Total Fluorine Screening, Targeted LC-MS/MS Analysis & EU Food-Contact Packaging Compliance Testing

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) — the so-called “forever chemicals” — are moving from an emerging environmental concern to a binding compliance requirement across packaging, textiles, cosmetics, and industrial polymer products. In the European Union, the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR, Regulation (EU) 2025/40) prohibits PFAS above strict concentration limits in food-contact packaging from 12 August 2026, with no grandfathering for stock already produced. A broader, class-based restriction of PFAS under REACH Annex XVII is also advancing through ECHA’s scientific committees, signalling that PFAS scrutiny will only intensify. As one of the leading PFAS testing laboratories in UAE, METS Lab provides high-precision total fluorine screening and targeted PFAS quantification to help manufacturers, exporters, and brand owners verify compliance before products reach the EU, GCC, or other regulated markets. Our ISO/IEC 17025:2017-accredited laboratory combines combustion ion chromatography (CIC) screening with LC-MS/MS confirmatory analysis to deliver accurate results. We deliver detailed, data-driven reports necessary for regulatory submissions, supplier declarations, PFAS-related claims substantiation, and supply chain due diligence across packaging, textiles, water, soil, and consumer product matrices.

Our Core PFAS Testing Services Include

• Total Fluorine (TF) & Total Organic Fluorine (TOF) Screening
• Targeted PFAS Analysis by LC-MS/MS (individual & sum-of-PFAS quantification)
• PFAS in Food Contact Packaging & Polymer Films (PPWR Compliance Testing)
• PFAS in Textiles, Leather, Cosmetics & Consumer Products
• PFAS in Drinking Water, Wastewater & Environmental Samples
• PFAS in Soil, Sludge & Solid Waste

Why PFAS Testing is Important?

Total Fluorine & Total Organic Fluorine (TOF) Screening

Total fluorine screening is the fastest and most cost-effective first step in a PFAS testing programme. By combusting a sample and measuring fluoride ion output via ion chromatography, we can rapidly flag whether a material warrants further, more expensive targeted analysis. This stepwise approach mirrors the European Commission’s own draft guidance under the PPWR, which recommends screening for total fluorine before committing to full targeted PFAS quantification. As a leading PFAS testing laboratory in UAE, METS Lab performs TF and TOF screening in accordance with the following standards:

• Determination of extractable organic fluorine (EOF) in liquid samples by combustion — EN 14582
• Standard Test Method for Total Fluorine, Chlorine and Sulfur in Aromatic and Aliphatic Materials by Oxidative Pyrohydrolytic Combustion — ASTM D7359

Targeted PFAS Analysis by LC-MS/MS

Where total fluorine screening indicates elevated fluorine content, or where a client requires quantitative, substance-specific data for regulatory submission, METS Lab performs targeted PFAS analysis by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). This method identifies and quantifies individual PFAS compounds — including PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, PFNA, and GenX substances — down to trace (ppt/ppb) levels. Our targeted PFAS testing is conducted in accordance with the following standards:

• Determination of Selected Per- and Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances in Drinking Water by SPE and LC-MS/MS — US EPA Method 537.1 / US EPA Method 533
• Analysis of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Aqueous, Solid, Biosolid, and Tissue Samples by LC-MS/MS — US EPA Method 1633
• Water quality — Determination of perfluoroalkyl substances using SPE and LC-MS/MS — ISO 21675
• Water quality — Determination of PFOS and PFOA for unfiltered samples using SPE and LC/MS — ISO 25101
• Determination of Polyfluorinated Compounds in Soil by LC/MS/MS — ASTM D7968
• Determination of PFAS in Water, Sludge, Influent, Effluent and Wastewater by LC/MS/MS — ASTM D7979

PFAS in Food Contact Packaging & Polymer Films — PPWR Compliance

From 12 August 2026, the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) prohibits the placing on the market of food-contact packaging containing PFAS at or above defined concentration thresholds — a binding, EU-wide regulation with no sell-through period for existing stock. For manufacturers of flexible films, laminates, moulded plastic packaging, and paper/board food-contact products exporting to the EU, PFAS testing has moved from a voluntary due-diligence exercise to a market-access requirement. METS Lab supports PPWR compliance testing against the three defined concentration limits, alongside general food-contact material compliance under the EU framework regulations.

• Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation — PFAS restriction, Article 5 — Regulation (EU) 2025/40
• General food contact materials safety framework — Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004
• Plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with food — Regulation (EU) No 10/2011
• Determination of PFOS in paper and board intended for food contact — CEN/TS 15968

PFAS in Textiles, Leather, Cosmetics & Consumer Products

PFAS have historically been used to impart water, oil, and stain repellency to textiles, leather goods, and personal care formulations. With EU member states, retailers, and international brand restricted substances lists (RSLs) tightening PFAS limits, manufacturers need reliable total fluorine screening and targeted confirmatory testing to substantiate PFAS-free or PFAS-reduced claims. METS Lab performs textile, leather, and consumer product PFAS testing in accordance with the following standards:

• Textiles and textile products — Organic fluorine — Non-volatile compounds by LC-MS/MS — EN 17681-1
• Textiles and textile products — Organic fluorine — Volatile compounds by GC-MS — EN 17681-2
• Leather — Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — Determination of non-volatile compounds by LC — ISO 23702-1

PFAS in Drinking Water, Wastewater, Soil & Environmental Samples

PFAS contamination in water and soil is subject to increasingly stringent limits under the EU Drinking Water Directive, national environmental regulations, and industrial discharge permits. METS Lab provides environmental PFAS testing to support compliance monitoring, site investigation, and industrial wastewater discharge programmes, using the LC-MS/MS methods referenced above (US EPA 537.1/533/1633, ISO 21675, ISO 25101, ASTM D7968/D7979).

Key Parameters in PFAS Testing

METS Lab provides comprehensive PFAS analysis across all major test categories. As a leading PFAS testing laboratory in UAE, we combine combustion ion chromatography screening with LC-MS/MS confirmatory analysis, strictly following EN, ISO, ASTM, and US EPA standards to deliver precise, defensible data for regulatory compliance, supplier verification, and product claims. Total Fluorine / TOF Screening

Parameter	Key Standards
Total Fluorine (TF), mg/kg	EN 14582 / ASTM D7359
Total Organic Fluorine (TOF), mg/kg	Combustion IC (CIC) — screening
Total Fluorine — Food Contact Packaging Screen	PPWR (EU) 2025/40 stepwise guidance

Targeted PFAS Analysis by LC-MS/MS

Parameter	Key Standards
PFAS in Drinking Water	US EPA 537.1 / US EPA 533 / ISO 21675
PFAS in Water, Sludge & Wastewater	US EPA 1633 / ASTM D7979 / DIN EN 17892
PFOS / PFOA in Water	ISO 25101
PFAS in Soil & Solids	ASTM D7968 / US EPA 1633

Food Contact Packaging — PPWR Thresholds

Parameter	Regulatory Reference
Individual PFAS (targeted, excl. polymeric)	PPWR Article 5 — 25 ppb
Sum of Targeted PFAS (excl. polymeric)	PPWR Article 5 — 250 ppb
Total Fluorine / Total PFAS (incl. polymeric)	PPWR Article 5 — 50 ppm
Food Contact Compliance (general)	EC 1935/2004 / EU 10/2011

Textiles, Leather & Paper Products

Parameter	Key Standards
Total Fluorine in Textiles	EN 14582 / ASTM D7359
Non-Volatile PFAS in Textiles (LC-MS/MS)	EN 17681-1
Volatile PFAS in Textiles (GC-MS)	EN 17681-2
PFAS in Leather	ISO 23702-1
PFOS in Paper & Board (Food Contact)	CEN/TS 15968

Industries We Serve

Our facility provides specialised PFAS analysis across a wide range of sectors. By ensuring compliance with international standards, we help partners validate product formulations, substantiate PFAS-related claims, and meet regulatory requirements ahead of tightening deadlines. We regularly serve the following industries for PFAS testing services:

• Food & Beverage Packaging Manufacturers
• Flexible Packaging & Laminate Producers
• Textile, Apparel & Footwear Manufacturers
• Leather Goods & Tannery Operations
• Cosmetics & Personal Care Product Manufacturers
• Polymer, Plastics & Coatings Producers
• Water Utilities & Environmental Consultancies
• Industrial Manufacturers Exporting to the EU & GCC

Why Choose METS Lab?

