Document dnzyg6M764oEqerq4vVm0mDmG

| EN EUROPEAN COMMISSION Bl ve reo ours ficeche Exc Vice resentMeans Trvmernans Brussels. 1 December 2020 ea:I On behalf of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans and Commissioners Thierry Breton, KadriSimsonandVirginijusSinkevicius. 1 would like tothankyouforyour letterof20 July2020 addretsostheemd. In the meantime, on 14 October 2020, we have launched the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability (COM(2020) 667 final).The aioftmhe srategy is 0betterprotect human healthandtheenvironmentaspart ofanambitiousapproach,totacklepollutionfromall Sourcesandmove towards atoxic-freeenvironment. Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) require special attention. considering the large numberofcasesof contaminationofsoil and waterinthe EUandglobally. The `Commissionisproposingtophaseoutthe useof PFASin the EU,apartfrom those: applications where itis prtoobveesesentnialforsocietyandforwhichallemative substances do no exist yet. `TheCommhiasaslsospuiblioshendaseparatestaf workingdocumonePnFAtS (SWD (2020) 249 final), where we discuss regulatory and non-regulatory approaches for the different PFAS graondutheiprusses, including fluoropolymers. `We acknowledge the important role that luoropolymers have in the platinum group `metals (PGM)catalysts ofcertainelectrolysersandfuel cells. Toaddressthisissue,the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability proposes financial support for research and innovationprogrammes toremediateandsubstitutetheuseofPFAS.Furthermore,we propose to identifyusescriticalforsocietyandallowthemonlyifsuitablealiematives are not available. E-mail: secretariai@nrogeneurope.eu CSomomission 5.1--09 --ru--nes Europese Commas,0.140Bisel Buen. Asanextstep followingourchemical strategy,we expectthatarestrictiononPEASwill bediscussedbythe EuropeanChemicalsAgencyin 2021/2022. Follthoeowpiinionnogf the ECHA's committees, the Commission will develop the legislative proposals for restricting PFASunderthe REACH legislation. Throutghehseostuepts.wewillcontinueto consultwithstakeholdersand stakeholder `groupsto ensurethatthedifferentactionsbythe Commissionarealignedwiththebroad overarchingobjectivessetunderthe EuropeanGreenDeal. Weareeagertocontinueourdialogueandwork with youontherealisationof the `EuropeanGreen Deal,toensurethatourambitiousobjectivesinthe Hydrogen Strategy aregoingtobeachieved. Yourssincerely, BN conical sign 520004(OTC)croc wth ile 1 ofcommisionOctocm)4 2