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Australia plans to completely ban four persistent organic pollutants including PFAS

Time：

2023-10-12

Australia fully prohibits the import, export, manufacturing, and use of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and its related substances, perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and its related substances, perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) and its related substances, and pentachlorobenzene (PeCB).

Recently, the Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment, and Water Resources (DCCEEW) notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) of the draft chemical management standards for four persistent organic pollutants.

Except for essential use exemptions, it is planned to comprehensively prohibit the import, export, manufacturing, and use of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and its related substances, perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and its related substances, perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) and its related substances, and pentachlorobenzene (PeCB).

As of October 29, 2023, the relevant feedback is as follows:

Material background

PFOA, PFOS and PFHxS are widely used in nonstick and antifouling products, food packaging, fire foam and industrial processes, while PeCB is commonly used as an intermediate for fire extinguishing foam and pesticide manufacturing.

These chemicals belong to the persistent organic pollutants (POPs) listed in the Stockholm Convention, and if not properly controlled, they may cause serious or irreversible harm to the environment.

As one of the contracting parties to the Convention, the Australian government has previously consulted on the inclusion of these chemicals in Schedule 7 of the Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management Standards Register (IChEMS Register).

New risk management regulations

Once listed in Schedule 7 of the IChEMS Register, it means that the import, export, manufacturing, or use of these chemicals in Australia will be prohibited. However, items (products) that appear as unintentional trace pollutants or are used for research, disposal, and use of these chemicals before the effective date of the ban do not apply to this ban.

Not applicable, specifically including:

1. The chemical exists in the form of unintentional trace pollutants (UTC) and its concentration reaches the following levels (except for pentachlorobenzene, those who meet this condition must undergo a review by DCCEEW in Australia before July 1, 2027):

PFOA/PFOS/PFHxS and its salts ≤ 0.025mg/kg;

Single or combined PFOA/PFOS/PFHxS related compounds ≤ 1mg/kg;

PFOA/PFOS/PFHxS and its salts in liquid fuel steam fire fighting foam installed in the system ≤ 0.1mg/kg;

The concentration of pentachlorobenzene is too low for practical application.

2. For research or experimental purposes;

3. Hold relevant hazardous waste import (export) permits.

It is expected that the new management regulations will be implemented on July 1, 2024 (pentachlorobenzene) and July 1, 2025 (PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS and related substances).