Document gbQOM06Xkd3nNMQ9B5Ox2Q5Vq

RECEIVED o pp umi 2082 SEP 2 AN III! I AR .56 _ tits' ORSAtSATOM De COOPRATION ET OE D V iE iO P P E W f CN0MQES OECD ( ( 0 OCDE organisation fob Economo co-oPBmmoH h.development Le Chef de Division The Head of Division DIRECTION DE L'ENVIRONNEMENT ENVIRONMENT DiRECTORATE Division Environnement, sant et scurit Environment, Health and Safety Division ENV/EHS/RV/rs/bl/2002.118 Paris, 12 June, 2002 To: Heads of Delegation to the Joint Meeting of the Chemicals Committee and the Working Party on Chemicals, Pesticides and Biotechnology cc: National Delegations BIAC, TUAC, EEB Dear Madam/Sir, Response to Questions about Risk Management Activities on PFOS I am writing to request your response, by 12 July, to the questions below concerning current or planned risk management activities in your country on PFOS (Perfluorooctane Sulfonate) and its salts. At the 11th meeting of the Task Force on Existing Chemicals (27-28 May 2002), the Task Force endorsed a draft assessment of PFOS and its salts that had been prepared by the US and the UK. The conclusions on the hazards of these chemicals stated that they are persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic to man and the environment. This assessment will be submitted to the 34th Joint Meeting for endorsement and discussion of further work related to the risk management of these chemicals. To prepare for the Joint Meeting discussion on risk management of PFOS, the Task Force requested the Secretariat to gather information from Member countries and industry on current and planned risk management activities. The information collected will be included in a Joint Meeting discussion document. Therefore, could you please respond to the following questions concerning PFOS (a letter with PFOSrelated questions more relevant to industry will be sent to BIAC): 1 Have you identified the exposure situation in your country? If so, please provide details as appropriate (note that the assessment report on PFOS includes some exposure information gathered for OECD countries and non-Member countries; please verify or amend this information as appropriate). If you haven't yet identified the exposure situation, do you plan to do so? 2 Does your country currently regulate (or plan to regulate) the production, importation or use of PFOS compounds? 3 If your country regulates, or plans to regulate PFOS substances: 3.a.1 please summarise the control action, date of implementation (or date the regulation will be proposed), and chemicals covered by the action. 3.a.2 what PFOS substances (or uses) are not covered (or will not be covered) in the regulation and why? 2, rue Andr-Pascal, 75775 Paris Cedex 16, France Tl: +33 (0) 1 45 24 82 00 Ligne directe / Direct line: +33 (0) 1 45 24 93 15 Fax: +33 (0) 1 45 24 16 75 E-mail: Robert.Visser@oecd.org http://www.oecd.org/ehs/ I 4 Are you aware of (or involved with) any voluntary agreement with industry (or initiative by industry) to phase out the production and/or use of PFOS substances? If so, please describe the agreement, and deadline(s) for the phase-out. 5 Has your country taken action (or does it plan to take action) on PFAS (perfluoroalkyl sulfonates)? If so, please answer questions 1 - 4 for PFAS. (PFAS is a generic term that includes PFOS chemicals. One OECD country has initiated regulatory action on the entire category of PFAS.) Please subm it yo ur responses to the questions by 12 July 2002 to Richard Sigman, (Richard.Sigman@oecd.org). Thank you for your assistance. Yours sincerely, Rob Visser