Highlights from November RAC and SEAC meetings

ECHA/NR/24/35

The Committees for Risk Assessment (RAC) and for Socio-Economic Analysis (SEAC) reached provisional conclusions on the proposed restriction of PFAS in three sectors.

Helsinki, 5 December 2024 – In their last meetings for 2024, RAC and SEAC provisionally concluded their evaluation of the following sectors from the EU-wide proposal to restrict per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS):

• Construction products;
• Textiles, upholstery, leather, apparel and carpets; and
• Food contact materials and packaging.

The committees also announced more sectors they will evaluate in the upcoming meetings. In March, they are expected to discuss applications of fluorinated gases, transport and energy for the first time.

After March, the next sectors for discussion are:

• Lubricants
• Medical devices
• Electronics and semiconductors

Other outcomes of the November meetings:

• RAC adopted 12 opinions on harmonised classification and labelling of hazardous substances.
• RAC agreed on three and SEAC on 14 draft opinions on applications for authorisation. Addditionally, RAC agreed one draft opinion on a review report.

More details about these opinions can be found in the annex. Listen also to our Safer Chemicals Podcast with the RAC Chair Roberto Scazzola and the Chair of SEAC, María Ottati.

The opinions and meeting minutes will be available on RAC’s and SEAC’s web pages in the near future. The agendas are already available.

Press contact: Hanna-Kaisa Torkkeli, press@echa.europa.eu, +358 50 416 8585