REACH: Details of proposed PFAS ban in the EU published
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has published a proposal to ban the manufacture, use and placing on the market (including import) of at least 10,000 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
The proposed ban was drawn up by authorities from Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway and Sweden within the framework of the EU chemicals regulation REACH. From Germany, the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA), the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) and the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) were involved in the drafting process. The aim of the ban is to drastically reduce the release of PFASs into the environment. The publication will now be followed by a scientific evaluation by ECHA's Risk Assessment (RAC) and Socio-Economic Analysis (SEAC) committees. A six-month public consultation will then begin on March 22. During this consultation period, interested parties can submit additional information to justify, for example, the inclusion of further exemptions in the restriction proposal. ECHA's Scientific Committees will consider and evaluate this information when preparing their opinion.
It is anticipated that a decision by the European Commission on this proposal can be expected in 2025. If adopted, the PFAS restriction proposal would be one of the most comprehensive bans on chemical substances since REACH came into force in 2007. Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances are used in tens of thousands of products, including cell phones, wind turbines, cosmetics, solar panels, medical devices and raincoats. Once released, however, they remain in the environment for decades due to their extraordinary chemical stability and can have harmful effects on humans and the environment. The proposed ban on PFAS would greatly reduce releases to the environment and make products and processes safer for humans. In many cases, alternatives to PFAS are already available. If the proposal is implemented by the European Commission in the version presented, this will mean for companies that alternatives will also have to be found for those areas of application where these have been lacking so far or where they are not yet attractive enough.