EU votes in favour of restricting PFHxA

The substance is used to impart water-resistant properties to footwear and other products.

On 29th February 2024, EU member states voted in favour of implementing restrictions on the use of undecafluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) under REACH (EC) No.1907/2006 Annex XVII. PFHxA is part of a family of chemicals known as per- and poly-fluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), which are highly resistant to degradation and persist for long periods of time when released into ­the environment. These substances are a growing cause of concern, and the decision to impose restrictions upon PFHxA is the most recent development in an ongoing debate about how they should be regulated.

Following approval from EU member states, the draft proposal for the restriction will be reviewed by the EU Parliament and Council before being adopted by the EU Commission. The draft proposal currently prohibits the placing on the market of certain articles and mixtures which contain more than 25 µg/kg of PFHxA, or more than 1 g/kg of its salts and related substances. These restrictions will apply to firefighting foams, textiles, leathers, furs, hides, footwear, paper and carboard food packaging, mixtures and cosmetics.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) and medical devices are currently expected to be exempt from the requirements. It is anticipated that the majority of products within the scope of the regulation will be subject to the restriction on PFHxA two years after its publication. The precise dates from which various products must comply with the requirements in order to be placed onto the market will be confirmed when the final version of the regulation is published.

Publishing Data

This article was originally published on page 2 of the March 2024 issue of SATRA Bulletin.

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