Details of the PFAS restriction proposal published.

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has released the full details of a proposed EU REACH restriction that aims to limit the use of more than 10,000 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), which are commonly known as "forever chemicals." The proposal has been authored by the authorities of five European countries - Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden - and outlines two options for restricting the use and placement on the market of these substances, which are concerning due to their persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity.

The first option involves a complete ban of PFAS with no exemptions and a transition period of 18 months after the regulation takes effect. Option two is a complete ban with specific, time-limited exemptions for certain uses, such as active substances in plant protection and biocidal products, as well as human and veterinary medicinal products. This option also carries an 18-month transition period and a 5 or 12-year exemption period, depending on the application. The authors of the restriction propose a ban on consumer products after 18 months, a 5-year exemption period for products where alternatives are being developed, and a 12-year exemption period for products where no alternatives exist at the moment.

The restriction report considers option two to be the most balanced approach, allowing time for alternatives to be developed while still promoting the phase-out of PFASs. The proposal is the broadest restriction of PFASs ever submitted, covering at least 10,000 of these substances.

The restrictions will not result in a total ban on PFASs in other substances, mixtures, or articles but will set limits for their use.

The next steps for the proposal include legal checks by ECHA's committees for socio-economic analysis and risk assessment, followed by a six-month consultation and adoption by the European Commission. The restriction is expected to be adopted and enter into force in 2025 and become applicable in 2026-2027.

The background:

In the EU, around 230,000 tonnes of PFASs are placed on the market each year, used in various sectors including textiles, food packaging, electronics, construction, and medical devices. Recently risks related to the manufacturing, placement, and use of PFASs has been identified. Thus a proposal to restrict per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) under the European Union's chemicals regulation, REACH, has been submitted to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) by the national authorities of Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden in January.