ECHA publishes document on proposal for a universal PFAS restriction – certain F-gases to be impacted by upcoming restriction

EFCTC notes the publication of the documents relative to the proposal for a universal REACH restriction of PFAS and the inclusion of applications that use certain F-gases.

EFCTC welcomes the openness from the dossier submitters to base the proposal on separate analysis of each and every use, and will take the time to analyse the proposal and submit its considerations to the ECHA public consultation. We encourage other associations and companies impacted to actively take part in the process.

Background

The European FluoroCarbons Technical Committee (EFCTC) notes the publication of the relevant documents (Annex XV Report, with related Annexes) of the proposed restriction on the manufacturing, use and placing on the market of all PFAS substances. The publications of these documents has been long-anticipated by numerous stakeholders, as this proposed restriction includes an unprecedented number of substances,  impacting an unparalleled range of sectors.

This proposal was submitted to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) on 13 January 2023 on behalf of five countries: Denmark, Germany, Norway, Sweden, and the Netherlands. Since 2020, these five countries have organised two calls for evidence to collect information on the substances that could be considered PFAS according to the definition published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in July 2021[1].

Read the EFCTC reaction to the publication in the attached press release

[1] PFASs are defined as fluorinated substances that contain at least one fully fluorinated methyl or methylene carbon atom (without any H/Cl/Br/I atom attached to it), i.e. with a few noted exceptions, any chemical with at least a perfluorinated methyl group (–CF3) or a perfluorinated methylene group (–CF2–) is a PFAS. (Reconciling Terminology of the Universe of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances: Recommendations and Practical Guidance – OECD ENV/CBC/MONO(2021)25, 9 July 2021)

PFAS RESTRICTION PROPOSAL: https://echa.europa.eu/registry-of-restriction-intentions/-/dislist/details/0b0236e18663449b