1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:03,600 This isn't just about PFAS. Pollution knows no borders. 2 00:00:03,720 --> 00:00:09,240 Once you've made these substances, they persist for centuries or millennia. 3 00:00:10,960 --> 00:00:14,440 Recent studies show that chemical substances... 4 00:00:14,560 --> 00:00:20,480 that are called PFAS and are used in many products, persist in the environment. 5 00:00:20,600 --> 00:00:25,160 And some PFAS chemicals are more harmful to health than we thought. 6 00:00:25,280 --> 00:00:29,760 The main concern is the endlessness. We don't know everything yet. 7 00:00:29,880 --> 00:00:31,880 You can't remove them. 8 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:37,960 The current PFAS concentrations are so high that we ingest or inhale too much. 9 00:00:38,080 --> 00:00:43,280 So today the Netherlands, along with Germany, Denmark, Norway and Sweden... 10 00:00:43,400 --> 00:00:49,000 submits a proposal to the European Chemicals Agency to ban PFAS. 11 00:00:49,120 --> 00:00:54,240 This proposal intends to impose a European ban on all types of PFAS... 12 00:00:54,360 --> 00:01:01,040 save a few essential applications, like medical ones we can't do without yet. 13 00:01:01,160 --> 00:01:03,920 We can't solve this alone. 14 00:01:04,040 --> 00:01:09,200 It only works if we reduce PFAS everywhere in Europe... 15 00:01:09,320 --> 00:01:10,720 and we won't use it anymore. 16 00:01:10,840 --> 00:01:17,920 PFAS are in various products, like non-stick pans, cellphones and sun lotion. 17 00:01:18,040 --> 00:01:25,080 Via the production and waste flows, these substances end up in our food and water. 18 00:01:25,200 --> 00:01:28,080 By banning the entire group in one batch... 19 00:01:28,200 --> 00:01:31,880 we prevent one group from being replaced by another... 20 00:01:32,000 --> 00:01:35,680 that only years later may appear just as harmful. 21 00:01:35,800 --> 00:01:39,560 To prevent that ever more people are exposed to these substances... 22 00:01:39,680 --> 00:01:44,480 the standards of using some PFAS have become stricter in recent years. 23 00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:51,080 As the standards are low, you must tackle the production, and we attempt to do so. 24 00:01:51,200 --> 00:01:56,000 The ban should regulate the production, trade and import in one go... 25 00:01:56,120 --> 00:01:57,520 in all of Europe. 26 00:01:57,640 --> 00:02:01,760 We've come a long way, but there's still a lot to do. 27 00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:04,680 We have one more year, so it'll be tight... 28 00:02:04,800 --> 00:02:10,240 but as a Dutch citizen, I'm proud the RIVM plays such an important role. 29 00:02:10,360 --> 00:02:15,160 It's unique to draw up this proposal in a joint effort by five countries. 30 00:02:15,280 --> 00:02:19,000 What may be even more unique is the list of substances. 31 00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:24,360 The PFAS group includes thousands of substances with myriad applications. 32 00:02:24,480 --> 00:02:27,440 I'm glad we tackle it with five countries... 33 00:02:27,560 --> 00:02:32,760 and of course it's crucial the European Commission supports the initiative.