"They are very persistent and remain in the environment for a long time, travel long distances, contaminate groundwater and soil, and some cause serious health problems such as cancer and reproductive harm," the committee - one of two that the EU's chemicals agency ECHA asked to investigate PFAS - said in a statement.
The committee's recommendation to the EU is therefore broad restrictions with certain "targeted" exceptions.
The EU is expected to soon present a proposal to ban PFAS in everyday products such as clothing and pizza boxes. The exemptions are expected to apply, for example, to the medical field.
PFAS - poly- and perfluorinated alkyl substances - is a collective name for around 4,700 different substances.
