The German government is reportedly working to prevent a blanket ban on so-called “forever chemicals” within the European Union. According to a report in “Der Spiegel”, this stance creates a divergence from the position of its own top labor protection agency.
These substances, known as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), are widely used in the production of numerous products, including cookware, rainwear, surgical equipment and cosmetics. Concerns surround their potential health risks and their persistence in the environment, as they degrade extremely slowly, if at all.
In January 2023, environmental authorities from Denmark, Norway, Sweden and the Netherlands submitted a restriction proposal to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) concerning PFAS. The German Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health was involved in the development of this proposal, which aims for a broad prohibition of all PFAS substances across the European Economic Area. Studies have linked these chemicals to potential carcinogenic effects and damage to the immune system and reproductive health.
The ECHA is scheduled to make a ruling on the proposal next year. The final decision, however, rests with the European Commission, which will deliberate the matter with the governments of its member states. The German government’s current position contrasts with that of its own regulatory body. A commitment to avoiding “total prohibitions of entire groups of chemical substances” was previously enshrined in the governing coalition agreement. A government spokesperson indicated that the government will advocate for its position to be incorporated into the restriction proposal at the EU level, allowing for continued use of PFAS where suitable alternatives are unavailable and potentially indefinitely.
