Eternal chemicals. This is how per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are nicknamed, which do not decompose due to their chemical composition. The European Chemicals Agency (Echa) published on Tuesday February 7 a proposal to ban them, in what could become the most extensive regulation of the European chemical industry. It will open for public consultation on March 22.
Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden and Norway – which is not a member of the EU – collaborated on it and indicated in a joint statement on Tuesday 7 February that, if adopted, it would become “one of the biggest chemical bans ever imposed in Europe”. “A ban on PFAS would reduce the amounts of PFAS in the environment over the long term. It would also make products and processes safer for humans,” they added. Echa considers it
Because these are used in tens of thousands of products (cars, textiles, medical equipment, wind turbines) due to their resistance to extreme temperatures and corrosion and are associated with several health problems such as cancer, dysfunction hormonal and weakening of the immune system, as well as environmental damage.
Non-existent alternatives “in many cases”
Two scenarios will be studied. That of prohibiting without derogation the more than 10,000 PFAS concerned with a transitional period of 18 months. Or the one prohibiting, with derogations of up to 12 years in certain sectors to allow companies to work on the implementation of substitutes, substances. “In many cases, there are currently no alternatives, and in some cases there may never be any,” said the five countries that support the second option.
Two Echa scientific committees will examine the compliance of the proposal with the overall European regulations on chemicals, then carry out a scientific assessment and consult the industry. If passed, the new regulations would likely come into force in 2026 or 2027, depending on the proposal.
With Archyde.com (Reporting by Ludwig Burger, French version Dina Kartit, editing by Kate Entringer)
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