Per- and polyfluoroalkyl compound substances (PFAS) refers to a class of organic fluorine compounds containing at least one fully fluorinated carbon atom, including but not limited to below substances:
- perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)
- perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA)
- perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA)
- perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs)
- perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS)
- perfluorohexyl sulfonic acid and its salts (PFHxS)
- perfluorobutyl sulfonic acid (PFBS)
- perfluorooctanesulfonyl fluoride (PFOSF), and related substances, etc.
Because of their unique physical and chemical properties, it is widely used in the development of non-sticking, water- and oil-repellent materials. However, such fluorine-containing substances are persistent, bio-accumulative and toxic. If their use persist, not only will they continue to pollute the environment, but also causing serious and irreversible harm to human health once they enter the human body. Therefore, many countries and regions have introduced control measures for PFAS substances.
On October 18, 2021, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a comprehensive strategic roadmap for tackling PFAS pollution The roadmap centers on three guiding strategies:
- Increase investment for PFA research
- Take necessary actions to restrict PFAS chemicals from entering the environment
- Accelerate the clean-up of PFAS pollution
In the future, EPA will take concrete actions to control PFAS substances. The release of this roadmap once again pushed PFAS to the forefront.
At present, many countries and regions around the world have imposed restrictions on PFAS, and the relevant control requirements are summarized as follows:
Country / Region | Related News |
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European Union |
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North America |
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China |
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Japan | In April 2021, Japan recognized PFOA and its salts as Class I substances defined in the Japanese Chemical Inspection Law (CSCL), and prohibited its import, production and sales. And from October 22, 2021, companies are required to label products containing PFOA and its salts |
As the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company, SGS suggests enterprises to pay attention to the regulatory requirements of PFAS. Our experts can help to establish the investigation plans on PFAS, effectively assist you to actively respond to new requirements!
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