ZVEI-Position on PFAS Regulation within REACH

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large group of chemicals that includes, without question, a number of problematic substances. At the same time, many PFAS – such as fluoropolymers – are safe in use and indispensable for key technologies. A blanket ban would have far-reaching consequences for energy infrastructure, digitalisation, healthcare and industrial value creation. Equally, completely unrestricted use would not be acceptable. The new ZVEI position outlines ways towards a regulatory approach that effectively reduces risks without putting innovation and security of supply at risk.

The current proposal to restrict PFAS on EU level is too broad, too complex and difficult to implement in practice. It creates the risk of supply chain disruptions, ambiguous legal terminology, unrealistic limit values and significant burdens arising from poorly defined exemptions, transition periods and analytical requirements. These contradictions stem in particular from the attempt to regulate more than 10,000 substances and a wide range of applications in a single process, without sufficiently differentiating between them in terms of risk, exposure or technical substitutability.

In ten key demands, the ZVEI sets out why only a nuanced, science-based and industry-proof regulatory approach can strengthen environmental and health protection without undermining Europe’s technological base. The detailed demands can be downloaded here.