The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and authorities from Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden have released a progress update on the process to restrict per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in Europe.
The five authorities and ECHA’s scientific committees for Risk Assessment (RAC) and for Socio-Economic Analysis (SEAC) continue to consider more than 5, 600 scientific and technical comments received from third parties during the consultation in 2023.
The ECHA review includes restrictions on HFC and HFO refrigerants.
The consultation has also helped ECHA update information on PFAS and identify new applications and sectors that also need to be covered.
Examples include sealing applications, technical textiles, printing applications and other medical applications, such as packaging and excipients for pharmaceuticals.
ECHA has confirmed it will consider the impact of PFAS bans on the use of fluoropolymers in the manufacture of components such as seals and gaskets.
Restrictions are also being considered rather than a full ban or time-limited derogations.
An alternative option could, for example, involve conditions allowing the continued manufacture, placing on the market or use of PFAS instead of a ban.
This consideration is particularly relevant for uses and sectors where evidence suggests that a ban could lead to disproportionate socio-economic impacts, ECHA said.