The eight new sectors added this summer to the proposal for a universal restriction of eternal pollutants PFAS (see EUROPE 13695/13) will not benefit from a specific assessment with a view to the opinion to be issued by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) by 2025, the Agency warned on Wednesday 27 August.
The European Commission has undertaken to present a proposal to restrict PFASs once it has received ECHA’s opinion. Recalling that the 14 sectors included in the initial proposal covered more than 10,000 substances and had been the subject of more than 5,600 responses from all stakeholders (industry, NGOs, academia, etc.), ECHA pointed out that it would be impossible to deliver its opinion in time if it had to include the eight additional sectors added by the dossier submitters (national authorities from Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden).
However, ECHA specifies that the assessment of transversal issues will include “hazard assessment and generally applicable risk management measures to monitor and limit emissions of PFAS into the environment (reporting requirements, PFAS management plan”). 90% of PFAS emissions and volumes will be covered by the notice, ECHA assured.
The scientific (RAC) and socio-economic (SEAC) committees intend to submit their opinions by the end of the year. The draft SEAC opinion will be put out to consultation in the first half of 2026. (Original version in French by Florent Servia)