Document QkEJpbGDeKnEkVaJOq9LoQJRE

Ref. Ares(2024>475765 - 22/01 /2024 Ref. Ares(2024)3665462 - 22/05/2024 EUROPEAN COMMISSION DIRECTORATE-GENERAL FOR INTERNAL MARKET, INDUSTRY. ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND SMES Ecosystems I: Chemicals, Food, Retail DIRECTORATE-GENERAL FOR ENVIRONMENT Circular Economy The Directors Brussels GROW.F.l/MB/nt grow.f. 1(2023) 12731099 RECHARGE @rechargebaHeries.org Subject: Request to exclude batteries from the PFAS restriction proposal scope Dear Mr , Ms J, Thank you for your email of 9 November 2023 to Commissioner Sinkevicius in which you inform the Commission on the impact of the PFAS restriction proposal on your industry and on the society. In your email you also request the Commission to exclude batteries from the PFAS restriction proposal. The Commissioner asked us to reply on his behalf. We took note of your position on the restriction dossier as submitted by Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden and Noiway. As you are aware, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is assessing a possible restriction of use PFAS. A stakeholders' consultation on the restriction dossier recently ended. Pollution from PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) is a serious human health and environmental concern, considering the large number of cases of soil and water contamination across Europe - including drinking water. At the same time, PFAS are needed in critical applications, for example in the digital and energy sectors (e.g. semiconductors, electrolysers, batteries etc). For some of these applications, there are currently no suitable alternatives available on the market. Under the current REACH Regulation, derogations from restrictions can be granted based on the assessment of risk, availability of alternatives and socio-economic impacts. Therefore, the Commission envisages derogations for critical uses where no alternatives are currently available, while considering the need to minimise emissions of PFAS for the derogated uses in their entire life cycle. Commission europenne/Europese Commissie, 1049 Bruxelles/Bnissel, BELGIQUE/BELGI -- Tel. +32 22991111 We are stue we will keep in touch during general events organized in relation to PFAS, like we did during the Fipra roundtable on circularity and green transition (8 November) and the FPP4EU collaboration platform (11 December). Our services remain at your disposal in case you wish to receive additional clarifications or information. Yours sincerely, (e-sign) Kiistin Schreiber DG Internal Market, Industry Entrepreneurship and SMEs (e-sign) Aurel Ciobanu-Dordea DG Environment Hl Electronically signed on 22/01/2024 05:28 (UTC+Ol) in accordance with Article 11 of Commission Decision (EU) 2021/2121