ECHA edging back from blanket ban on PFAS substances

Helsinki – The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has signalled that alternative restrictions options, other than a blanket ban, are being considered for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in Europe.

In a progress update 20 Nov, the agency said additional information obtained during 2023 consultation had resulted in considering restriction options other than a ban to achieve the objective of "significantly reduced PFAS emissions."

According to the European agency, the initial restrictions dossier submitted in March 2023 (ERJ report) contains two options: a full ban, or a ban with time- limited derogations when alternatives are not yet available.

In its update, ECHA said “further restriction options [are] being considered” which will be compared against the existing proposed options.

These, it said, could include “conditions to be met to allow for the continued manufacture, placing on the market or use of PFAS instead of a ban until alternatives are available.”

This alternative approach, said ECHA, could help improve the practicality of the restriction proposals for specific applications.

The consideration is particularly relevant for uses and sectors where evidence suggests that a ban could lead to disproportionate socio-economic impacts.

ECHA said it received more than 5,600 scientific and technical comments from interested third parties during the six-month consultation.

In particular, input to the consultation identified uses that were not specifically named in the initial restriction dossier.

The agency named sealing applications as one of the newly identified uses for PFAS, highlighting the role of fluoropolymers in a broad range of consumer, professional and industrial applications.

“Fluoropolymers are one example of a group of PFAS with high interest for stakeholders and the consultation has brought further insight into the availability of alternatives for certain uses of these polymers,” said ECHA.

The input, the agency said, has also shed light into “technical and organisational measures to minimise [fluoropolymers’] emissions in the environment and potential socio-economic impacts of a ban of their manufacture, placing on the market and use.

ECHA added that “specific attention is being given to this group by all actors in the opinion development process.”

Following the new update, the opinion development work will further progress during 2025 and will lead to an opinion by the ECHA Risk Assessment Committee and a draft opinion by the Socio-Economic Analysis Committee (SEAC).

A consultation will be held afterwards on the draft opinion of the SEAC, providing an opportunity for all interested third parties to provide relevant information regarding socio economic aspects to be considered in the final SEAC opinion.