EUU, Alm.del - 2022-23 (2. samling) - Supplerende svar på spørgsmål 49: Spm. om, hvilke interessenter, virksomheder mv. ministeriet har været i dialog med i forbindelse med ønsket om at indføre et forbud imod anvendelsen af PFAS, til miljøministeren, kopi til udenrigsministeren

Europaudvalget 2022-23 (2. samling)
EUU Alm.del
Offentligt

Kernkade 14, 3542CH, Utrecht NL

Postbus 40278, 3504 AB, Utrecht NL

Tel (31) (0)30 241 69 93

Fax: (31) (0)30 241 58 26

KvK Utrecht Nr. 30196531

BTW: NL 812957258

ABN-AMRO Nr. 450044769

E-mail: [email protected]

www.fluortubing .com

Date: 23/09/2021

Kind attention:

Mr. Martijn Beekman - Netherlands

Dr. Mandy Lokaj - Germany

Mrs. Jenny Ivarsson - Sweden

Mr. Toke Winther - Denmark

Mr. Audun Heggelund - Norway

Mr. Mark Blainey - ECHA

[email protected]

Through:

Pro-K Industrieverband Halbzeuge und Konsumprodukte aus Kunststoff e.V. (pro-K), Städelstr. 10,

60596, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

The members of pro-K mainly focus on processing of Fluoropolymers, part manufacturing and its

applications, the involvement of downstream users in PFAS process.

Subject:

PFAS restriction proposal & request for exemption of FLUOROPOLYMERS

Reference:

PFAS - Registry of restriction intentions until outcome (RoI) dated 15

July 2021

Dear Sir/Madam,

With regards to Registry of Intention (RoI) filed by 4 EU Member States (Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden,

and Denmark) & Norway for the restriction of PFAS, we, a member of fluoropolymer downstream user

industry, hereby, would like to share some salient facts related to the importance of fluoropolymers, critical

functionalities, performance and benefits of its applications to society, while acknowledging concerns

regarding PFAS emissions related to the use of fluoropolymers and their end of life.

Registry of Intention for PFAS restriction was announced by ECHA on 15

July 2021, to prepare a restriction

proposal for PFAS. Fluoropolymers are also included in the scope. The restriction proposal is intended to be

submitted to ECHA by 15

July 2022.

Fluoropolymers are a distinct subset of PFAS and are inherently safe, non-mobile, non-bio accumulative and

non-toxic. Fluoropolymers are different from other PFAS as they

do not share the toxicological and

environmental profiles

associated with PFAS of concern. Fluoropolymers have

unique set of physicochemical

properties,

they meet OECD polymer of low concern criteria, and are considered to have

insignificant

environmental and human health impact.

Fluoropolymers ensure safety, reliability, durability and critical performance in numerous technologies,

industrial processes and everyday applications that are important for human health, safety, and the

environment. With a unique combination of functionalities, fluoropolymers are irreplaceable across many key

sectors/applications. Alternatives to fluoropolymers, if exist, escalate safety risks, carbon footprint,

technology regression, and do not match the advanced performance of fluoropolymers. Most importantly,

Algemene voorwaarden gedeponeerd K.v.K. Utrecht onder nr.: GV5590

EUU, Alm.del - 2022-23 (2. samling) - Supplerende svar på spørgsmål 49: Spm. om, hvilke interessenter, virksomheder mv. ministeriet har været i dialog med i forbindelse med ønsket om at indføre et forbud imod anvendelsen af PFAS, til miljøministeren, kopi til udenrigsministeren

restriction on fluoropolymers will make EU industry lose its technological superiority over other economies

and could put Europe’s climate and energy goals at risk. Overall, fluoropolymers contribute heavily to Europe’s

socio-economic status and are critical for the betterment of the society.

The fluoropolymer downstream user industry acknowledges the concerns regarding PFAS emissions due to

the use of fluoropolymers and end of life processes. We wish to assure the authorities and EU Member States

that, we are implementing Best Available Technologies to ensure reduction in PFAS emissions in a systematic

way and eventually eliminating them to achieve EU’s sustainability goals. Parallelly, we are consciously working

on recyclability and reusability to meet circular economy goal.

Fluoropolymers play an important role in achieving EU Green Deal objectives and UN Sustainable Development

Goals (UN SDG) because of their vital use in Lithium-ion batteries, Green hydrogen, Fuel Cell, Solar and Wind

energy. No new-age technologies are possible without the use of fluoropolymers. Restriction on the use of

fluoropolymers would adversely impact implementation of these technologies crucial for planet’s future as

well as in all existing applications vital for the society.

Considering the benefits of fluoropolymer applications to environment and society, low PFAS emissions and

initiatives being taken by the processing industry to further minimize emissions and closing the loop by

implementing circular economy wherever possible, we request for a

complete exemption of fluoropolymers

from the PFAS restriction proposal.

Fluoropolymers processed by us:

PTFE Fine Powders

Service application industries:

Green Hydrogen, Energy Flue Gas Cleaning, Food, Pharma, Energy, Transportation, Fuel transportation,

Medical.

Sincerely yours,

Name and signature

Jan van Dam

Chief Engineer

Company name and address

Fluortubing

Kernkade 14

3542CH Utrecht

The Netherlands

Algemene voorwaarden gedeponeerd K.v.K. Utrecht onder nr.: GV5590