Europaudvalget 2022-23 (2. samling)
EUU Alm.del
Offentligt
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23 September 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]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[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
th
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.
Aflex Hose Ltd, Dyson Wood Way, Bradley Business Park,
Huddersfield, HD2 1GZ, England
T: +44 (0)1422 317200
WWW.AFLEX-HOSE.COM
[email protected]
Registered No. 1088141 A Spirax-Sarco Engineering Company
 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
2698285_0002.png
Registry of Intention for PFAS restriction was announced by ECHA on 15
th
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
th
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, 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.
Aflex Hose Ltd, Dyson Wood Way, Bradley Business Park,
Huddersfield, HD2 1GZ, England
T: +44 (0)1422 317200
WWW.AFLEX-HOSE.COM
[email protected]
Registered No. 1088141 A Spirax-Sarco Engineering Company
 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
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Fluoropolymers processed by us:
Granular PTFE processed through Paste extrusion and sintering to produce
hose liners for hose assemblies.
Service application industries:
The hose products support many key industries. Pharmaceutical production
requires very pure non-contaminating contact materials within flexible connections and PTFE offers the best
possible solution to ensure zero extractables into active pharmaceutical ingredients. Chemical industries typically
require high chemical resistance and often with a combination of elevated temperature. Other key industries are
food, transport (brake lines, engine hoses, electric vehicle battery fluids). In many cases there are no viable
polymeric alternatives to PTFE or similar fluoropolymers.
Sincerely yours,
Name and signature
Dr Leigh Mulvaney-Johnson CEng MIMechE
Company name and address
Aflex Hose Ltd.
Bradley Business Park
Dyson Wood Way
Huddersfield
W Yorks
HD2 1GZ
Aflex Hose Ltd, Dyson Wood Way, Bradley Business Park,
Huddersfield, HD2 1GZ, England
T: +44 (0)1422 317200
WWW.AFLEX-HOSE.COM
[email protected]
Registered No. 1088141 A Spirax-Sarco Engineering Company