PFAS in the Soil Monitoring and Resilience Directive (SMRD)
On 12 November 2025, the EU adopted the Soil Monitoring and Resilience Directive (SMRD; (EU) 2025/2360), establishing a harmonised framework to ensure all EU soils reach and maintain healthy condition by 2050. The directive targets soil contamination, degradation, and resilience to restore ecosystem functions and support climate and biodiversity objectives. Over 60% of European soils are currently considered unhealthy, causing economic losses and reduced agricultural output. Member States must assess soil health, identify best practices, and implement regeneration measures based on systematic monitoring.
The SMRD must be transposed within three years and implemented through six‑year monitoring cycles. Member States must develop national frameworks for monitoring soil health, sealing, and removal. Soil health is evaluated using descriptors covering key degradation processes such as loss of organic carbon, salinisation, acidification, compaction, contamination, nutrient depletion, biodiversity loss, and erosion. Soil contamination as a descriptor is separate from the regulation of contaminated sites, addressed independently within the directive.
Pollutant selection is partly delegated to Member States, but three contaminant groups are mandatory: heavy metals, PFAS, and pesticides (including metabolites) (Annex I, Parts B and C). An indicative list of additional contaminants will follow 18 months after entry into force. Although binding criteria for “healthy soil condition” or PFAS target values are not yet defined, Member States must assess risk and, where possible, consider sustainable target concentrations (Annex I; Article 24). Overall monitoring programme design remains largely flexible at national level.
Monitoring of PFAS in Soil
PFAS are unique among soil contaminants because individual substances are explicitly listed as soil descriptors. Two lists are proposed, the larger comprising 43 substances (PFAS43), developed under the EU Horizon project ARAGORN for the European Commission. Eurofins Denmark and Örebro University contribute to the project, with confirmatory soil testing performed at the Eurofins European PFAS Competence Centre in Sweden. Substance selection considered environmental relevance, analytical feasibility, and alignment with other EU legislation, including integration of the Drinking Water Directive (DWD) PFAS20.
The PFAS43 list includes precursor compounds capable of degrading into the EFSA PFAS4 (PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS, PFNA). Six PreFOS compounds transforming into PFOS are included, originating from applications such as surface‑treated paper, waterproof textiles, polishing agents, and insecticides; PFHxS analogues are also present. PFHxS, once a PFOS replacement, is now regulated as a POP substance and has been used in electronics and metal plating. Both PFOS‑ and PFHxS‑based precursors are key constituents of ECF‑based AFFF foams.
PFOA‑related precursors such as 8:2 FTS and 7:3 FTCA are also included. 8:2 FTS, a PFOS replacement as well, has been used in textiles, paper, and food‑contact materials and forms structural units in fluorotelomer substances found in AFFF, inks, and coatings. 7:3 FTCA arises from degradation of 8:2‑based substances, with PFOA as a major end product. PFBS and its amide derivatives—used in the semiconductor sector and linked to industrial effluents—are frequently detected in biota and included due to their environmental relevance.
The smaller PFAS21 set corresponds to the DWD PFAS20 plus 6:2 FTS, therefore including only one precursor. This aligns with the PFAS21 defined in Swedish drinking water regulation.
Eurofins Analytical Offer
Eurofins provides extensive PFAS soil testing capabilities, including all substances listed above. A PFAS43 analytical package compliant with the SMRD is available under order code PLWCY, with a five working day turnaround and reporting limits of 0.03–1 µg/kg DM. The PFAS21 package is available under code PLWDJ. Both analyses require 100 g of soil. Sample containers can be ordered free of charge via the Eurofins website.
For PFAS‑related questions, analytical support is available through customer service at 010‑490 8110 or sh-analys.miljo.se@etn.eurofins.com. Further information on SMRD and PFAS43 can be found in our flyer.
Links
SMRD directive ((EU) 2025/2360)
Aragorn (research project)
Eurofins “short facts” (precursors; AFFF)
Eurofins search engine