ECHA 'weighed down' by volume of feedback from PFAS consultation

Essen, Germany – German seals and gaskets maker IDT expects the ‘flood of comments’ over a potential EU ban on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) will delay any regulation on the subject until at least 2027.

Over the course of the six-month EU consultation, it noted, almost 4,500 companies took part and in total, the European Chemicals Agency [ECHA] received more than 5,500 comments.

“A proper review of the flood of comments by the scientific committees will certainly take longer than originally planned,” said IDT's 14 April statement.

ECHA committees for Risk Assessment (RAC) and Socio-Economic Analysis (SEAC) will require multiple meetings to assess feedback from the consultation into the proposed restrictions.

The schedule of committee meetings arranged to examine various aspects of the proposals comprises:

March 2024
• Consumer mixtures, cosmetics, and ski wax
• Hazards of PFAS
• General approach

June 2024
• Metal plating and manufacture of metal products
• Additional discussion on hazards

September 2024
• Textiles, upholstery, leather, apparel, carpets
• Food contact materials and packaging
• Petroleum and mining

According to IDT, it is currently expected that a final opinion from ECHA will not be available until 2025 “at the earliest”.

“As the opinion provides a further opportunity for objections, a political decision by the European Commission and EU member states and a resulting regulation is not expected until 2027/28,” it added.

Meanwhile, an IDT-formed working group is currently developing solutions for issues, such as supply, alternative materials and testing of related materials.

Also, it stated, a 'direct exchange' will take place between the German federal institute for occupational safety and health [BAuA] and a group of "selected" industry experts on 30 April.

As BAuA is “leading the push to restrict all PFAS,” IDT sees the meeting as an opportunity “to explain why the one-size-fits-all approach would have serious consequences."

According to the company, the industry experts also aim to show how fluoropolymers are “essential for critical applications and in future technologies.”