EU Proposed Restriction on PFAS | Analysis by the law firm Mayer Brown

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has recently published a proposal for an EU REACH Restriction that is the most extensive and controversial to date. The proposal covers the manufacture and use of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) and has been developed over the past two years by Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden.

The proposed restriction would cover around 10,000 substances based on their structural elements and is essentially a complete ban on all uses of PFAS, with only a few temporary exceptions. This could have a significant impact on EU industry.

Companies that produce or use PFAS should evaluate whether their uses may be subject to a temporary exception and prepare to defend their interests during the six-month consultation process, which begins on March 22, 2023, and throughout the decision-making process.

Check out the analysis conducted by the global law firm Mayer Brown for more details on alleged concern, derogations, alternatives, impacts on industry and legal concerns.