PFAS scandal in Croatia

On Thursday, 17 September 2026, the European Parliament will hold a debate on toxic substances and “forever chemicals” (PFAS).

This debate was called for by the Greens/EFA Group following the pollution scandal that broke in Croatia about illegal dumping of hazardous waste from several EU countries.

Whilst the authorities attempted to play down this environmental disaster, Croatia’s anticorruption agency assessed high levels of contamination in soil and groundwater by PFAS around Gospic.  

The Greens-EFA are asking the Commission and Member States to urgently phase-out PFAS and put the health of our citizens above the vested interests of the chemical industry.

MEP Gordan BOSANAC comments:

“Croatia has been turned into a dumping ground for toxic waste with the complicity of those in power. Corruption and inability of Croatian government to tackle toxic substances pollution, just like illegal imports of toxic waste containing PFAS, is poisoning our country. No one should fear drinking tap water or eating homegrown food.

Inaction is not an option. State inspections need to be harsher, people's health and the nature are at stake.

The ongoing deregulation in Europe is quite simply criminal. It lets polluters off the hook and represents enormous costs to society. PFAS releases should be tackle at the source. The PFAS pollution is an EU environmental disaster which requires a universal ban.”

More:

On 30 September, the Greens/EFA Group will hold a press conference on the results of blood tests carried out on around one hundred people  to measure their levels of contamination by PFAS and TFA.

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has been analysing a proposal for a universal ban on PFAS for the past three years. It will issue its final scientific assessment at the end of the year. In 2027, the European Commission will present a proposal to restrict PFAS based on this assessment.