Thailand approves to restrict PFOA under the Stockholm Convention

As required under the Hazardous Substance Act B.E. 2535 (1992), the Ministry of Industry of Thailand's Department of Industrial Works opened the first draft notification for the public hearing procedure on 20 May  2021. It has perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) included as part of the primary revision. On 3 May 2019, more than 180 nations decided to prohibit the manufacturing and use of PFOA, its salts, and PFOA-related chemicals at the international Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) 

However, as unintended trace contamination is possible, to calculate this the Department of Industrial Works evaluates European Union Regulation (1019/1021) 

 The draft specifies the following exemptions under Type 4 (banned chemicals):

In the manufacturing of fluoropolymers, PFOA (a synthetic perfluorochemical) is produced as a byproduct. A class of substances known as perfluorochemicals (PFCs) is used to create fluoropolymer coatings and goods that withstand heat, oil, stains, grease, and water. For instance, PFOA was used in the manufacture of polytetrafluoroethylene (PFTE) better known as Teflon. People are most likely exposed to PFOA through the consumption of tainted water and perhaps through the use of PFOA-containing items. Compared to the general population, perfluorochemical industry workers may be exposed to higher levels of PFOA. 

Other PFOA-related chemicals on Thailand's List No. 5.1(Hazardous Substance Act's Annex 5) now have different classifications: Substances 523-533 are now Type 3 hazardous substances when certain conditions or exemptions apply, while Substances 534-541 are now Type 4 hazardous substances when such conditions or exemptions are not present, such as when the concentration is below 0.0000025% w/w. Industrial chemicals, chemical waste, discarded electrical and electronic equipment, and chemical weapons convention chemicals are all regulated by Annex 5. 

In addition, the first draft notification has two additional compounds with more accurate classifications: 

The classification of benzyl cyanide (Cas RN 140-29-4) has been changed from Type 1 (hazardous substance) to Type 3. Triethanolamine (Cas RN 102-71-6), which is already a Type 3 substance, has also had a threshold limit of > 30% w/w applied in accordance with list 3B (precursors) annexed to the Chemical Weapons Convention.