European Commission Restricts Use of Certain ‘Forever Chemicals’

The European Commission decided to restrict the use of a subset of so-called “forever chemicals.” According to the German Press Agency, the Commission’s Vice-President, Maroš Šefčovič, said on Thursday, “We are removing harmful substances from everyday products such as textiles, cosmetics, and food packaging.” The “forever chemicals,” or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), do not break down in the environment and can harm human health and the environment. The commission stated that the announcement targets perfluorohexanoic acid and its derivatives, which are “extremely persistent and mobile in water, posing an unacceptable risk to human health and the environment.” Šefčovič added, “This restriction of forever chemicals is a crucial step in our strategy to promote sustainability, competitiveness, and innovation in the chemical sector.” The commission mentioned that semiconductors, batteries, and hydrogen fuel cells would be exempt from this regulation, which is set to take effect next month.