EU adds PFOS into BAN List

EU announced the ban on the sale of Perfluorooctane sulfanate (PFOS) after June 27, 2008. The PFOS Directive in the EU prevents the use of PFOS in carpets, leather, textiles, apparel, paper, packaging and other applications.                             

Due to the difficulty on breaking down PFOS in the environment, PFOS was classed as persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic. Found to cause breast, liver and other cancer in animals, it is found in clothing, carpets, furniture upholstery and other products.                             

PFOS shall not be placed on the EU market or used as a substance in preparations in a concentration equal to or higher than 0.005% of mass. It shall not be placed on the market in semi-finished goods or in parts of such goods if the concentration of PFOS is equal to or greater than 0.1% of mass. 

For textiles or other coated materials, the amount of PFOS must be less than 1 ug/sq m of the coated material.                            

In addition, the bill adding PFOS into the Virtual Elimination List under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act passed the third reading in the Senate to become law in Canada.

Back to Index of August 2008