Document ZKqQznyprL3dMj5gOEnb5XaO

Meeting with stakeholders on PFAS restriction dossier Short report to be shared with PFAS restriction group and the relevant stakeholder Date: 21 August 2023 Place: Norwegian Environment Agency, Oslo Reporting Member State: o Norway Participants (names and organization): o Member State: o Norwegian Environment Agency (Miljdirektoratet): Anne Line Filtvedt, Angelika Baumbusch, Sandrine Benard and Audun Heggelund o Stakeholder/company: o The Federation of Norwegian Industries (Norsk Industri): Hans Petter Rebo and Cecilie Skarning o Elkem: Bernd Friede o Borregaard: Pl Christian Evensen o GE Healthcare: Jorge Rodas Zavala o Equinor: Slvi Storster Bjrgum o Hitachi Energy: Christer Olerud o ABB: Martin Kristoffersen o GE Vernova: Espen Bostadlkken Role of stakeholder/company: o The Federation of Norwegian Industries (Norsk Industri) is a broad sector organization in Norway covering a range of major industrial companies. o Elkem, Borregaard, GE Healthcare, Equinor, Hitachi Energy, ABB and GE Vernova are different company members of the Federation of Norwegian Industries within different sectors. Specific use sector (if applicable): o Industrial applications, inert materials, manufacture of chemicals, filtration, isolating gases in electrical equipment, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, and petroleum Specific PFAS substance (if applicable): o PFAS in general with a special emphasis on fluoropolymer materials Specific subject (if applicable): o The impact of the restriction proposal on Norwegian industry Stakeholder invited to provide the information presented in call for evidence or public consultation? Yes Report The meeting was organized after an initiative taken by the Federation of Norwegian Industries (Norsk Industri) who contacted the Norwegian Environment Agency and asked for a meeting to discuss the impact of the PFAS restriction proposal on the industry in the country together with some key industrial players. After general introductory remarks, the Norwegian Environment Agency explained the background of the PFAS restriction and why it was considered necessary to initiate the work on a broad restriction covering the whole class of PFAS substances and their applications. The process for development of the restriction dossier was presented, as well as the further process with the proposal at ECHA. It was explained that there is currently a public consultation running for the proposal until 25 September, and this is the key opportunity for industry and other stakeholders to submit information and their comments to the process. Information about missed uses, the availability of non-PFAS alternatives, as well as the impact to industry or society is relevant. To be most useful for the process, the information submitted should be specific, technical and quantitative in order to allow for the relevant assessments. The companies presented their different applications of PFAS and indicated the impact of the PFAS restriction proposal on their business: Hitachi Energy and GE Vernova SF6 free solutions for insulating gases, fluoropolymers for bearings, gliding rings, lubricants and the essential arcing nozzle made from polytetrafluoroethylene in electrical high voltage equipment. ABB Medium voltage electrical equipment, primarily fluoropolymer materials as sealings etc. GE Healthcare Manufacture of pharmaceuticals and the use of fluoropolymer materials in (primary) packaging. Elkem Use of PTFE in membrane filters for filtration of silica fume in the Si/FeSi industry. Borregaard Use of fluoropolymer materials in membranes and equipment in the manufacture of chemicals. Equinor Use of fluoropolymer materials in different types of equipment in the petroleum sector: liners in flexible pipes, pump membranes, O-rings and seals in valves, subsea equipment, compressors, components of instrumentation, expansion bellows and others. The Federation of Norwegian Industries (Norsk Industri) summarized the key points from the meeting from an overarching perspective and offered to cooperate with the authorities in the further process with the restriction proposal, while the Norwegian Environment Agency encouraged all the companies to submit their information and comments to the public consultation.