Proposed European PFAS ban - potential impact on most refrigerant blends

The European Chemical Agency (ECHA) is proposing a ban on certain refrigerants as PFAS substances under the European REACH regulations. The ban proposals include current lower GWP (Global Warming Potential) HFC/HFO alternative refrigerant blends.

PFAS (Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) have been identified as substances that can contaminate groundwater, surface water and soil.

You can find the ECHA restriction proposal here: https://echa.europa.eu/-/echa-publishes-pfas-restriction-proposal

And you can read a news article from The Cooling Post, which says the proposals would lead to the banning of virtually all the current lower GWP HFC/HFO alternative refrigerant blends, here: PFAS ban affects most refrigerant blends - Cooling Post

Next steps will be for ECHA’s scientific committees for Risk Assessment (RAC) and Socio-Economic Analysis (SEAC) to check that the proposal meets the legal requirements of REACH in their meetings in March 2023. If it does, the committees will begin their scientific evaluation of the proposal and a six-month consultation is planned to start on 22 March 2023.

What do you think about the European proposals?

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