With extensive experience in the region’s industrial and regulatory landscape, Middle East Testing Services (METS Lab) is a leading PFAS testing laboratory in UAE. We combine technical expertise with advanced analytical infrastructure to deliver reliable results that support your regulatory compliance, export readiness, and product claims:

Comprehensive Reporting:

Our detailed reports include total fluorine and TOF results, targeted PFAS quantification against individual and sum-of-PFAS thresholds, and clear pass/fail assessment against the applicable regulation (e.g. PPWR Article 5 limits), supporting product certification and regulatory submissions.

Expert Technical Team:

Our scientists are experienced in interpreting complex PFAS data and can provide tailored guidance on test strategy — from stepwise total fluorine screening through to full targeted LC-MS/MS confirmation — appropriate to your product, market, and budget.

FAQ Section

Is PFAS testing a new EU regulation for polymer products?

Not entirely new, but rapidly expanding. PFAS have long been regulated in the EU through the POPs Regulation (which already restricts specific substances such as PFOA and PFOS) and, more recently, an Annex XVII restriction on PFAS in firefighting foams. What is new and most time-critical for polymer and packaging manufacturers is the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR, Regulation (EU) 2025/40), which introduces binding PFAS concentration limits for food-contact packaging from 12 August 2026. Separately, a much broader, class-based restriction covering over 10,000 PFAS substances across nearly all sectors is progressing through ECHA’s REACH restriction process, with a final Annex XVII entry not expected before 2027 at the earliest. In short: some PFAS rules are already in force, the packaging-specific rule is imminent, and a sweeping cross-sector restriction is still being finalised.

What PFAS concentration limits apply to food-contact packaging under the PPWR?

From 12 August 2026, food-contact packaging placed on the EU market must not exceed 25 ppb for any individual targeted PFAS, 250 ppb for the sum of targeted PFAS, or 50 ppm total fluorine/total PFAS (including polymeric PFAS), per Article 5 of Regulation (EU) 2025/40. There is no grandfathering provision — packaging manufactured before the deadline is still non-compliant if placed on the market after it.

What is the difference between total fluorine screening and targeted PFAS analysis?

Total fluorine (TF) or total organic fluorine (TOF) screening measures overall fluorine content as a fast, low-cost proxy for PFAS presence, but cannot identify specific compounds. Targeted PFAS analysis by LC-MS/MS identifies and quantifies individual PFAS substances against defined regulatory thresholds. Most compliance programmes — including the PPWR’s own draft guidance — use TF/TOF screening as a first-pass filter, followed by targeted analysis where results are elevated or where a definitive compliance determination is required.

Which standard should I use for PFAS testing of my product?

The appropriate standard depends on your product matrix and target market. Food-contact packaging is typically assessed against the PPWR thresholds using combustion-IC screening and LC-MS/MS confirmation; textiles are tested to EN 17681-1/-2; leather to ISO 23702-1; and water samples to ISO 21675, ISO 25101, or US EPA 537.1/1633 depending on the receiving jurisdiction. Our technical team can guide you to the most appropriate method and standard for your product and market.

How long does PFAS testing take?

Total fluorine screening typically completes within 3 to 5 business days. Targeted LC-MS/MS confirmatory analysis, which requires extraction, clean-up, and instrument calibration against certified reference standards, typically takes 7 to 12 business days depending on the matrix and number of target analytes. We provide realistic timelines at project initiation based on your sample type and required scope.

Need specialised PFAS testing for your packaging, textile, or polymer products? Share your project details with us, and we’ll provide a personalised quote to meet your compliance timeline.