On February 23, 2022, ECHA (European Chemicals Agency) submitted a proposal for the EU-wide restriction of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in firefighting foams. This proposal will prevent further contamination of groundwater and soil, as well as reduce risks to human health and the environment.
The main content of the proposal is to prohibit the placing on the market, use and export of all PFAS used in firefighting foams after a specific transition period. ECHA plans to launch a public consultation on the proposal for 6 months on 23 March 2022, during which the ECHA Scientific Committee on Risk Assessment and Socio-Economic Analysis will evaluate the proposal in the light of the scientific evidence received during the consultation, and the European Commission will take into account the proposal and the Committee's comments to make a formal decision on whether to include the REACH Restriction Chapter.
In addition, five European countries (Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Norway) are working on a restriction proposal that would cover all other uses of PFAS, and they plan to submit a proposal to ECHA in January 2023. The EU's Sustainable Chemicals Strategy puts PFAS policy front and center. The European Commission has committed to phasing out all PFAS, allowing their use only if they prove irreplaceable and indispensable to society.
background
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl compounds) are made up of thousands of substances that are persistent, long-range, toxic, and bioaccumulative, and the presence of perfluorinated compounds has been detected in many animal and human blood samples worldwide. The harm of perfluorinated compounds to human beings and the environment has attracted extensive attention from relevant countries and international organizations, and more and more perfluorinated compounds have been included or will soon be included in the control of regulations. PFOA, PFOS, PFHxA, PFHxS, C9-C14 PFCAs, etc. are all PFAS.
Common per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance control requirements
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| Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) | Proposed REACH Restricted Substances by Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Denmark: Restrictions on the production and use of PFAS substances.What's new: Proposal for limitations is being developed and comments have not yet been opened. |
| United States packaging TPCH: Disabled. |
| California AB 652: After July 1, 2023, the intentional addition of PFAS to juvenile products is prohibited with a requirement of less than 100 ppm (in terms of total organic fluorine). |
| EU POPs Regulation: 10 ppm for substances/mixtures≤ 1000 ppm for article <, 1 ug/m 2。 |
| POPs (PFOS and its salts and PFOSF) in China: Effective March 26, 2014, the production, circulation, use, import and export of PFOS and its salts and PFOSF except for specific exempt and acceptable uses are prohibited. |
| PFOA and its salts and related substances | EU POPs Regulation: PFOA and its salt content in substances, mixtures or articles is less than or equal to 0.025mg/kg; PFOA-related substances in substances, mixtures or articles in a single item or in the sum ≤ 1mg/kg. |
| Japan's Chemical Review Law (PFOA and its salts): From October 22, 2021, the production, import, or use of PFOA and its salts are prohibited, and the import of specific products containing PFOA and its salts is prohibited. |
| C9-C14 PFCAs and their salts and related substances | Item 68 of the REACH Regulation: The sum of C9-C14 PFCAs and their salts in substances, mixtures or articles is less than 25 ppb, and the sum of substances related to C9-C14 PFCAs is less than 260 ppb. |
| REACH SVHC substances (C9-C14PFCAs): If the SVHC content of the article exceeds 0.1%, it is required to transmit information, SCIP notification or REACH-SVHC notification. |
| PFHxS and its salts and related substances | Substances under the REACH Regulation Restriction Review: PFHxS and its salt content in substances, mixtures and articles < 25ppb, and the total amount of PFHxS-related substances < 1000ppb.What's new: The proposal has been adopted and no formal resolution has been issued. |
| PFHxA and its salts and related substances | Substances subject to the REACH Regulation Restriction Review: PFHxA and its salt content in substances, mixtures and articles < 25ppb, and the total amount of PFHxA-related substances < 1000ppb.What's new: The proposal has been adopted and no formal resolution has been issued. |
| TSCA Significant New Use (SNUR) Control: Notify EPA. |
