HELSINKI – Time may be up on the use of fluorocarbon-based ‘C6’ water repellents in textiles and other consumer goods in Europe, after Germany submitted proposed new rules to restrict perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) coming on to the market.
A consultation period to September 25th has now commenced, but successful appeals to the proposed new legislation are not expected and it’s thought that all fluorocarbon-based water repellents will be banned in future.
In addition, a European Union restriction on C8 to C14 perfluorinated substances used to make durable water repellent coatings will also come into force on July 4th 2020.
