Document 6b5V6QVXqd5ZneZVvakDnp4Xo

Bl vere ans mE DEIRUERCTOOPRAETAENGECNEORMALM.ISSION BErNuVsBsel2s 0Ars(2020) Deaf "Thank you for your letter, in which you raise the concerns of EU textile companies as regards several regulatory initiatives under the chemical legislation concerning some perand polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). We are aware of the difficulties that many sectors, including the textile sector, are curently facing due to the COVID-19 crisis. The Conumission is carefully examining areas where compliance with EU legislation may become excessively difficult due to the cument exceptional circumstances, and is willing to consider fleibility where legally possible and dulyjustified. However, as regards the amendment of Annex I to Regulation (EU) No 2019/1021 (the POPs Regulation) to include PFOA. its salts and PFOA-related compounds, recently published in the Official Joumal', the Commission is not considering any further amendment. This is because the curent text followed the decision of the Conference of the Parties of the Stockholm Convention. Such decision did not include some of the derogations that were granted under the REACH restriction because, during its assessment, the scientific committee of the Stockholm Convention (POPRC) concluded that altematives were available. I would like to draw your attention to the fact that an exemption is still granted until 2023 for the use of PFOA in textiles for oil- and waterrepellence for the protection of workers fiom dangerous liquids. Another exemption allows the use of PFOA for the production of fluoropolymers to be used in membranes for medical applications.Ifsome of these exemptions are not clear, you can always send usaspecific question and,ifneeded, we will publish a clarification. It is also worth mentioning that Article 4(2) of the POPs Regulation introduces an exemption for articles "already in use" which would apply to texiies not covered by other exemptions produced before the dateofentry into application of the PFOA listing on 4 July 2020. The interpretationof this exemption was discussedi a recent meeting of the POPs Competent Authorities and the Commission will soon publish a clarification. *ips eure copa ees del20207541 pm copeComs rcsBe,BLCRUUBELGE T2911 feces `Concerning PFHA, this substance is in an early stage of the restriction process under REACH and it is curently discussed in ECHA scientific committees. A public consultation is open until 25 September' and a second one will be launched at a later stage, to collect information also on availabilityofaltematives for the different uses. The textile industry is encouraged to contributeto bothpublic consultations. Concerning C9-C14 PFCAs, the Commission is working on an amendment to Annex XVII of REACH to restrict them, basing its proposal on the opinions of the scientific committees of ECHA. However, the Commission proposal will take into account the fact that PFOA is now restricted under the POPs Regulation. Therefore, it is envisaged that the derogations recommended by the ECHA scientific committees would be aligned to the derogations granted under the POP's Regulation. Yours faithfully. e-signed *bitpsechn ropaewes sesition-ntentiony dis detail 000236153230254 * itech europaeudocumenty10162Sasbedee 317-2SESICH BN consiignedcaosl 2075 OTC incrwotharcil 2 alyofdcrdca) ofcompisio ction 30/563