EU Member States Vote to Limit PFHxA in REACH Annex XVII
In a recent development, the EU Member States have voted in favor of restricting undecafluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), its salts, and related substances under REACH Annex XVII. This proposal, originally introduced by the German authorities in 2020, gained further support from the scientific committees of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) in late 2021.
The draft regulation is now awaiting review by the European Parliament and the Council before final adoption by the Commission.
Key points of the draft regulation for PFHxA include:
| Restricted Product Categories | Requirements | Proposed Effective Dates (No. of months from the date of entry into force of this Regulation) |
| - Paper and cardboard used as Food Contact Materials (FCM) - Cosmetic products - Mixtures for the general public - Footwear for the general public - Textiles, leather, furs and hides, in clothing and related accessories for the general public | < 25 ppb (Sum of PFHxA and its salts) and < 1000 ppb (Sum of PFHxA-related substances) | 24 months |
| Textiles, leather, furs and hides, OTHER THAN in clothing and related accessories for the general public | < 25 ppb (Sum of PFHxA and its salts) and < 1000 ppb (Sum of PFHxA-related substances) | 36 months |
| Firefighting foams and firefighting foam concentrates for training and for testing Firefighting foams and firefighting foam concentrates for public fire services | < 25 ppb (Sum of PFHxA and its salts) and < 1000 ppb (Sum of PFHxA-related substances) | 18 months |
| Firefighting foams and firefighting foam concentrates for civil aviation | < 25 ppb (Sum of PFHxA and its salts) and < 1000 ppb (Sum of PFHxA-related substances) | 60 months |
The draft regulation for PFHxA brings about significant implications for manufacturers, distributors, brands, retailers, and other stakeholders operating in the EU market. To ensure compliance, businesses should review the material content of their products falling within the scope of the restricted product categories listed in the regulation.
To ensure compliance with REACH regulations and to effectively address the potential inclusion of these chemicals such as PFHxA, it is recommended to have REACH Testing conducted by a reliable third-party provider such as QIMA.
For the latest updates on product safety standards and regulations, visit Regulatory Updates. We provide regular updates to help you stay informed and ensure compliance with the latest requirements.
Related Articles
