PFOS. Oct 19, 2004. UK Letter to Interested Parties: Consultation on proposed national action to restrict the use of perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS) and substances that degrade to PFOS. UK DEFRA.

FLUORIDE ACTION NETWORK PESTICIDE PROJECT

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PFOS

http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/pfos/letter.htm

UK Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)

Consultation on proposed national action to restrict the use of perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS) and substances that degrade to PFOS

Hasmitta Stewart
Chemicals & GM Policy
Zone 3/E5
Ashdown House
123 Victoria Street
London SW1E 6DE
Website http://www.defra.gov.uk

19 October 2004

To: Interested parties

Dear Consultee

CONSULTATION ON PROPOSED NATIONAL ACTION TO RESTRICT THE USE OF PERFLUOROOCTANE SULPHONATE (PFOS) AND SUBSTANCES THAT DEGRADE TO PFOS

1. I write to inform you that a consultation document has been prepared by Defra which seeks your views on the UK proposal to restrict the
supply and use of perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS) and substances that degrade to it.

2. Please respond by 25 January 2005 to:

Mr David Lovell
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Chemicals and GM Policy Division
Zone 3/E5
Ashdown House
123 Victoria Street
London SW1E 6DE

Tel. No.: 020 7082 8104
Fax: 020 7082 8086
E-mail: Chemical.management@defra.gsi.gov.uk

Printed copies of the consultation document can be obtained by writing to or e-mailing David Lovell at the address above.

3. PFOS has been demonstrated to be a chemical of high concern as it meets the criteria of persistence, bioaccumulation and toxicity. As a national initiative the UK has conducted a risk reduction strategy for PFOS and substances that degrade to it following European guidance as
laid out under the Existing Substances Regulation Technical Guidance Document. It is hoped that our actions will help to inform any subsequent EU action.

This followed 3M's (a major global producer of PFOS based in the United States) announcement that the company would phase-out the manufacture of PFOS voluntarily from 2001 onwards. Shortly after this announcement, several OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) countries agreed to informally work together to collect information on PFOS for the purpose of conducting a hazard assessment. The UK and US jointly agreed, via OECD, to work together on a hazard assessment. The US worked on human health and the UK on environment. This hazard assessment was completed and subsequently endorsed (late 2002) by OECD. The hazard assessment concluded that the presence and persistence of PFOS in the environment, combined with its toxicity and bioaccumulation potential indicated a cause for concern to the environment and human health. It has also been found widely in blood samples.

4. All responses to this consultation will be considered and used in the development of the proposal. It should be noted that it is likely that equivalent EU legislation will be developed during the consultation period. In this case the consultation responses and amended UK view will be used in negotiation of any EU Directive. So for this reason it is essential that you provide us with your views in order that we can negotiate, on behalf of UK stakeholders, with compelling and informed evidence. All comments in relation to the proposals and the partial Regulatory Impact Assessment are welcome.

5. The Consultation document includes:

Annex A Draft Regulations (27 KB)

Annex B Partial Regulatory Impact Assessment (170 KB)
(also available at: http://www.fluorideaction.org/pesticides/pfos.uk.impact.statement.pdf)

Annex C Consultation list
(also available at: http://www.fluorideaction.org/pesticides/effect.pfos.class.news.105.htm)

6. In line with Defra's policy of openness, at the end of the consultation period, copies of the responses we receive may be made publicly available through the Defra (Library) Information Resource Centre at Ergon House, Lower Ground Floor, Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR.
The information they contain may also be published in the summary of responses. If you do not wish your response to be made public, you should clearly indicate in your response that it must be treated confidentially. Any confidentiality disclaimer generated by your IT system in an email response will not be treated as such a request.

7. The Library will supply copies of the consultation responses to personal callers or in response to telephone or email requests (tel: 020 7238 6575; email: defra.library@defra.gsi.gov.uk)
Wherever possible, personal callers should give the library at least 24 hours notice of their requirements. An administrative charge will be made to cover photocopying and postage costs.
Should you have a complaint about the consultation process (as opposed to comments about the issues which are the subject of the consultation) then please write to Lance Boxall, Defra's Consultation Co-ordinator, Area 7D Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR.

We look forward to receiving your consultation response.

Yours sincerely
Hasmitta Stewart
Telephone 020 7082 8089
Fax 020 7082 8086
Email hasmitta.stewart@defra.gsi.gov.uk

Page published: 19 October 2004

• See also: ENVIRONMENTAL RISK EVALUATION REPORT: PERFLUOROOCTANESULPHONATE (PFOS) - published by the UK Environment Agency’s Science Group (104 pages)