Level 2 minimal - vdma.eu
Legislators must not ignore the reality of everyday industrial life, and this also applies to the EU Commission's Chemicals Action Plan.
In the dispute over the regulation of PFAS, ECHA is signaling initial openness to alternatives to a comprehensive ban. For the industries in Europe that rely on PFAS, this is a cautious signal in the right direction.
The new European chemicals package must take greater account of the needs of small and medium-sized companies in particular. General bans are the wrong approach.
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are not only the focus of substance restrictions within the EU but are increasingly being restricted on the state-level in the USA.
Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl compounds (PFAS) are currently polarizing opinion. The EU has come out in favor of a blanket ban on around 10,000 chemicals in this group of substances. At first glance, a well-intentioned approach to protecting the environment, but the announcement puts important industries at risk.
With the impending ban on around 10,000 PFAS industrial chemicals in one fell swoop, the EU is overshooting the mark by a long way. Indispensable components such as seals would be affected - and consequently many products for people's everyday lives. The VDMA is calling for exemptions for PFAS substances that are in machinery and do not come into contact with the environment.
