ECHA said it agreed with the petitioners that it is essential to move forward fast on curbing the use of the environmentally persistent “forever chemicals” or banning the ubiquitous substances found among other things in products ranging from semiconductors to batteries, aircraft, cars or medical equipment.

Without quick action, the agency said there is a danger that the estimated 4.4 million tonnes of potentially toxic and mostly non-biodegradable chemicals in use worldwide would end up in the environment within the next 30 years.

ECHA’s action will apply to some 10,000 substances — chemicals and mixtures along with articles having 25 parts per billion (ppb) or more of particular PFAS or 250 ppb of a combination of PFAS substances, and the restrictions are expected take effect sometime after 2026.

Tight timetable for regulation of PFAS

After getting a late start and now lagging the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), The EU authority has set a tight timetable for the decision-making process on PFAS.

Sometime in March, ECHA’s scientific committees on Risk Assessment (RAC) and Socio-Economic Analysis (SEAC) will meet to determine whether the proposals are consistent with the legal terms of REACH. If the answer is yes, the committees will promptly begin their scientific evaluation.

A six-month consultation is set to be launched on Mar. 22.Two weeks later, on Apr. 5, plans call for an online information to explain the restriction process and help affected manufacturers of products containing the chemical who are interested in participating in the consultation.

Europe’s semi-conductor industry and the fluoropolymers sector have already expressed reservations about the impending phase-out. Chip suppliers have warned that a ban on “forever chemicals” will cause widespread disruption to already tight semiconductor supply chains.

Chemours, which supplies chips makers, inherited fluoropolymers when DuPont carved out its chemicals business. The company described the chemicals as “absolutely critical” for semiconductor manufacturing as well as a wide range of other industries.

Saying it believes the ECHA proposals are not differentiated enough Pro-K, a German industry association representing plastics processors, noted that  fluoropolymers are classified by the OECD as a “product of low concern” and as such should be exempted from any PFAS regulation.

Author: Dede Williams, Freelance Journalist