Do your products contain Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)? 

PFAS are a large, complex, and ever-expanding group of manufactured chemicals that are widely used to make various types of everyday products. For example, they keep food from sticking to cookware, make clothes and carpets resistant to stains, and create firefighting foam that is more effective. PFAS are used in industries such as aerospace, automotive, construction, electronics, and military. Source.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is investigating the risks posed by PFAS. This is your chance to feed into the HSE call for evidence.

Overview

The UK, Welsh and Scottish Governments have asked HSE and the Environment Agency to prepare a regulatory management options analysis (RMOA) for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). This RMOA will investigate the risks posed by PFAS and recommend the best approach to protect human health and the environment from any identified risks. This call for evidence aims to gather information and evidence that will support HSE and the Environment Agency with the preparation of the RMOA. We are interested in all aspects of the manufacture, import, hazard profile, use and exposure; these include environmental fate, waste and its disposal requirements, recycling opportunities for these substances and products that contain these substances, and any legislation and standards that apply, including product-specific legislation and standards.

UK REACH came into force at the end of the EU exit transition period (31st December 2020) and regulates the access of chemicals to the GB market. Under the Northern Ireland Protocol, EU REACH continues to regulate the access of chemicals to the Northern Ireland market.

Why Be Concerned About PFAS? (Source link)

Concerns about the public health impact of PFAS have arisen for the following reasons:

• Widespread occurrence. Studies find PFAS in the blood and urine of people, and scientists want to know if they cause health problems.
• Numerous exposures. PFAS are used in hundreds of products globally, with many opportunities for human exposure.
• Growing numbers. More than 4,700 PFAS exist, an increasing number as the industry invents new forms of this type of chemical.
• Persistent. PFAS remain in the environment for an unknown amount of time and may take years to leave the body.
• Bioaccumulation. Different PFAS chemicals may enter the food chain in various ways, gradually accumulating and remaining in a body over time—a process due to more intake than excretion of the chemicals.

Background note

PFAS have a wide range of industrial, professional and consumer uses including:

• As chemical intermediates and processing aids for fluoropolymer production
• In surface coatings for textiles, food contact materials and packaging
• In cleaning agents, paints, varnishes, polishes and waxes
• In lubricants
• In pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, medical devices and products
• In the electronics and energy production sectors
• In construction materials, including as polymers
• In heat exchange systems
• In fire suppression systems and in fire-fighting foams
• In mist suppressants for metal plating

All articles, mixtures or substances that intentionally contain PFAS and that are used or marketed in Great Britain are within the scope of this call for evidence. We ask respondents to follow the OECD definition of PFAS:

Fluorinated substances that contain at least one fully fluorinated methyl or methylene carbon atom (without any H/Cl/Br/I atom attached to it), i.e., with the noted exceptions, any chemical with at least a perfluorinated methyl group (–CF₃) or a perfluorinated methylene group (–CF₂–) is a PFAS.

If you are unsure whether the substance you are providing information for is a PFAS, please submit your information anyway.

How to submit comments to the call for evidence

Please visit this link at the HSE website.

We'd really appreciate it if you could let us know if you do decide to comment and what your overall views are. 

The deadline is the 30th January.