PFAS
27.01.2025
The five countries leading the universal PFAS restriction have published a progress report on the restriction of PFAS: https://echa.europa.eu/de/-/echa-and-five-european-countries-issue-progress-update-on-pfas-restriction
According to the report, in addition to the two regulatory options already considered (option 1 ‘ban’, option 2: ‘ban with time-limited exemptions’), a third regulatory option (option 3: ‘conditions that must be met to allow the continued manufacture, placing on the market or use of PFAS instead of a ban’) is to be considered for various areas of use.
This third regulatory option is to be considered (and assessed by RAC and SEAC) for various uses for which no suitable alternatives are available:
- batteries
- fuel cells
- electrolysers
- medical devices
- semiconductors
- Fluoropolymers during manufacture, during service life and at the end of service life
By introducing a third regulatory option, ECHA has created the prerequisite for exempting areas of application and entire groups of substances from PFAS regulation. This group of applications and products for which no alternatives are available also includes fluoropolymers, taking into account their entire life cycle. This is a success of our joint effort, with a total of 5,642 submissions in the public debate, to oppose the blanket PFAS ban approach and emphasise the particular importance of fluoropolymers.
As the official PFAS regulatory process of the ECHA will still take years, we urge the EU Commission to make a prompt preliminary decision in line with this restructuring of the submissions. The simplification of REACH and the creation of clarity in PFAS regulation are the top priorities announced by the new EU Commission President.
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