The EU's proposal to restrict the use and in some cases ban so-called 'forever chemicals' is facing massive opposition from lobby groups, the corporate watchdog NGO Corporate Europe Observatory said in a recent report.
Following a request from Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden, the European Chemicals Agency is currently assessing a proposal to restrict the use of PFAS, more commonly known as 'forever chemicals'.
PFAS, which are found in a wide range of consumer products and industrial manufacturing, are harmful to human health and the environment, and according to a separate study, the cost of cleaning up PFAS pollution over the next 20 years is estimated at more than €2 trillion.
Despite this, the Corporate Europe Observatory predicts that a strong corporate lobbying campaign in Brussels could prevent the proposal from becoming law.
“Industry is heavily lobbying EU decision-makers, including the European Commission, to protect its profits and PFAS products, despite clear evidence of their devastating health and environmental impacts,” the corporate watchdog said in a press release.
While the process is currently in the hands of the European Chemicals Agency, the NGO says industry lobbyists are mainly targeting the Commission, which is responsible for any future legislative proposal.
According to the Corporate Europe Observatory, in addition to face-to-face lobbying, some of the main tactics used include funding impact assessments and other “industry-favourable studies", and targeting MEPs and regional decision-makers.
The report singles out chemicals trade associations CEFIC and Plastics Europe.
“CEFIC has commissioned studies on the costs of the PFAS proposal which ignore the health and environmental benefits, while Plastics Europe is trying to head-off a ban on fluoropolymer PFAS by promoting weaker alternative measures,” the press release also reads.
In written answers to Euractiv, CEFIC said that the proposed ban “impacts hundreds of interconnected value chains.”
“We remain committed to jointly achieving effective, balanced regulations that address environmental and health concerns whilst safeguarding Europe’s strategic economic and technological capabilities,” CEFIC added.
Plastics Europe also responded to Euractiv's request for comment.
“We have followed the process of [ECHA] to provide knowledge and expertise in the context of the public stakeholder consultation," the association said.
It also warned that a broad ban could lead to “significant and unintended consequences, including disruptions to essential industries".
The watchdog's report also had harsh words for the Commission, saying that it was “offering firm encouragement to PFAS lobbyists and reassuring indications about its future decision-making.”
