ECHA consults on plan to ban 200 PFAS chemicals

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has launched a consultation on proposals to ban around 200 highly fluorinated chemicals within the European Union.

ECHA is inviting responses to a consultation on the proposal, in which authorities, companies, organisations and individuals are invited to comment on the restrictions. The consultation is open until 20 June 2018.

The chemicals, which are known by the acronym PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), are toxic, bioaccumulative and persistent in the environment. Many are water soluble and prone to soil leaching, and risk polluting watercourses and drinking water sources. Animal experiments indicate possible health effects on the liver, blood lipids, thyroid hormone, immune system and foetuses.