Document G60R4rqxyQVy8mNkVG1XmO23Y

JB = wooo. 2eoan0n Minutes on the exchange with the Confederationof the German Textile and Fashion Industry 22 March 2023 Participants: I<! Office of the Confederation of the German Textile and Fashion Industry). 20 managers of member associations, Kristin Schreiber (Director DG GROW. Unit GROW. GROW E.1) Ta her introductory words, Ms. Seheiber expressed understanding for the concerns of the textile and fashion industry and especially SMES in this sector. Industry representatives highlighted the potentially very high impactsof the wide restrictionofPFAS. The participants underlined the necessityofdiffereutiating between different uses. They consider se use Of PEAS essential for technical textiles such 2sprotective esis. Moreover, indusiry should be beter ssiubpipliotrytoefd itnestthiengrepsoetaerntcihalansdubsdteitvuetleso.pmSeunptpoorft,suibnstpiatruttiecsu,lairntfeorralSiMaEbSy,lewgoaulllydparlosvoidbiengnefcoerstshaerpyost-o ensure the competitiveness ard stzengthen Europe as an industry location. They were concerned about the incoherenceof different regulatory instruments and conflicting sustainability goals, the interplay between the Ecodesiga Directive and REACH. They far that shifing the burdenofproof for derogations to industry in the REACH revision will mot make processes less burdensome for industry. They prefer semi-dynanic links to dynamic links, a they are more enforceable ad provide better planning security. Ms. Schreiber explaived that heconsiderationof socio-economic aspects (under ke current REACH) and the essential use concept (under the revised REACH) will ensure that critical uses vill sill be possible or only be restricted with long transition periods where no altematives are available. She also agreed that research on substitution should be promoted and supported. withow, however, provoking competion issues. AS 10 the planned changes under the REACH revision, she underscored thar, if conceived in a reasonable manne, they will effectively reduce the burden for industry. In general, Ms. Schreiber encouraged irdustry 10 provide the Commission and ECHA with detailed infor. mation on PEAS, skin sensitisers, essential uss, tc. and to come up with constructive solution proposals.