On 7th February 2023, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) announced several proposals to restrict perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
PFASs are a broad group of substances including non-polymeric PFASs such as perfluoroalkylcarboxylic acids, perfluorocarbons, perfluoroalkane sulphonic acids and trifluoromethyl substituted substances, as well as polymeric PFASs such as fluoropolymers, perfluoropolyethers and fluorinated side-chain polymers.
Entry 68 of Annex XVII of REACH already contains a restriction for linear and branched prefluorocarboxylic acids, including their salts and any combination thereof (PFCA C9-C14). In addition, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Regulation contains restrictions affecting the use of PFOs and PFOA, their salts and related components.
ECHA’s proposal includes two different options:
| PROPOSAL | SCOPE | REQUIREMENT | ENTRY INTO FORCE |
| 1 | Any form | Ban | Eighteen months later, no exceptions |
| 2 | Substances | Ban | Eighteen months later, with exceptions |
| Component of another substance, | ≤ 25 ppb for any target PFAS (polymeric PFASs are exempted) ≤ 250 ppb for the sum of specific PFASs (polymeric PFASs are exempted)
≤ 50 ppm for PFASs, including polymeric PFASs*. |
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| Mix | |||
| Article |
However, the chosen proposal will not enter into force until 2026/2027.
