Regulation ChangeLiveLive RegulationSubstance Addition
New Zealand completes PFAS phase-out in firefighting foams
PFAS New ZealandEnvironmental Protection Authority (EPA)New Zealand
Announced
Dec 3, 2025
Effective
Dec 3, 2025
Implementation
Dec 3, 2025
Description
The New Zealand EPA has implemented a complete phase-out of PFAS-containing firefighting foams under the Fire Fighting Chemicals Group Standard. From 3 December 2025, all PFAS-containing firefighting foams are prohibited, including both legacy C8 and modern C6 fluorotelomer foams. The regulation requires thorough cleaning of all firefighting systems to remove PFAS residues, safe disposal of all PFAS-containing foam products and wastes, and proper labeling requirements. Any use after the phase-out date requires EPA permission on a case-by-case basis.
Sources
Key Findings
New Zealand completes PFAS phase-out in firefighting foams
d of five years. • Proposal 5: Cleaning. Require thorough cleaning of all fire fighting systems so as to remove, as far as reasonably practicable, any residual PFAS compounds when transitioning to a non-fluorinated fire fighting foam product. • Proposal 6: Disposal. Require that all fire fighting foam products containing PFAS compounds and all PFAS containing wastes (e.g. firewater, wastewater, run-off, foam, and oth
New Zealand completes PFAS phase-out in firefighting foams
ed in situations where discharge to the environment can be contained, such as fires at sealed fuel tanks ## Legal basis [...] ## Case Study of Violation In New Zealand, Channel Infrastructure NZ (formerly New Zealand Petroleum Refining Company) illegally used foam extinguishing agents for training at its Marsden Point oil refinery seven times between May and June 2021. The NZ Environmental Protection Agency filed sev