Regulation to Restrict PFOA Published

The European Commission has published its amending Regulation to restrict the manufacture, marketing and use of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts and PFOA-related substances.

The restriction will apply to the use of PFOA and its salts at concentrations above 25 parts per billion (ppb); or 1,000ppb of one, or a combination of, PFOA-related substances.

Some uses are exempt, these include:

> photographic coatings, applied to films, papers or printing plates;

> implantable medical devices;

> substances or mixtures used in semi-conductor and photo lithography processes.

> fire-fighting foams, already placed on the market before the date of application of the restriction; and

> semiconductor manufacturing equipment.

As advised by Echa's Socio-economic Analysis Committees (Seac), the application is deferred for a period of three years, and for longer periods in relation to specified sectors, in order to enable stakeholders to comply.

This Regulation will enter into force on the twentieth day following its publication in the EU's Official Journal.

NGOs have criticised the proposed restriction as meaningless, saying it would not reduce global consumption and emissions of PFOA.