PFAS are synthetic chemicals widely used in everyday life, which accumulate in the environment for a very long period of time and can cause numerous consequences for health, including cancer, liver damage and reduced fertility. They can be found, for example, in food contact materials, textiles, electronics or building products.
ECHA follows the demands of Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, Sweden and Norway to restrict the use of thousands of synthetic chemicals. The national authorities of these states have been investigating the use and risks of PFAS to humans and the environment for the past three years and submitted a restriction proposal to the EU Chemicals Agency in January.
