commission in relation to the broader axis of the EU chemicals legislation, i.e., the possible implications of the ongoing REACH revision and the intention of the Commission to provide “clarity” in relation to PFAS as announced in Ursula von der Leyen’s Political Guidelines;
- Discussing whether the REACH reform has not actually already been introduced through the “back door” of the REACH PFAS restriction proposal
