Singapore to Phase Out Fire-Fighting Foams Containing PFAS Chemicals

On 15 March 2024, Singapore has announced plans to phase out the use of firefighting foams containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) listed under the Stockholm Convention. Singapore is a party to the Stockholm Convention which aims to eliminate Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) such as PFAS.

Implementation and Threshold Limits

Effective from 1 January 2026, Singapore will phase out the import and use of fire-fighting foams containing perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), along with their salts and related compounds. However, companies can continue to use these foams after 1 January 2026 if the concentrations of trace contaminants in them are below certain threshold limits: 25 ppb for PFOA and 10,000 ppb for PFOS. For perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) and related compounds the threshold limit is 100 ppb.

Mandatory Compliance Measures

Companies storing or using firefighting foams containing PFOA, PFOA and PFHxS above the threshold concentrations are required to engage Toxic Industrial Waste Collectors (TIWCs) licensed by the National Environment Agency (NEA) for the safe collection and disposal of these chemicals. Traders are also advised to use appropriate Harmonized System (HS) and product codes when declaring imports and exports of affected materials in TradeNet® permit applications. Applications will be subject to processing and approval by the Chemical Control and Management Department (CCMD).

A list of HS and product codes of the affected materials can be found in the table below:

Conclusion

This announcement demonstrates Singapore's commitment to environmental protection and is in line with global efforts to reduce the use of harmful chemicals in fire-fighting foams. For further enquiries, stakeholders can contact Ms. Nikki Lee via email at Nikki_Lee@nea.gov.sg.