PFAS restriction process: Echa’s RAC opinion

The European Chemicals Agency’s (Echa) Risk Assessment Committee (RAC) has concluded its evaluation of the universal restriction proposal on all per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Its opinion is the first part of Echa’s two-committee scientific evaluation of the proposal.

RAC is one of Echa’s two scientific committees responsible for evaluating EU-wide restriction proposals under the EU’s chemicals regulation, REACH. RAC evaluates the risks to human health and the environment resulting from the manufacture, placing on the market and use of chemicals while the Socio-Economic Analysis Committee (Seac) evaluates the socio-economic impacts of a restriction taking into account the availability of alternatives.

RAC has adopted its opinion drawing on an extensive and independent evaluation of PFAS hazards, volumes, emissions, risks and the likely effectiveness of a restriction as well as its practicality, including enforceability. Its evaluation is based on the proposal submitted in January 2023 by the national authorities of the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Norway and Sweden, which covered all PFAS and all uses. The adopted RAC opinion will be published soon, providing full details of the opinion content.

The draft opinion of Seac, currently in the approval phase, will instead be subject to a 60-day consultation, while final adoption of the opinion itself is expected by the end of 2026. This adoption will conclude Echa Committees’ scientific evaluation of the proposed restriction, and the opinions are formally submitted to the Europea Commission. The latter, based on the two opinions, will propose a restriction for discussion and vote in the Reach Committee, composed of EU Member States.

PFAS are highly persistent chemicals that do not break down in the environment and can travel long distances through water and air. Once released in the environment, they tend to pollute groundwater and drinking water, which is difficult and costly to remediate. Certain PFAS accumulate in people, animals and plants and can cause toxic effects including cancer and harm to reproductive health. The proposal to restrict PFAS in the EU/EEA (European Economic Area, which includes Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) was prepared by authorities in Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden. It was submitted to ECHA on 13 January 2023. It aims to reduce PFAS emissions into the environment and make products and processes safer for people.