EU PFAS Restriction
What is a REACH Restriction?
REACH
- Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) is the European Union Regulation dating from 18 December 2006, addressing the production and use of chemical substances and their potential impacts on both human health and the environment.
- The regulation established the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), which manages the technical, scientific and administrative aspects of REACH.
REACH Restriction
- REACH restrictions limit, ban or set conditions on the manufacture, placing on the market (including imports) or use of a substance or group of substances.
- Restrictions are a measure for protecting human health and/or the environment from risks posed by chemicals on their own, in mixtures or in articles.
Overview of the EU PFAS restriction incl. timeline
What is the PFAS REACH Restriction?
- Since 2020, five Competent Authorities (MSCAs) of Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Denmark have been preparing a REACH restriction dossier for all PFAS. The restriction proposal was submitted to ECHA on 13 January 2023;
- REACH restriction “is considered to be the most effective and efficient way to manage such a large and complex group of substances that are used in numerous applications.” The restriction would cover PFAS manufacturing, use, and placement on the EU market;
- The five MSCAs argue that high persistence is the main concern for all PFAS along with concerns resulting from a specific combination of properties;
- They also argue that releases of PFAS are considered a risk to the environment that it is not adequately controlled;
What is the PFAS REACH restriction potential timeline (2023 – 2025)?
FPG position on the EU PFAS restriction
On 7 February 2023, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) published the Annex XV REACH restriction report (and annexes) for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that has been prepared by 5 Competent Authorities from Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden. The restriction dossier proposes a near-total ban of all PFAS substances, including fluoropolymers.
Stakeholder consultation & overview of the process
How to respond to the PFAS REACH restriction public consultation
This guidance document provides information on the EU PFAS Restriction process and aims at helping you respond to the public consultation.
FPG Response to public consultation
FPG is currently working on its response to the ECHA public consultation, running until September 2023. We are currently gathering data points and relevant information to show the importance of fluoropolymers for the EU.
We will publish our response to the consultation in the summer.