September 17, 2013
As of June 1, 2014, Norway will become the first country to ban the use of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in consumer products. The ban will apply to solid and liquid consumer products, as well as to textiles and carpets.
Production, import, export, and sale of textiles and other consumer goods that contain more than one microgram per square meter of PFOA, which can be found in some stain-resistant and water-resistant fabrics, will be prohibited. The restrictions also extend to adhesive, foil, or tape in semiconductors and photographic coatings for film, paper, or screen by January 1, 2016. The prohibitions do not apply to food packaging, food contact materials, or medical devices.
In addition, the Norwegian government says it's working with Germany to drive similar legislation throughout the wider European region. There is a limit related to the ban which varies according to different product types:
- PFOA in a liquid mixture - 0.001% (10 mg/kg)
- PFOA in a solid product - 0.1% (1,000 mg/kg)
- PFOA in textiles - 1 μg/m2
The Ministry has moved to implement the measure as the substance has been shown to be harmful to health and the environment. PFOA has been classified as being a Persistent Bioaccumalative Toxin (PBT) and is considered a substance for concern.