UE: Consulta pública sobre contaminantes orgánicos persistentes (COP): límites para el ácido perfluoroctanoico (PFOA) en micropolvos de politetrafluoroetileno (PTFE)

 

The EU Commission is carrying out a public consultation on an amendment to Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the persistent organic pollutant perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts and PFOA-related compounds.

El artículo 1 del Reglamento (UE) 2019/1021 sobre contaminantes orgánicos persistentes ('Reglamento COP') establece como objetivo de dicho Reglamento proteger la salud humana y el medio ambiente de los contaminantes orgánicos persistentes ('COP') mediante su prohibición, eliminación progresiva tan pronto como como sea posible, o restringir la fabricación, comercialización y uso de sustancias sujetas al Convenio de Estocolmo sobre COP.

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts and PFOA-related compounds have been listed in Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 by Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/784 (‘PFOA entry’).

Following Article 4(1)(b) of the POPs Regulation, the PFOA entry in Annex I includes Unintentional Trace Contaminant (UTC) limits for PFOA, its salts and PFOArelated compounds in some substances, mixtures and articles.

In 2020, ECHA’s Scientific Committees adopted an opinion1 which included the assessment of the two UTC limits set for PFOA in:

• polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) micropowders,
• intermediates used in the production of C6 alternatives

Annex I to the POPs Regulation includes a UTC limit for PFOA and its salts in PTFE micropowders of 1 mg/kg, to be reviewed by 5 July 2022. ECHA’s Committees concluded that processes have been developed to reduce the concentration of PFOA to below the generic UTC level of 0,025 mg/kg (25 ppb) set out in the POPs Regulation. These processes have been successfully implemented by most PTFE micropowder manufacturers. The remaining manufacturers would be able to comply with the limit of 0,025 mg/kg by 5 July 2022. For this reason, the Commission proposes that the specific UTC limit for PTFE micro powders should expire on 5 July 2022.

Se puede acceder a la consulta pública AQUÍ.