PFAS in refrigerants to be discussed in March
9th December 2024
FINLAND: The European Chemical Agency’s (ECHA) assessment of PFAS in fluorinated gases, which threaten further restrictions on HFC refrigerants, are now scheduled to be discussed at meetings in March.
The ECHA’s scientific committees for Risk Assessment (RAC) and for Socio-Economic Analysis (SEAC) are currently evaluating the proposal to restrict PFAS in the EU/EEA, alongside comments received during the six-month consultation in 2023.
The review was prompted by a proposal from five countries – Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden – seeking a restriction on PFAS chemicals. The proposal claims that the manufacture, placement on the market and use of PFAS are not adequately controlled and need to be addressed through the European REACH regulations. The REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) regulation governs which chemicals can be manufactured and used within the EU.
PFAS substances – perfluoroalkyls and polyfluoroalkyls – are known to be highly persistent in the environment, contaminating groundwater, surface water and soil, and causing serious health effects such as cancer and liver damage.
The restriction proposals include a new chemical definition of PFAS that could lead to a ban on practically all HFC and HFO refrigerants, as well as the fluoropolymers used in a number of critical refrigeration components.
Evaluations by the RAC and SEAC committees are being carried out in batches, focusing on the different sectors that may be affected by a potential restriction. At the same time, the national authorities of Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden, who prepared the proposal, are progressively updating their initial report progressively to address the consultation feedback.
This updated report will be evaluated by the committees and will form the basis for their opinions.
The conclusions agreed at RAC and SEAC meetings are provisional until the committees finalise the evaluation of the entire restriction proposal (including all sectors of use) and adopt their opinions. These opinions will then be communicated to the public.
The final decision on the restriction will be taken by the European Commission together with the EU member states.
Related stories:
PFAS consultation receives over 5,600 comments – 26 September 2023
FINLAND: The European proposals to restrict the use of PFAS chemicals have received more than 5,600 comments from more than 4,400 organisations, companies and individuals. Read more…
PFAS ban affects most refrigerant blends – 12 February 2023
EUROPE: The banning of just five refrigerants under the new PFAS regulation proposals would lead to the banning of virtually all the current lower GWP HFC/HFO alternative refrigerant blends. Read more…
