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13.05.2008 |
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| Setting out a ban on the use of perfluorooctane sulfonates (also known as "PFOS") by the European Union, the Directive 2006/122/EC that prohibits the sale of goods with the use of PFOS will come effective as from 27 June 2008. |
| While PFOS compounds have long been utilised in industrial processes and consumer goods, including electronic goods, textiles or other coated materials, the impact of compounds on the environment has been found significant as the compounds are bioaccumulative and toxic to mammals with exposure leading to a build-up in living tissue. |
| The ban applies to non-exempt semi-finished products or articles, or parts thereof, if the "concentration of PFOS is equal to or higher than 0.1% by mass calculated by reference to the mass of structurally or microstructurally distinct parts that contain PFOS or for textiles or other coated materials, if the amount of PFOS is equal to or higher than 1 ug/m2 of the coated material". As stated above, a number of exemptions apply and the Directive is intended to only restrict new products and not to apply to products already in use or on the second hand market. |
| In the PFOS Directive, while not all current uses are covered by the ban, the EU is providing for a more complete prohibition. Meanwhile, the European Committee for Standardisation, CEN, is currently developing a test method to determine levels of PFOS to enforce the directive. |
| Source: Hong Kong Trade Development Council |
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