Germany and Norway have submitted a report proposing a restriction on Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and its salts, also including substances that may degrade to PFOA (PFOA-related substances). ECHA launches the public consultation on this proposed restriction on17 December 2014, which will end on 17 June 2015.
PFOA and PFOA-related substances provide special properties, such as high friction resistance, low surface energy, as well as water, grease, oil and dirt repellency. They are used in a wide range of industrial applications as well as consumer products. For example : Side-chain fluorinated polymers are widely used in the surface treatment of textiles and leather to provide water, grease, dirt, and oil repellent properties such as sports and outdoor clothing, home textiles and carpets. These repellents are mainly copolymers of fluoroalkyl acrylates and methacrylate. Apart from finished articles, PFOA-related substances are also used in impregnating agents for consumer use.
PFOA is a persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic substance (PBT). Due to these properties it may cause severe and irreversible adverse effects on the environment and human health. Based on their PBT and CMR properties, PFOA and its salt have been identified as substances of very high concern (SVHC) under REACH.
The scope and conditions of restriction are shown as below:
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA, CAS 335-67-1, EC 206-397-9), including its salts, and any other substance having linear or branched perfluoroheptyl derivatives with the formula C7F15- as a structural element, including its salts (except those derivatives with the formula C7F15-X, where X= F, Cl, Br), and any other substance having linear or branched perfluorooctyl derivatives with the formula C8F17- as a structural element, including its salts, (except those derivatives with the formula C8F17-X, where X= F, Cl, Br or, C8F17-SO2X',C8F17-C(=O)OH or C8F17-CF2-X' (where X'=any group, including salts) ). | 1. Shall not be manufactured, used or placed on the market : - as substances, - as constituents of other substances in concentrations equal or above 2 ppb of a single substance, - in a mixture in concentrations equal or above 2 ppb of a single substance. 2. Articles or any parts thereof containing one of the substances in concentrations equal to or greater than 2 ppb of a single substance shall not be placed on the market. |
Safety/EMC/Wireless
Inspection & Audit
Testing/Compliance/Consultation
(USA & CANADA)
