The European Environment Committee has adopted a report which could lead to cuts in the use of perfluorooctane sulfonates. These are chlorinated compounds used in everyday materials including well-known brands such as Teflon and Gore-Tex.

These compounds are said to contribute to the greenhouse effect and, because they are bioaccumulative, can be hazardous to the body. MEPs therefore want to limit their use as far as possible, although some derivatives will be allowed.

According to the committee, perfluorooctane sulfonates (PFOS) have proved hazardous, and it is therefore demanding a new directive to deal with these chemicals.

The European Commission is suggesting that PFOS should not be placed on the market or used as a substance or constituent of preparations in a concentration equal to or higher than 0.1% by mass. A key proposal of the report by Carl Schlyter (Greens/EFA, SE) is to reduce this figure to 0.005%.
 
The Environment Committee also voted for the directive to apply to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which has a similar structure and toxicity to PFOS, according to a recent OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) study. Concentrations of this substance will also be limited to 0.005% by mass.

The directive will apply to new products and excludes those already in use or on the second-hand market.