On August 8 2023, the European Union issued a new regulation (EU) 2023/1608, amending POPs regulation (EU) 2019/1021 , PFHxS, its salts, and related substances have been officially included in the list of prohibited substances under the EU POPs regulation. So far, the list of prohibited substances in Annex I, Part A of the EU POPs regulation has been officially increased from 28 to 29. This regulation will take effect on the 20th day after its publication. The specific information on the newly added substances is as follows:
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Substance |
Specific exemption on intermediate use or other specification |
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Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), its salts and PFHxS-related compounds CAS No 355-46-4 and others EC No 206-587-1 and others “Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), its salts and PFHxS-related compounds” means the following: (i) perfluorohexane sulfonic acid, including any of its branched isomers; (ii) its salts; (iii) PFHxS-related compounds which, for the purposes of the Convention, are any substance that contains the chemical moiety C6F13S- as one of its structural elements and that degrades to PFHxS. |
1. For the purposes of this entry, Article 4(1), point (b), shall apply to concentrations of PFHxS or any of its salts equal to or below 0,025 mg/kg (0,0000025 % by weight) where they are present in substances, mixtures or articles. 2. For the purposes of this entry, Article 4(1), point (b), shall apply to the sum of concentrations of all PFHxS-related compounds equal to or below 1 mg/kg (0,0001 % by weight) where they are present in substances, mixtures or articles. 3. For the purposes of this entry, Article 4(1), point (b), shall apply to concentrations of PFHxS, its salts and PFHxS-related compounds equal to or below 0,1 mg/kg (0,00001 % by weight) where it is present in concentrated firefighting foam mixtures that are to be used or are used in the production of other firefighting foam mixtures. This exemption shall be reviewed and assessed by the Commission no later than 28 August 2026.’
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