German engineering association calls on EU for PFAS exemptions

BERLIN—Germany's engineering industry association, VDMA, has called on European Union authorities to reconsider proposals to ban around 10,000 per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS).

On March 22, the European Chemical Agency launched a six-month consultation process on the proposals, drawn up by Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden.

In its recently issued response, VDMA warned that a wholesale ban would "threaten the existence of many mechanical engineering companies."

Many "indispensable components such as seals" would be affected bringing "serious consequences for many everyday products," said the industry body.

Adding that "practically every machine" and product produced would be impacted, VDMA emphasized that "there is no substitute for (PFAS) today or in the foreseeable future.

"We support the EU's plan to ban all harmful PFAS if they enter the environment," said VDMA Executive Director Thilo Brodtmann.

He added, however, that this criterium only applies to some substances covered by the EU proposals.

"The EU is overshooting the mark by far with this regulation," he added, noting that "no one can predict the consequences if 10,000 substances are now banned."

Brodtmann said the future of energy-transition would be jeopardized, as there would be no wind turbines or heat pumps, for example.

Therefore, VDMA urged the responsible EU authorities to revise the proposal toward exempting "low hazard potential" substances.

These, it added, could include polymers of low concern and their production.

Furthermore, VDMA demanded that the ban "must distinguish" more strongly how great the risk of environmental pollution is.

"Components inside a machine have no direct contact with the environment; the rule here must be: No ban where there is no risk."

The VDMA also claimed that the 18-month transition period until the ban takes effect is too short for industrial applications.

"Even to test the possible alternatives for functionality and safe use, a period of several years is needed," it said.

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