On 15 November 2023, the UK Secretary of State published Statutory Instruments S.I. 2023 No. 1217 to amend UK Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Regulation (EU) 2019/1021. A new entry of perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), its salts and PFHxS-related compounds (CAS No. 355-46-4 and others) is added in Part A of Annex I of the UK POPs Regulation. The amendment shall enter into force on 16 November 2023.

Details are shown below:

Restriction

The manufacturing, placing on the market and use of PFHxS, its salts and PFHxS-related compounds, whether on their own, in mixtures or in articles, shall be prohibited, unless:

1. Sum of concentrations of PFHxS and any of its salts is equal to or below 0.025 mg/kg (0.0000025% by weight), and
2. Sum of concentrations of any PFHxS-related compounds is equal to or below 1 mg/kg (0.0001% by weight), where they are present in a substance, mixture or article.
3. For concentrated firefighting foam mixtures that are to be used or are used in the production of other firefighting foam mixtures, sum of concentrations of PFHxS, any of its salts and any PFHxS-related compounds is equal to or below 0.1 mg/kg (0.00001% by weight).

Definition

“Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), its salts and PFHxS-related compounds” means the following:

1. perfluorohexane sulfonic acid, including branched isomers;
2. its salts;
3. any substance that contains the chemical moiety C₆F₁₃SO₂- as one of its structural elements and that potentially degrades to PFHxS.

Following applications of perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), its salts and PFHxS-related compounds have been identified: firefighting foam; metal plating; textiles, leather and upholstery; polishing agents and cleaning/washing agents; coatings, impregnation/proofing (for protection from damp, fungus, etc.); and within the manufacturing of electronics and semiconductors. Other potential use categories may include pesticides, flame retardants, paper and packaging, in the oil industry, and hydraulic fluids.

Note

Annex I: Substances prohibited to be used for manufacturing, placing on the market and use.

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