The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has announced that it expects its committees for Risk Assessment (RAC) and Socio-Economic Analysis (SEAC) to discuss the proposed restrictions of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in f-gas applications at its meeting in March 2025.
“We welcome this announcement from the ECHA,” said Cinzia Verzeletti, a spokesperson for the Coalition for PFAS Free Cooling & Heating. “This marks a pivotal opportunity to accelerate the transition toward safer, sustainable alternatives that align with the goals of the proposed universal PFAS restriction.”
The Coalition for PFAS Free Cooling & Heating is dedicated to promoting natural refrigerants as alternatives to harmful PFAS in the HVAC&R industry and supporting an ambitious European PFAS regulation. ATMOsphere, the publisher of NaturalRefrigerants.com, is a founding member of the Coalition.
“This marks a pivotal opportunity to accelerate the transition toward safer, sustainable alternatives that align with the goals of the proposed universal PFAS restriction.”
Cinzia Verzeletti, Spokesperson for the Coalition for PFAS Free Cooling & Heating
“As a coalition of industry leaders committed to PFAS-free cooling and heating solutions, we recognize the urgency of addressing the environmental and health impacts of fluorinated gases,” Verzeletti added. “Natural refrigerants and other innovative technologies are already proving that a future without PFAS in HVAC&R is not only feasible but also beneficial for businesses, consumers and the planet.”
The proposed restriction – also known as the “Universal Restriction Proposal” – was first submitted to the ECHA in early 2023 by national authorities from Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden. Later that year, a public consultation was held, and the RAC and SEAC began their scientific evaluation of the proposal.
Due to the complexity of the topic, the committees have adopted a sector-by-sector approach to reviewing the proposal and drafting their opinions. During this process, the RAC and SEAC will establish sector-specific exemptions based on the availability of alternatives.
In November, the EU body announced that it is considering “alternative restriction options” following its review of more than 5,600 “scientific and technical comments” submitted during the six-month public consultation period in 2023.
Sector by sector
To date, the RAC and SEAC have reached provisional conclusions on a number of sectors, including petroleum and mining, cosmetics and ski wax.
According to Jonatan Kleimark, Head of Corporate Sustainability at ChemSec, a Swedish environmental NGO, the upcoming sectors, including f-gases and construction, will be more complex, largely due to their economic value and various applications.
“The member states that have submitted the dossier have made a very good case for not having too many derogations on f-gases,” he explained during his presentation at the ATMO Europe Summit 2024.
Following the issuance of the SEAC’s opinion, there will be another period of public consultation.
“There is still a need to reiterate that we have alternatives; we don’t need f-gases,” he said. “Companies that have phased out PFAS need to raise their voice to make sure that everyone understands that there are alternatives.”
The ATMO Europe Summit 2024 was held in Prague, Czech Republic, from November 25–26.
“We urge all stakeholders involved in this discussion to prioritize ambitious yet practical measures that reflect the growing availability and scalability of PFAS-free solutions,” said Verzeletti. “The time to act is now to ensure a sustainable and responsible pathway for the HVAC&R industry. We stand ready to support ECHA, policymakers and industry partners in achieving this critical transition.”
“Companies that have phased out PFAS need to raise their voice to make sure that everyone understands that there are alternatives.”
Jonatan Kleimark, Head of Corporate Sustainability at ChemSec
