Europe’s proposed PFAS ban: The next big thing in medical device design and supply

By Miranda McLaren | Elkem | March 5, 2024

Read the full article by Miranda McLaren (Elkem)

"On 13 January 2022, five EU member states submitted an official proposal to ban an entire chemicals class containing some 10,000 substances to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). As ECHA reviews the restriction proposal, which it published on 7 February 2023, what might follow would be the most extensive chemical ban in European history.

The chemical class in question is pre- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), used heavily by multiple industries for many decades. Should the ban enter into force, it would prohibit the manufacture, use, or placing on the EU market of PFAS chemicals on their own or within another substance. In this short read, we explain what PFAS are and why they are being banned, how this will impact the medical device industry, and what happens next.

What are PFAS?

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are a group of synthetic chemicals with multiple fluorine atoms attached to an alkyl chain. PFAS are used to make fluoropolymer coatings that resist heat, water, oil and stains. They have a very low coefficient of friction and are also known for their extreme durability. These properties have made them popular in the textiles, food packaging, medical device, non-stick cookware, and electricals industries to name just a few examples."