Representatives from the RAC and the SEAC outlined the current status of the deliberations and answered questions from participants.
Both committees are in principle in favour of regulating this group of substances. For applications where no alternative technologies are available, exemptions with durations of five or twelve years are envisaged, each supplemented by a transition period of 18 months. At the same time, the RAC emphasised that risk minimisation measures remain necessary even for exempted applications.
This presents significant challenges for surface technology. Of particular relevance is the fact that the planned regulation could apply not only to PFAS-containing wetting agents but also to materials such as PVDF in plant engineering. At the same time, there is a direct link between PFAS-containing wetting agents used for aerosol reduction and the planned exposure limits under the proposed Cr(VI) restriction.
Consequently, two regulatory provisions within the same application segment are currently developing in completely opposite directions. This must be addressed at the appropriate levels.
The public consultation on PFAS runs until 25 May 2026. Take part and actively shape the future regulation of surface technology with your comments.
You can find the link to the video recording of the online webinar here:
Further information and the link to the public consultation can be found here:
Vecco Board
