Per-/PolyfluoroAlkyl Substances (PFAS)

are a group of thousands of mainly man-made substances that are used in numerous applications in EU. Being used globally since the 1940s, PFASs have already caused contamination around the world.

Currently PFASs chemical class encompass around 10,000 congeners widely used in

• textiles,
• (food) packaging,
• lubricants,
• refrigerants,
• electronics,
• construction and
• many more industries including pharmaceutical and medical ones.

Because of the duration and breadth of use, PFASs can be found in surface water, groundwater, soil, and air – from remote rural areas to densely-populated urban centres. The concern regarding PFAS is based on environmental and health considerations. The continued use of PFAS in the various applications is estimated to result in about 4.5 million tonnes of emissions to the environment in the EU over the next 30 years (2025-2055) unless action is taken. This estimate covers only the use phase, and is therefore a severe underestimation of the true emissions likely to be expected.

Timeline

In 2023, ECHA published the “Annex XV Restriction Report: Proposal for a Restriction of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs)”, including 7 Annexes.

As of today, the ECHA scientific committees for Risk Assessment (RAC) and for Socio-Economic Analysis (SEAC) are evaluating the the proposal to PFAS. This evaluation is being carried out in batches, focusing on the different sectors that may be affected by a potential restriction (see below).

The conclusions agreed at RAC and SEAC meetings are provisional until the committees finalise the evaluation of the entire restriction proposal (including all sectors of use) and adopt their opinions. These opinions will then be communicated to the public.