Intention to restrict PFAS

Several countries notified their intention to submit a restriction proposal for Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).

Recently, Germany, Denmark, Netherlands, Norway and Sweden announced their intention to submit next year their proposal to restrict the manufacture, placing on the market and use of PFAS in the EU.  It is a legal requirement for a Member State to notify ECHA of its intention to prepare a restriction dossier. The advance notice enables interested parties to plan and prepare for commenting later on.

All PFAS are, or ultimately transform into, persistent substances, leading to irreversible environmental exposure and accumulation. Due to their water solubility and mobility, contamination of surface, ground-, and drinking water and soil has occurred in the EU as well as globally and will continue. It has been proven very difficult and extremely costly to remove PFAS when released to the environment. In addition, some PFAS have been documented as toxic and/or bioaccumulative substances, both with respect to human health as well as the environment.

Without taking action, their concentrations will continue to increase, and their toxic and polluting effects will be difficult to reverse.

PFAS is mainly used to make fluoropolymer coatings and products that resist heat, oil, stains, grease, and water, for example, in clothing, furniture, adhesives, food packaging, heat resistant non stick cooking surfaces, and the insulation of electrical wire. They are reported to be used as additives in automotive lubricant oils and hydraulic fluids.