On 7 February, Echa published the restriction proposal targeting the manufacture, placing on the market and use of PFAS.
This restriction proposal was submitted on 13 January 2023 by the authorities of Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden and concerns any substance that contains at least one fully fluorinated methyl (CF3-) or methylene (-CF2-) carbon atom (without any hydrogen, chlorine, bromine or iodine atoms attached to it).
This multi-substance action is driven by the fact that all PFAS are, or become, persistent substances (due to the strength of the carbon-fluorine bond), leading to exposure and accumulation in the environment.
Next steps in dates:
- 22 March 2023 - Start of a 6-month consultation (interested parties may submit additional information, for instance to justify amending specific points of the proposal).
- March 2023 - Verification by the Scientific Committees for Risk Assessment (RAC) and Socio-Economic Analysis (SEAC) of the compliance of the restriction proposal with the legal requirements of REACH. If so, the Committees will start their scientific evaluation of the proposal based on the information in the restriction proposal and the comments received during the consultations.
- 5 April 2023 - Online information session to explain the restriction process and to help those interested to take part in the consultation.
- 2025 - Decision by the European Commission and EU Member States.
Sources:
https://echa.europa.eu/-/echa-publishes-pfas-restriction-proposal
https://echa.europa.eu/en/restrictions-under-consideration/-/substance-rev/72301/term