ECHA details next steps in PFAS-restriction process

HELSINKI—The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) issued details about the "next steps" under its proposals to impose wide-ranging restrictions on the use per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS.

In a March 13 statement, the European Union agency said it "screened a large number of comments" received during the consultation process and that its two committees would evaluate these comments.

The committees for Risk Assessment (RAC) and for Socio-Economic Analysis (SEAC) will evaluate the proposed restriction "in batches, focusing on the different sectors that may be affected," ECHA said.

In tandem, the five national authorities that prepared the proposal are updating their initial report to address the consultation comments, the agency's added. The RAC and SEAC will assess the updated reports, which will serve as the foundation for their opinions.

As part of the process, the first meeting in March took place with a focus on consumer mixtures, cosmetics and ski-wax.

In its meeting, the RAC discussed the hazards of PFAS, including estimating volumes potentially released. Meanwhile, SEAC studied "the general approach" for evaluating the different socio-economic elements of the proposal.

In June, the ECHA committees with discuss metal-plating and manufacture of metal products, while the RAC will continue with an additional discussion on hazards.

In September, both committees will discuss textiles, upholstery, leather, apparel, carpets, food-contact materials and packaging, and petroleum and mining.

More information about the committees' plans to evaluate the remaining sectors and about the next procedural steps will be announced as work advances, ECHA stated.