European Chemicals Agency states position on PFOA
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has published its response to a proposed ban on PFOA and PFOA-related substances – chemicals that are linked to the outdoor agency as the can be formed as byproducts of finishes and additives used to make clothing and shoes waterproof and oil-proof.
It has been the subject of much debate in the industry over recent years, particularly after Greenpeace highlighted it in its Chemistry for Any Weather report in 2012, which led to the formation of the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) group.
Germany and Norway have proposed bans, and the ECHA response is likely to reignite debate over how to achieve the required performance in outdoor clothing.
Finland-based ECHA said it agrees “the proposed restriction on Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts and PFOA-related substances is the most appropriate EU-wide measure to address the identified risks in terms of the proportionality of its socio-economic benefits to its socio-economic costs provided that the scope and conditions are modified”.
It formulated its opinion based on information related to socio-economic benefits and costs submitted by interested parties as well as other available information as recorded in the Background Document.
The final phase-out is expected in 2019.
We will return to the subject in more detail in an upcoming issue of WSA.
