EU to ban chemicals used in manufacture of fishing clothing
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The European Commission is to ban the sale of a substance that is widely used in the manufacture of fishing rain jackets.
New measures under the REACH Regulations – the EU chemicals legislation – is banning the use of undecafluorohexanoic acid (PFHx4) and PFHxA related substances which are said to pose an ‘unacceptable’ risk to human health and the environment.
The PFHx4 restriction will formally come into force 20 days after the publication in the Official Journal and take effect after a transitional period of between 18 months to five years, allowing time for a safer alternative to be found.
The restriction will ban the sale and use of PFHxA in consumer textiles – such as rain jackets. The EU Commission said: “This restriction is an important step forward in reducing PFAS emissions as PFHxA is often used as a substitute for another already banned PFAS. It is based on the scientific assessment of ECHA’s committees and has successfully passed the scrutiny of the European Parliament and Council.”
PFAS are called ‘forever chemicals’ because they do not break down in the natural environment. Used in many industrial processes and many consumer products, PFAS requires special attention, taking into account the large number of cases of contamination of soil and water – including drinking water.
In the past 20 years the EU has taken increasing action to tackle PFAS pollution. As indicated in its Chemical Strategy for Sustainability, the Commission is committed to take a comprehensive set of actions to address the use and contamination of PFAS under REACH, the EU chemical legislation, and under other environmental and human health specific legislations.