On 8 August 2023, the European Commission has approved and published Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/1608 to amend EU Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Regulation (EU) 2019/1021. A new entry of perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), its salts and PFHxS-related compounds (CAS No. 355-46-4 and others) is added in Part A of Annex I of the POPs Regulation. The amendment shall enter into force on 28 August 2023.

Details are shown below:

Restriction
The manufacturing, placing on the market and use of PFHxS, its salts and PFHxS-related compounds, whether on their own, in mixtures or in articles, shall be prohibited, unless:

1. Concentrations of PFHxS and any of its salts are equal to or below 0.025 mg/kg (0.0000025% by weight), and
2. Sum of concentrations of all PFHxS-related compounds is equal to or below 1 mg/kg (0.0001% by weight),

where they are present in substances, mixtures or articles.

Exemption
For concentrated firefighting foam mixtures that are to be used or are used in the production of other firefighting foam mixtures, the concentrations of PFHxS, its salts and PFHxS-related compounds shall be equal to or below 0.1 mg/kg (0.00001% by weight)

Definition
“Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), its salts and PFHxS-related compounds” means the following:

1. perfluorohexane sulfonic acid, including any of its branched isomers;
2. its salts;
3. PFHxS-related compounds which, for the purposes of the Stockholm Convention, are any substance that contains the chemical moiety C₆F₁₃S- as one of its structural elements and that degrades to PFHxS.

Following applications of perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), its salts and PFHxS-related compounds have been identified: firefighting foam; metal plating; textiles, leather and upholstery; polishing agents and cleaning/washing agents; coatings, impregnation/proofing (for protection from damp, fungus, etc.); and within the manufacturing of electronics and semiconductors. Other potential use categories may include pesticides, flame retardants, paper and packaging, in the oil industry, and hydraulic fluids.

Note
Annex I: Substances prohibited to be used for manufacturing, placing on the market and use.

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