ATMOsphere (publisher of R744.com) has joined forces with the International Chemical Secretariat (ChemSec) to explain to interested companies operating with natural refrigerants how to submit relevant data to the ongoing PFAS consultation. The workshop will be held online on June 28 from 11 to 12 CEST.
In February, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), an agency of the EU, published a proposal from the national authorities of Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden to restrict per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) – so-called forever chemicals – under REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals), the EU’s chemicals regulation.
The “Universal Restriction Proposal” – officially known as the Annex XV Restriction Report – would restrict the manufacture, use or sale of certain f-gas refrigerants as substances on their own or in blends according to certain thresholds.
Different commonly used HFCs and HFOs could be subject to this restriction as of 18 months after entry into force.
The definition of PFAS used in the proposal is close to the one adopted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 2021, which includes many f-gas refrigerants and an f-gas degradation product, trifluoroacetic acid (TFA). The proposal defines PFAS as “substances that contains at least one fully fluorinated methyl (CF3-) or methylene (-CF2-) carbon atom (without any H/Cl/Br/I attached to it).”
ChemSec, a leading stakeholder in this space, is an independent nonprofit organization that advocates for the substitution of toxic chemicals to safer alternatives. Based in Gothenburg, Sweden, the organization is active on the PFAS issue, and supports a transition away from PFAS refrigerants where alternatives exist.
During the one-hour workshop, Jonatan Kleimark, Senior Chemicals and Business Advisor, will explain the main provisions dealing with fluorinated refrigerants that are PFAS, and unpack the intricacies of the consultation to attendees.
Kleimark previously participated in ATMOsphere Europe Summit 2022 where he remarked on the need to join the ongoing consultation. The workshop will focus on the need to contribute to the stakeholder consultation, and provide officers working on this proposal with confidential and public data that can support a swift decoupling from PFAS in HVAC&R sectors.
Registration to the webinar is available at this link. ATMOsphere reserves the right to grant access to the webinar.
