The PFAS ban must not become a ban on high-tech products
A blanket ban on PFAS threatens essential high-performance applications
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are indispensable for numerous industrial applications in the SPECTARIS sectors—particularly in environments where extreme conditions such as high temperatures, heavy abrasion, or aggressive chemical influences prevail. At the same time, it is undisputed that certain PFAS substances can pose risks to the environment and human health if released uncontrollably.
However, the regulatory approach currently being pursued by the EU calls for a blanket restriction on more than 10,000 PFAS substances. From SPECTARIS’s perspective, this approach does not do justice to the heterogeneity and technical complexity of this group of substances and lacks sufficient scientific and regulatory justification. An undifferentiated ban on PFAS threatens to displace proven high-performance materials from key industries, thereby jeopardizing planning certainty, value chains, as well as technological sovereignty and security of supply in Europe.
Against this backdrop, SPECTARIS has published a new position paper on PFAS regulation, which summarizes the key criticisms of the ongoing process and presents concrete proposals for risk-based, differentiated regulation. In addition, the association has sent a letter of complaint to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), pointing out methodological weaknesses, a lack of transparency, and the excessive workload on the relevant scientific committees in the current process.
SPECTARIS advocates for regulations that balance environmental and health protection with scientific rigor, proportionality, and industry practices—regulations that do not hinder innovation in high-tech industries but rather enable it.
Press releases on the topic
Medtech Dialogue Addresses MDR/IVDR Reform and PFAS Regulation
As part of the Pharmaceutical and Medical Technology Dialogue under the auspices of the Federal Chancellery, the second meeting of Working Group 6, “Medical Technology, Medical Devices,” was recently held.
02.02.2026
PFAS Regulation: SPECTARIS Sees a Significant Need for Adjustments in the Ongoing EU Procedure
Letter from SPECTARIS to ECHA / Criticism of the ongoing PFAS restriction procedure / Risks to planning certainty and value chains in the high-tech industry
29.01.2026
Expert Hearing in the Bundestag on the PFAS Ban Highlights Risks to Medical Care
SPECTARIS Medical Technology Board Member Testifies as an Expert Before the Bundestag / Call for a Return to a Risk-Based Approach
24.04.2024
PFAS Ban Threatens European High-Tech Applications
The EU’s planned blanket ban on the PFAS class of substances would pose an enormous threat to high-tech industries such as medical technology and semiconductor technology.
25.09.2023
A growing number of politicians are voicing differing opinions on the PFAS ban
SPECTARIS Attends Crisis Summit at the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Economic Affairs / Action Also Needed from Other State Ministries
03.07.2023
Economic Ministers Call for a Return to a Risk-Based Approach Regarding the Planned PFAS Ban
Industry association SPECTARIS welcomes the nuanced decision by the Conference of Economic Ministers / PFAS use is indispensable in many high-tech applications / Mayer: “The issue is too complex for blanket assessments”
26.06.2023
BVMed and SPECTARIS Sound the Alarm on PFAS
A blanket ban jeopardizes the provision of essential medical devices
25.05.2023
German Industry Faces an Unintended High-Tech Ban
A blanket ban on PFAS would make the use of indispensable high-performance materials impossible in many cases and pose a massive threat to technological sovereignty and security of supply in the EU
22.05.2023
Voices from the Business Community
What Our Members Say
SPECTARIS acts as a strong association that vigorously represents the interests of its members in the political, business, and social spheres.
“SPECTARIS acts as a strong association that vigorously represents its members’ interests in the political, business, and social spheres. As members, we have the opportunity to actively raise our concerns and help shape the agenda to ensure that our voice is heard in relevant political and social discussions. In addition, through SPECTARIS, we have access to a broad network of companies, experts, and decision-makers from the high-tech industry. This allows us to forge valuable contacts and leverage synergies. Through this exchange, we and other members can benefit from each other’s experiences and expertise.”
Frank-Martin Rammelt, Managing Director of seleon GmbH
Together, we are strong.
Together we are strong—That is why we value the strong network and the open and excellent collaboration within the association, which allows us, as one of the leading manufacturers, to work together on solutions to the modern challenges in the contact lens industry, to collaborate on joint campaigns, and to capitalize on identified trends.
Johannes Zupfer, General Manager for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, CooperVision GmbH
Advancing Photonics
Photonics is one of the most innovative key industries and places high demands on the organizations that represent its interests. SPECTARIS meets these demands in a compelling manner. As a strong industry association, SPECTARIS effectively represents the interests of its members in the political, business, and social spheres, while also promoting exchange and networking within the industry. We thank SPECTARIS for this commitment and greatly value our trusting collaboration.
Dr. Ralf Kuschnereit, JENOPTIK AG
OBE relies on high-quality products “Made in Germany.”
OBE relies on high-quality products “Made in Germany.” Thanks to innovation and automation, spring hinges and security screws can be manufactured in large quantities at the Ispringen facility. This goes hand in hand with increased productivity and a division of labor for simple products at our facility in China. In this way, we secure jobs in Germany.
Peter Specht / Erik Schäfer - Managing Directors, OBE
Community makes us strong!
