ECHA Announces Next Steps for PFAS Restriction Proposal

On March 13, 2024, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) announced the next steps for its proposal to restrict per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) under REACH. ECHA published the proposal to restrict or ban most uses of PFAS, including in food-contact materials, on February 7, 2023, in response to a proposal from five European Union (EU) Member States (MSs). (More information on the original proposal can be found here.)

After screening the comments received during the consultation on the proposal, ECHA outlined the next steps. Namely, the Agency’s scientific committees for Risk Assessment (RAC) and for Socio-Economic Analysis (SEAC) will evaluate the proposed restriction, along with the comments received. At the same time, the five national authorities who prepared the proposal will update their initial report to address the consultation comments. The updated report by the MSs will also be assessed by RAC and SEAC.

The various sectors and elements will be discussed in the next three committee meetings, to be held in March, June, and September 2024. Food-contact materials and packaging will be discussed during the September 2024 meeting, while cosmetics will be discussed during the March 2024 meeting.