The main concern related to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is their environmental persistence. If release continues the abundance in the environment and hence exposure to organisms including humans will increase. The EU Committees for Risk Assessment (RAC) and for Socio-Economic Analysis (SEAC) have provisionally concluded on four sectors. The planed universal restriction aims to restrict around 10.000 PFAS, both in the EU and EEA. The restriction considers their persistence nature, as they contaminate water sources and can cause toxic accumulation in organisms. As the proposal covers a wide range of manufacturing sectors and uses, the EU committees for Risk Assessment (RAC) and for Socio-Economic Analysis (SEAC) have decided in their June 2024 meeting to implement the restriction in batches in order to keep the rollout of necessary measures manageable.
The first batch of sectors are consumer mixtures, cosmetics and ski wax; and metal plating and manufacture of metal products. Sectors the RAC and SEAC will focus on in the upcoming September meeting are textiles, upholstery, leather, apparel, carpets (TULAC); food contact materials and packaging; and petroleum and mining. Further sectors for discussion in upcoming meetings after September are applications of fluorinated gases; Transport; and construction products. The PFAS restriction dossier was released for public comment back in 2023. According to the german Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA), it is the most commented restriction dossier of all time. All submitted comments are publicly accessible on the website of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).