The European Chemicals Agency has issued a proposal to ban the use of PFAS in firefighting foam in all European Union member states. The agency “concluded that an EU-wide restriction is justified as the risks posed by PFASs are currently not adequately controlled and releases should be minimised.”

The proposal would “ban the placing on the market, use and export of all PFASs in firefighting foams.” The Agency predicts that the ban would result in 13,000 tons of PFAS emissions reduced over the next 30 years and the estimated cost would be approximately €7 billion. A six-month consultation period will open on March 23 for anyone to provide “evidence-based comments” on the proposal.