Document QJMvE1yBrKqeXzXG2K5Q4E6nv

Agenda Discussion Action Points 1. Tour de table - FPS Health and Environment Action Points: On the uPFAS restriction: Contact VL colleagues on the tijdelijk - First BE comment on the uPFAS Public Consultation (PC) has been handelingskader submitted in May - Organized ad-hoc BCR meeting in May with colleagues from Contact BXL colleagues FAGG and biocides to discuss the restriction. on PFAS event - Preparing second comment on PC for uPFAS restriction more focussed on socio economic aspects OVAM shares - Q&A on the uPFAS proposal has been published: intermediate data on https://echa.europa.eu/documents/10162/2156610/230405_upf ZZS waste study if as_webinar_qa_ds_en.pdf/3f47fdcc-17c5-4b37-b758- available 720bb7e462f3?t=1687893645025 PFAS in fire-fighting foams (AFFF) restriction scientific opinions have been finalized. Opinions and background document will be send to Commission who will draft a proposal. PFHxA restriction (see next agenda point) Got information that BXL is planning on organizing a PFAS event during the BE presidency (June 2024). To be discussed how this would correspond with the other planned PFAS events (VL event and OECD event in February 2024). Question to colleagues: possible to get some more info on the tijdelijk handlingskader on PFAS in soil? has contacted OVAM colleagues who are willing to present the proposal. - FPS Health and Environment PFAS use in Belgian Household textiles study has been finalized, main conclusions: - PFAS are already being phased out in these uses - Only some still use them (one specific case of wallpaper indicated no alternatives available) - Also still use in sprays for reimpregnation - FAGG FAGG is making contact with stakeholders and starting to draft its position on the restriction proposal, will be shared with the CCIM at a later stage. - dOMG Coordinating with other VL colleagues on the uPFAS restriction and other PFAS restrictions. - OVAM OVAM is working on a project regarding "Zeer Zorgwekkende Stoffen" ZZS in waste with VITO, ZZS including PFAS. Will be looking at how to deal with ZZS in recyclable streams. Planned to be finished by the end of the year. Second project: Measurement campaign for ZZS, Thursday next week first meeting on preliminary results. PFAS measurements done in sludge, incinerators, filter media, etc. Also planned to finish end of the year, intermediate data might be available next week. - SPW Search for uses and pollution in the Walloon region. Worked on basis of permits, large amount of potential candidates have been identified. Searching for volunteers to analyse the data and have more detailed inquiry. Survey of the waters and ground characterization, 15 industries with clear suspicion identified. Will be investigated in more detail. No big problems as in VL or other countries have been identified. FYI attended a PFAS congress in Paris, Italy problem with PFAS discussed, big PFAS pollution in Veneto region. Question for OVAM: is the first mentioned study looking at all types of waste or specific? In WL ISSEP study is looking at metal scrubbers and influence of entered material on the outgoing pollutants. OVAM: more broad then PFAS, POP waste also, looking to prioritise those waste streams that are most important, focus on stimulate circularity as much as possible. - FPS economy Study on PFAS is starting soon. Will be looking at PFAS use in Belgium, alternative assessment etc. Between now and 14/07 kick-off meeting colleagues will be invited to attend. State of play in the SEAC First draft opinion on uPFAS delivered, first conclusions on need for restriction and whether most appropriate. Talking about sectors, analysis of alternatives etc. Food packaging sector already looked at as a case study. Plenary meeting in September will be next discussions on consumer mixtures and musical instruments, ski wax and metal plating. asks whether this draft opinion will be public? clarifies that only the third draft opinion will be public and open for comments (60 days. This is planned for end of March next year, but more expecting end of June next year. - OVAM Follow-up of ZZS on EU level contacting colleagues to present the handelingskader. Also additional info might be available on inventory of polluted sites in VL. adds that VL is looking at linking this inventory with the POP requirements for inventory, work in progress between OVAM and local authorities and will be communicated on. Still to check whether suspected sites are actually polluted, this is being checked with local authorities. adds that soil investigations are also being carried out. It is a long list (more then 4000 sites) so capacity on labs and experts is limited. Pressure of local authorities and habitants is difficult. Blood testing is being demanded but limited populations to relevance is not certain. 2. Information note on the PFHxA restriction proposal Presentation on PFHxA proposal. Following steps: notes the proposal is not in line with CSS but also with Submit written precautionary principle, this would set a dangerous precedent. Even comments by 01/09 trying to add uses to the targeted approach would not be ideal, would be Contact other MS to better to look at the proposal as whole again. check positions CCIM feedback possible but notes that the timing is quite short to provide comments development and considering the holiday period and the need to coordinate with different approval of BE position services. VL will be preparing a position with cabinet. will be via BCR clarifies that deadline was set by the Commission. This written comment is only a first step, will be a detailed discussion during the REACH Cee of October, and potential final discussion with vote in December. mentions that this approach also is not in line with what is seen in other Commission initiatives on water etc. There should be consistency between these approaches to ensure that actions complement each other. You cant reach better water quality if the production and use are not phased out. Discussion on the link between this restriction and the AFFF restriction. In theory the Commission has to come with a proposal within 3 months of receiving the opinions. notes that this depends on when ECHA sends the dossier to the Commission. 3. Draft second BE comment on the public consultation of the uPFAS restriction Presentation of the current comment proposal Proposed follow up: (FAGG) explains that on Medical devices first discussions are ongoing on the proposal. Knowledge is still limited as there are a lot of niche uses, in many cases not worth it to redevelop Comment draft will ne shared in the coming weeks. products. For pediatric use they are disappearing from the market. CCIM members send in Difficult to get visibility on the whole sector. information and feedback by 01/09 Medicinal products mentions that new regulation has bene revised, envi risk will also form a more important part in this revision. Envi risk will play a role in whether or not approval granted. Appropriateness of only active substances approach in uPFAS restriction is unclear. Final draft and discussion by midSeptember Use of PFAS in the production of medicinal products can also be important. For example for peptide synthesis this is common to do this in Teflon Finalize and submit 22/09 made vessels. Packaging might be a challenge as well, but are still gathering info on this. Still gathering info is the main action at the moment. Might be the case that they will propose a general derogation of the medical devices, but still under discussion. Or could be looking at longer derogation periods, still to be discussed. Also contacting stakeholders, many indicate challenges, but not all are providing concrete data and/or proof. notes that it would be interesting to have close contact on the development of the FAGG input, it would be ideal to have one combined BE coordinated comment. 4. AOB Next meeting to be planned in September.