October 11, 2024
As of September 20, 2024, the European Commission (EC) has adopted Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/2462, which amends Annex XVII to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (REACH) of the European Parliament and Council, focusing on undecafluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), its salts and PFHxA-related substances.
The new measures aim to protect consumers’ health and the environment by restricting the use of undecafluorohexanoic acid (‘PFHxA') and PFHxA‑related substances.
The restriction, entry 79 of Annex XVII of Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), will ban the sale and use of PFHxA (without compromising safety) in consumer textiles, such as rain jackets; food packaging, including pizza boxes; consumer mixtures such as waterproofing sprays; cosmetics including skin care products; and in some firefighting foam applications for training and testing. It does not affect other applications of PFHxA, for example in semiconductors, batteries or fuel cells for green hydrogen.
The PFHxA restriction will formally enter into force 20 days after publication in the Official Journal on October 10, 2024. It will take effect after transitional periods between 18 months and five years, depending on the use, allowing time for replacement by safer alternatives.
Specifically:
- April 10, 2026: Fire-fighting foams for training, testing and public fire services.
- October 10, 2026: Textiles, leather, furs and hides in clothing and related accessories for the general public; footwear for the general public; paper and cardboard used as food contact materials within the scope of Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004; mixtures for the general public; cosmetic products as defined in Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009.
- October 10, 2027: Textiles, leather, furs and hides in products other than clothing and related accessories for the general public.
- October 10, 2029: Fire-fighting foams for civil aviation.
Limits include:
- Sum of PFHxA and its salts: < 25 ppb
- Sum of PFHxA related substances: < 1000 ppb
Source
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