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PFAS - per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances have been in the headlines a lot recently.

PFAS is in many products (non-food and food) and plays an important role. However, there are concerns about the safety.

For non-food, Adrian Simpson (Retail Products Policy Advisor) has put together a PFAS working group for members. Members have exclusive access to this free training event tomorrow (2nd March 2023, 10am), focussing on PFAS in retail, where they'll get to hear from speakers such as ChemSec, Fidra and DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs).

Read our blog to learn more - Forever chemicals: What's the big deal? (brc.org.uk)

For PFAS in food, I will be monitoring the situation and updating members in my Emerging Risks and Chemical Contaminants working group.

Some work on PFAS that the BRC has been involved with:

I was happy to support DEFRA and lead the innovations subgroup in producing an innovations policy paper for DEFRA’s considerations of the pros and cons of innovations for PFAS and alternatives. Both Adrian and I was involved on behalf of the BRC, and below is a summary of the situation in food that was submitted.

PFAS in Food (Devina Sankhla, BRC):

  • PFAS is recently gaining interest in the UK due to press coverage and also developments in the EU. Under Commission Regulation (EU) No. 2022/2388* of 7 December 2022, Regulation (EC) No. 1881/2006 was amended regarding maximum levels of perfluoroalkyl substances in certain foodstuffs, applying from 1 January 2023.
  • The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) published a PFAS restriction proposal on 7th Feb 2023**
  • The proposal is detailed and restricting around 10,000 PFAS. Next steps in the EU are that if the proposal meets legal requirements of REACH in their March 2023 meeting, a scientific evaluation will begin and then a 6 month consultation from the 22 March 2023. This is a lengthy process and the European Commission is expected to take a decision on the PFAS ban in 2025. If passed it would be one of the largest chemical substances ban ever in Europe.
  • Under the restriction proposal, companies will have between 1-12 years to introduce alternatives, depending on the application.
  • For UK retailers any developments will be followed with interest. If suppliers work towards reducing PFAS and looking for alternatives, support will be needed. It is important that technical methodologies are looked into to test for PFAS levels and ensuring alternatives are effective. Shelf life is of particular concern.

* EUR-Lex - 32022R2388 - EN - EUR-Lex (europa.eu)

** All news - ECHA (europa.eu)