For us as medium-sized companies, the SPECTARIS association serves as a bridge between the government and our interests—our collective strength makes us stronger! We appreciate the very helpful continuing education program in the field of medical technology and benefit from the organization of a wide variety of delegation trips. Our membership in SPECTARIS also ensures that we receive regular updates on new regulatory requirements.
Maik Greiser, Managing Partner / CEO, ATMOS MedizinTechnik GmbH & Co. KG
The association offers services that are perfectly tailored to our needs.
Our industry association, SPECTARIS, is a strong advocate for the interests of medium-sized, owner-managed companies like ours. It is just as important to us that the association provides a platform for open dialogue among member companies and offers services—such as industry reports and events focused on specific topics—that are perfectly tailored to our needs.
Managing Partners of Jüke Systemtechnik GmbH, Martin Hovestadt (left) and Heinrich Jürgens (right)
A Voice for Medical Technology
For us as a medical technology manufacturer, SPECTARIS serves as an important voice in our dealings with policymakers. Especially in light of the current MDR, it is immensely important to have a strong and effective association to represent our interests. We are very satisfied with our collaboration and feel well represented.
Regina Kirchner-Gottschalk, Managing Director of KaWe – KIRCHNER & WILHELM GmbH + Co. KG
Innovation drives us forward
Demands are growing, markets are changing—but innovation opens up new paths for us. With digital progress, bold ideas, and modern processes, we are shaping the standards of tomorrow. As a SPECTARIS member, we leverage the strength of the network to actively shape the future in this dynamic environment.
Fabian Bohnen, COO / Stephan Börner, CEO, Ofa Bamberg GmbH
What we particularly appreciate about SPECTARIS is its technical expertise.
As a medium-sized medical technology company, Richard Wolf benefits greatly from SPECTARIS’s extensive network. We particularly value their technical expertise.
Geschäftsführung Richard Wolf GmbH, Herr Pfab, Herr Steinbeck
It's worth getting involved!
In times of rapid and far-reaching changes in the medtech industry and a challenging regulatory environment, SPECTARIS is an important partner for our company and plays an indispensable role as an advocate for our interests in Berlin and Brussels. It’s worth getting involved!
Bert Sutter, Managing Director, Sutter Medizintechnik GmbH
We want to be a trusted partner for our laboratory customers, both today and in the future.
SPECTARIS’s in-depth information on industry and technology trends, as well as the regulatory landscape, is just as important to us as its advocacy work in Berlin and Brussels. The dedicated SPECTARIS team is always a great point of contact for us.
Dr. Christoph Schöler, Managing Partner, BRAND GMBH + CO KG, VACUUBRAND GMBH + CO KG
A voice for the industry
In a diverse and specialized industry such as analytical technology—which is highly technical and subject to numerous regulatory requirements—small specialists compete with large technology conglomerates. SPECTARIS succeeds in uniting the interests of all its members and serves as the industry’s collective voice and advocate.
Albrecht Sieper, Managing Director of Elementar Analysensysteme GmbH
SPECTARIS is the ideal platform.
SPECTARIS provides us with the ideal platform for constructive dialogue with member companies and serves as a reliable voice for the laboratory industry in the realms of politics and science.
Dr. Gunther Wobser, Managing Partner of LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG
SPECTARIS fosters collaboration in our industry.
“The very informative discussions at SPECTARIS in Berlin and here at our office convinced me of SPECTARIS’s commitment and the quality of its work. In particular, the opportunity to combine topics from analytical, biotechnology, and laboratory technology with the field of medical technology is very interesting for Sigma,” I wrote upon joining in 2011. This has been confirmed, and today we are actively involved in several working groups.
Dr. Michael Sander, Managing Director of Sigma Laborzentrifugen GmbH
National advocacy group puts the spotlight on the industry
Laser Components benefits from the industry association in a variety of ways. As a company, we value the broad exchange of information within the working groups—whether in human resources, marketing, or export control, customs, and foreign trade practices. For our industry, Spectaris also serves as a political voice—the Photonics Trade Association not only maintains constant communication with the BMWi and BMBF ministries but also provides information on European initiatives.
Patrick Paul, Managing Director of LASER COMPONENTS GmbH
A Voice for Innovative Small and Medium-Sized Businesses
In the century of the photon, we need an advocacy group that is both strong and responsive. For us, as providers and consultants for the most innovative products on the global photonics market, this institution is particularly important. We know our interests (e.g., in the area of foreign trade) are in good hands, and we can focus on what matters most: satisfying our customers.
Andreas Börner, Managing Director of Laser 2000 GmbH
Our membership in the SPECTARIS industry association is of great value to us.
It not only gives us access to a strong network of leading companies across various high-tech industries, but also provides an important platform for professional exchange and continuing education. In addition, we benefit from the association’s strong advocacy with policymakers, the business community, and society at large, which plays a crucial role in creating a sustainable framework for the future. Through our membership in SPECTARIS, we can contribute our expertise, address current developments at an early stage, and jointly drive innovation and sustainable growth.
Frank Billhardt, Laser Protection Division EMEA, LASERVISION GmbH & Co. KG
