On February 29th, the European Commission’s REACH committee voted in favor of limiting the presence of PFHxA in various types of materials. Proposed by German authorities in 2020 and later supported by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) in 2021, the proposal highlights specific limitations regarding traces of PFHxA in different types of products.
PFHxA Requirements
The proposed restriction limits the sum of PFHxA and its salts to less than 25 parts per billion (ppb) and the sum of PFHxA-related substances to under 1,000 ppb.
Materials that contact human skin, such as food containers, cosmetic products, and clothing fabrics must limit their traces of PFHxA and PFHxA-related substances within 24 months from the date of entry. Furs, leathers, and textiles that are not included in clothing and clothing accessories have 36 months from the date of entry into force. Firefighting foams used for public service and training purposes have 18 months from the date of entry before the restrictions apply, whereas firefighting foams reserved for civil aviation will have 60 months before the restrictions apply.
About Our Consumer Product Testing
Applied Technical Services offers consumer product testing services that help businesses prepare for regulations, such as those proposed in ECHA’s draft. For more information about ECHA’s proposal, please click here.