EUU, Alm.del - 2022-23 (2. samling) - Supplerende svar på spørgsmål 49: Spm. om, hvilke interessenter, virksomheder mv. ministeriet har været i dialog med i forbindelse med ønsket om at indføre et forbud imod anvendelsen af PFAS, til miljøministeren, kopi til udenrigsministeren

Europaudvalget 2022-23 (2. samling)
EUU Alm.del
Offentligt

Molinetto di Mazzano, 31/08/2021

Kind attention:

Mr. Martijn Beekman - Netherlands

Dr. Mandy Lokaj - Germany

Mrs. Jenny Ivarsson - Sweden

Mr. Toke Winther - Denmark

Mr. Audun Heggelund - Norway

Mr. Mark Blainey - ECHA

[email protected]

Through:

Pro-K Industrieverband Halbzeuge und Konsumprodukte aus Kunststoff e.V. (pro-K), Städelstr. 10, 60596,

Frankfurt am Main, Germany

The members of pro-K mainly focus on processing of Fluoropolymers, part manufacturing and its applications, the

involvement of downstream users in PFAS process.

Subject:

PFAS restriction proposal & request for exemption of FLUOROPOLYMERS

Reference:

PFAS - Registry of restriction intentions until outcome (RoI) dated 15

July 2021

Dear Sir/Madam,

With regards to Registry of Intention (RoI) filed by 4 EU Member States (Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, and

Denmark) & Norway for the restriction of PFAS, we, a member of fluoropolymer downstream user industry, hereby,

would like to share some salient facts related to the importance of fluoropolymers, critical functionalities, perfor-

mance and benefits of its applications to society, while acknowledging concerns regarding PFAS emissions related to

the use of fluoropolymers and their end of life.

Registry of Intention for PFAS restriction was announced by ECHA on 15

July 2021, to prepare a restriction proposal

for PFAS. Fluoropolymers are also included in the scope. The restriction proposal is intended to be submitted to ECHA

by 15

July 2022.

Fluoropolymers are a distinct subset of PFAS and are inherently safe, non-mobile, non-bio accumulative and non-

toxic. Fluoropolymers are different from other PFAS as they

do not share the toxicological and environmental pro-

files

associated with PFAS of concern. Fluoropolymers have

unique set of physicochemical properties,

they meet

OECD polymer of low concern criteria, and are considered to have

insignificant environmental and human health

impact.

Fluoropolymers ensure safety, reliability, durability and critical performance in numerous technologies, industrial

processes and everyday applications that are important for human health, safety, and the environment. With a

unique combination of functionalities, fluoropolymers are irreplaceable across many key sectors/applications. Alter-

natives to fluoropolymers, if exist, escalate safety risks, carbon footprint, technology regression, and do not match

the advanced performance of fluoropolymers. Most importantly, restriction on fluoropolymers will make EU industry

EUU, Alm.del - 2022-23 (2. samling) - Supplerende svar på spørgsmål 49: Spm. om, hvilke interessenter, virksomheder mv. ministeriet har været i dialog med i forbindelse med ønsket om at indføre et forbud imod anvendelsen af PFAS, til miljøministeren, kopi til udenrigsministeren

lose its technological superiority

over other economies and could put Europe’s climate and energy goals at risk. Over-

all, fluoropolymers contribute heavily to Europe’s socio-economic

status and are critical for the betterment of the

society.

The fluoropolymer downstream user industry acknowledges the concerns regarding PFAS emissions due to the use

of fluoropolymers and end of life processes. We wish to assure the authorities and EU Member States that, we are

implementing Best Available Technologies to ensure reduction in PFAS emissions in a systematic way and eventually

eliminating them to achieve EU’s sustainability goals. Parallelly, we are consciously working on recyclability and re-

usability to meet circular economy goal.

Fluoropolymers play an important role in achieving EU Green Deal objectives and UN Sustainable Development Goals

(UN SDG) because of their vital use in Lithium-ion batteries, Green hydrogen, Fuel Cell, Solar and Wind energy. No

new-age technologies are possible without the use of fluoropolymers. Restriction on the use of fluoropolymers would

adversely impact implementation of these technologies crucial for planet’s future as well as in all existing applications

vital for the society.

Considering the benefits of fluoropolymer applications to environment and society, low PFAS emissions and initia-

tives being taken by the processing industry to further minimize emissions and closing the loop by implementing

circular economy wherever possible, we request for a

complete exemption of fluoropolymers from the PFAS re-

striction proposal.

Fluoropolymers processed by us:

…PTFE,

PVDF……………………………………………………………………………………………………

Service application industries:

Medical devices, food contact and

“non

food contact” packaging, Plastic Films in general………………………………………

Sincerely yours,

Name and signature

Andrea Ubbiali…………

Company name and address

Rifra Masterbatches SpA

Via T Tasso, 8

25080

–

Molinetto

ITALY