ZVO Visits NASF in the U.S.: International Exchange
Transatlantic Exchange: Lukas Hanstein, Head of Policy at ZVO, visited the North American partner association NASF (National Association for Surface Finishing) in Washington, D.C., this week. The focus was on current regulatory challenges facing the industry.
The program featured presentations and discussions with experts from the legal and industrial sectors, as well as representatives from various U.S. government agencies. Meetings with U.S. senators and members of Congress complemented the discussions. The focus was on industrial value creation, chemical and environmental regulation, and efficient supply chains. It became clear that the surface technology sector in the U.S. faces similar challenges to those in Europe. PFAS, chromium(VI), environmental regulations, and increasing regulatory requirements are also the subject of intense debate there. However, differences exist in the approach to critical substances. While the focus in Europe is often on their substitution or restriction, discussions in the U.S. center more on how necessary substances and processes can continue to be used under safe conditions. This applies in particular to applications for industrial value creation and critical supply chains.
PFAS and Chromium(VI): A Comparison of Regulations
Lukas Hanstein from the Central Association for Surface Technology (ZVO) presented the European regulatory landscape—including REACH, the planned PFAS restriction, and the regulation of chromium(VI)—to the American industry representatives. The discussion also addressed the impact of regulatory decisions on investments, production processes, and the availability of technologies. For the ZVO, this exchange reinforces the call to align regulation more closely with actual risks, emissions, and technically feasible solutions. Where no technically and economically equivalent alternatives are available, the safe use of important substances and processes must remain possible. At the same time, increasing regulation ties up skilled workers who are then unavailable for innovation and investment. The ZVO therefore intends to further intensify its dialogue with the NASF and advocate for solutions that combine environmental and health protection with competitive industrial production.
Contact details and information on the companies and institutions presented here can be found in our interactive surface technology industry directory.