EU REACH Annex XVII places restrictions on C9-C14 perfluorocarboxylic acids PFCAs

On 5 August 2021, the Commission Regulation (EU) 2021/1297 was released to restrict the use of perfluorocarboxylic acids (C9-C14 PFCAs), their salts, and C9-C14 PFCA-related compounds under entry 68 of REACH Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006 Annex XVII.   

Starting on 25 February 2023, there is an EU-wide update for restriction on perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) with a chain of 9 to 14 carbon atoms, as well as their salts and related compounds.  . Some uses have been granted longer transition periods.  

The restriction will take effect on 4 July 2023, and it will apply to PFCAs used in the production of specific products such as polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), as well as textiles that are oil- and water-resistant to protect workers from hazardous liquids that could endanger their health and safety. 

From 4 July 2025 onwards the restriction will apply to substances used in invasive and implantable medical devices, photolithography or etch processes in semiconductor manufacturing, photographic coatings applied to films, and firefighting foam for liquid fuel vapour suppression and liquid fuel fire. 

Fluoropolymer and fluoroelastomer manufacture, as well as the production of PTFE micropowders, are all permissible under exemptions granted by the European Commission. 

For the total of C9-C14 PFCAs in fluoroplastics and fluoroelastomers containing perfluoroalkoxy groups, the concentration limit will be 2,000 parts per billion (ppb) up until 26 August 2024. However, this limit will thereafter be lowered to 100 ppb. Also, the Commission has established a limit of 1,000 ppb for the total amount of C9-C14 PFCAs, their salts, and associated compounds when present in PTFE micro particles. Both exemptions will be evaluated by 26 August 2024. 

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) include PFCAs as a subset. The much-awaited ECHA proposal to set limits on more than 10,000 PFASs was released last month.