On Thursday, 19 September, the European Commission adopted new measures that will restrict the use of perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), a subcategory of PFAS—chemicals considered to be persistent pollutants.
In a press release, the EU institution emphasises that the ban on PFHxA use targets everyday applications for which alternative solutions exist and that the ban’s human health and environmental benefits will outweigh socioeconomic cost. It will concern the following: textiles (rain jackets), food packaging (pizza boxes), consumer mixtures (waterproofing sprays), cosmetics (skincare products), and certain firefighting foam applications.
However, other applications of PFHxA—for instance, its use in manufacturing semiconductors, batteries, or fuel cells for green hydrogen—will not be affected.
According to the European Commission, the restriction is a step forward in reducing PFAS emissions, since PFHxA often replaces another PFAS that has already been banned, such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA).
The measure targeting PFHxA will come into force 20 days after it is published in the Official Journal of the EU. It will take effect after transitional periods lasting between 18 months and 5 years, depending on the substance’s use. The European Commission believes that this transition period will give [those concerned] time to replace the soon-to-be-banned substance with safer alternatives.
Further information: https://aeur.eu/f/dhp (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)