Five EU Member States register intention to restrict PFAS
Germany, Denmark, Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden jointly inform the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) of their intention to submit a REACH restriction dossier on PFAS in 2022; stakeholders can contribute information to inform the dossier’s development until September 19, 2021.
On July 15, 2021, it was announced that the EU Member States Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden officially informed the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) of their intention to submit a REACH Annex XV Restriction Dossier on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The Member States argue that «the consequences of [PFAS] persistence include that the presence of these substances in the environment is practically irreversible, and pose an unacceptable risk to the environment and humans.» The proposed restriction would cover PFAS manufacturing, use, and placement on the EU market. REACH «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 five Member States are now consulting stakeholders as they prepare the restriction dossier. The information already collected by the group is publicly available to allow stakeholders to fill in knowledge gaps. This ensures «that the information already available accurately reflects the current market situation and to fill any remaining data gaps in order to be able to present a tailored restriction proposal.» Stakeholders can contribute by filling out a survey until September 19, 2021. Environmental ministers from these countries first announced their intention to work towards a common, EU-wide action to address the entire class of PFAS in January 2020 (FPF reported), and a first stakeholder consultation to collect information was launched in March 2020 (FPF reported).