According to foreign media reports, in 2020, five chemical government authorities in Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden announced that they are drafting a proposal to completely ban perfluoroalkyl compounds (PFAS). It is reported that this proposal is implemented within the framework of the European Union's "Regulation on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals" (REACH). PFAS and other substances "not necessary for the whole society" will be banned in the future. use.

The proposal was originally scheduled to be announced in July 2022, but has now been delayed by six months and is expected to be announced in January 2023. This proposed restriction could have a significant impact on the refrigeration and air conditioning industry, as the European REACH prohibits the possible inclusion of HFC and HFO refrigerants in PFAS substances.
After the publication of the report, there will be a six-month stakeholder consultation period, and the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers are expected to take a final decision in 2025.
It is well known that some PFAS substances are highly persistent in the environment, contaminate groundwater, surface water and soil, and cause serious health effects. The European REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals) Regulation defines which chemicals can be produced and used in the EU.
In practice, this regulation would override F-gas regulations. By definition, PFAS substances range in quantities between 5000 and 10000 chemicals and are used in items such as non-stick cookware, waterproof clothing, food packaging and firefighting foams in addition to refrigerants.
It is unclear * what HFCs and HFOs, if any, may be included in the final proposal, as the definition of PFAS substances may change during this process. According to the current definition, PFOS refers to any substance that contains at least one perfluoromethyl or methylene group that is not directly attached.
As currently defined, a PFAS is any substance containing at least one fully fluorinated methyl (CF3) or methylene (CF2) group and not directly attached to any hydrogen, chlorine, bromine or iodine atom.
The definition will include the high GWP refrigerant R134a, as well as low GWP HFO alternatives R1234yf and R1234ze. However, for example, R32, which is now widely used in small air conditioning units and is an important part of many lower GWP mixtures, is not within the current definition.

About PFAS
PFAS is a general term for a series of synthetic organic fluorides, including PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid), PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate), and many other organic fluorides. Because of its special physical and chemical properties, PFAS is often used to manufacture daily necessities with anti-fouling, waterproof and anti-grease. Since the 1940 s, PFAS have been manufactured and used in multiple industries worldwide, with PFOA and PFOS being the most widely produced and used of these chemicals.
PFAS are usually found in the following products:
Foods: Foods packaged with PFAS-containing materials, foods processed with PFAS-containing equipment, and animals and plants that grow in PFAS-contaminated soil or water (such as fish, shrimp and shellfish).
Household products: including anti-fouling and waterproof fabrics, non-stick products (such as non-stick pans with PTFE coating), polishes, waxes, paints, cleaning products and foam fire extinguishers.
Workplace: Includes production facilities or industries that use PFAS (e. g. chrome plating, electronics manufacturing, or oil recovery).
Drinking water: Usually drinking water in a specific location (e. g. manufacturer, landfill, or wastewater treatment plant).
Because PFAS is widely used in daily necessities, food packaging and other products, people will use these PFAS-containing consumer goods or eat PFAS-contaminated food in their daily consumption, thus being exposed to the substance.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) studies have shown that most PFAS, such as PFOA and PFOS, do not break down in the environment or the human body and remain in the organism for a long time. As people are exposed to PFAS from different sources over time, PFAS levels in the body may increase, leading to health problems such as cancer, liver damage, thyroid disease, and development.
It has previously been reported that PFAS exist in the environment around military bases and manufacturing facilities due to military applications, where PFOA has infiltrated the local water supply system. The presence of PFOA in the blood of local people leads to elevated levels of cholesterol and uric acid and can cause kidney stones and gout. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, PFOA has been detected in the blood of more than 98% of the U.S. population.
In view of the potential persistence, bioaccumulation and toxicity of PFAS, which cause serious and irreversible effects on the environment and human health, more and more countries have issued regulations and requirements on PFAS.
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