INDUSTRY materials being given special derogations or exemptions. We will have to wait and see though. In a more general statement on the scope of the ban, ECHA stated that the review of comments has brought to focus the possibility of moving forward with a less restrictive approach. ECHA said, “… consideration being given to whether restriction options other than a ban may achieve the regulatory aim to significantly reduce the PFAS emissions.” This is encouraging for any hoping for derogations or exemptions instead of a full phase out and ban of PFAS. None of the statements given in the update are final, and things are definitely expected to change as the committees continue to review comments and move through the process. That being said, it was very nice to get an idea of the mindset of the decision makers and some comments on where the rule stands. 2024 was a busy year for PFAS regulators and users alike. With the EPA, U.S. state, and Canadian reporting requirements, and the individual state-level and EU restrictions, as well actions in other regions of the world, it continues to be obvious that the focus on PFAS in the regulatory sphere is not going away any time soon. As more and more eyes are put on these substances, we can expect there to be much more discussion on how to properly regulate them. The difficulty is finding the correct balance between keeping people and the environment safe from the harmful effects of some PFAS, while also understanding that not all PFAS are the same and that they are powerful tools used in many critical applications. Only time will tell how regulators in different regions of the world will find that balance. Readers should remain vigilant on continued regulatory action on PFAS and have a strategy to react to those requirements. WILLIAM HESLIP is a chemical regulatory compliance manager for Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies in Plymouth, Michigan. He is a graduate of Michigan State University who has worked in the chemical compliance field for more than 10 years, focusing on REACH, RoHS, GADSL, Prop-65, and more recently PFAS. Heslip actively participates in many industry groups, including ARPM, the GADSL Americas Tech Team, AIAG’s Chemical Management & Reporting Advisory Group, and many more. SAFER STATES: AN ALLIANCE FOR A HEALTHIER WORLD 26 STATES have introduced 168 POLICIES to protect people from toxic chemicals. 366 STATE POLICIES have been adopted in 40 STATES. INTRODUCED ADOPTED ADOPTED & INTRODUCED www.saferstates.org WWW.ARPMINC.COM / 23
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