Document 2jpboevqjbgVXQJxbre5omO8p

Wm == \ EUROPEANCOMMISSION Ef SR [ Brussels. ExvB2 aml] BUND - FrioefthneEdarsth Germany [= ---- Dear I. "Thankyouforyourletter of19 February2024concerning theindustry event at theBASF headquartersand PFASindrinkingwaterinBurgdorf.PresidentvonderLeyenaskedme to replyonherbehalfand Iwouldlike toapofloroadgelaiyedsrepely. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). used in almost all industry sectors andinmany consumer product,indeedrequire special attention. consideritnheglargenumberofcases of contaminationof soil and water including drinking water. That is why the Commission proposed a comprehensivesetofactions foaddressPFASpollution. (P2F0A2S021p8a4r/aUmEe)teardsopwteerdeonin1t6roDduceed cine20t2mh0e, bwrhecieacshtsroetfatpheaDrrinakvimanlgueWeoatfte0r.r1D0iiprge/ccLtifvoer "sum ofPFAS' and 0.50 g/L. for "PFAS Total". The Commission is in the final stage of establishing technical guidelines for monitoring PFAS which will enable to implement the parametricvalues. By January2026 MemberStatsshall takethemeasuresnecessary 0ensure thatwaterintendedforhumanconsumption complieswiththeparametricvalues,depending on heMemberStates"selecteduseofoneorbothparameters. Itshouldbenotedthatthesubstance: trifluoroaceticacid(TFA)isnotincludedinthesetof20 PEAS substanceswndertheparameter "SumofPFAS"anddiscussions whetherifshouldbeconsideredundertheparameter `PFAS "Taore sttillaongloin"g. Duet0recentevolving scientific insights ntotheeffoefPcFAtS substoannhcumeasn health, theCommission's Directorate Generalfor Environmentengagedthe WorldHealth Organisation toconducan in-depthhumanhealthassessmentoftherelevant PEASsubstances indrinkingwater,with aviewtodeterminehealth-basedPFASvaluesfordrinkingwaterand takingintoaccountthe latestscientificknowledge. The finalresultareexpeinc20t26eandd based on these result, taking info account the feasoifibmpliemlenitattioyn. the Commission willconsiderthereviewofthe PFASparamefersundertherecastDrinking WaterDirective. The Commission received the opinion from the European Chemicals Agency on a restriction of all PFAS in fire-fighting foams. This use is one of the main causes of environmental contamination, including drinking water. The Commission is working on a restriction proposal and expects to start the discussion with the Member States in the second half of 2024. Five countries (DE, NL, DK, SE, NO) submitted a restriction proposal to the European Chemicals Agency, aiming to restrict PFAS as a chemical class or group. This restriction proposal is currently being assessed by the Risk Assessment Committee and the SocioEconomic Assessment Committee of the European Chemicals Agency and includes a 6-month consultation. During this consultation over 5 600 comments were received. In line with the applicable procedural rules, the European Chemicals Agency's Committees must finalise their opinions before the Commission can decide on the scope of the restrictions on PFAS. After receiving the opinions, the Commission will prepare a PFAS restriction based on the evidence provided by the ECHA Committees opinions. I thank you for your interest in the chemicals policy and I count on your continued support of our work on improving protection of human health and the environment from exposure to chemicals. Yours sincerely, Electronically signed on 16/05/2024 09:23 (UTC+02) in accordance with Article 11 of Commission Decision (EU) 2021/2121