1 00:00:00,920 --> 00:00:03,840 PFAS are chemicals found in many products. 2 00:00:04,880 --> 00:00:07,40 These substances spread easily... 3 00:00:07,120 --> 00:00:09,240 are harmful to the environment and health... 4 00:00:09,400 --> 00:00:11,40 and do not disappear. 5 00:00:11,880 --> 00:00:13,0 To prevent new PFAS... 6 00:00:13,80 --> 00:00:14,800 from entering the environment... 7 00:00:15,320 --> 00:00:17,360 five European countries are working together... 8 00:00:17,440 --> 00:00:19,520 on a proposal for an EU ban. 9 00:00:20,600 --> 00:00:22,920 Bureau REACH, part of the RIVM... 10 00:00:23,0 --> 00:00:25,720 is cooperating on behalf of the Netherlands. 11 00:00:26,640 --> 00:00:28,880 The ban would target every type of PFAS... 12 00:00:28,960 --> 00:00:32,40 manufactured in, or imported into Europe... 13 00:00:32,400 --> 00:00:35,920 forcing companies to look for safer alternatives. 14 00:00:36,720 --> 00:00:38,760 In the first phase of the process... 15 00:00:38,840 --> 00:00:40,240 all scientific information... 16 00:00:40,320 --> 00:00:41,960 was collected and studied... 17 00:00:42,120 --> 00:00:44,800 and the applications of PFAS were mapped out. 18 00:00:45,920 --> 00:00:47,560 Stakeholders were given six months... 19 00:00:47,640 --> 00:00:49,640 to share relevant information... 20 00:00:50,760 --> 00:00:53,600 the Dutch House of Representatives was informed... 21 00:00:54,360 --> 00:00:56,240 and finally the five countries prepared... 22 00:00:56,320 --> 00:00:58,520 a dossier containing their proposal. 23 00:00:59,440 --> 00:01:02,480 On 13 January 2023, this dossier... 24 00:01:02,560 --> 00:01:05,40 was submitted to the European Chemicals Agency... 25 00:01:05,120 --> 00:01:08,240 or ECHA, to perform a conformity check. 26 00:01:09,520 --> 00:01:10,960 In the second phase... 27 00:01:11,320 --> 00:01:13,480 ECHA will make the dossier public... 28 00:01:13,760 --> 00:01:16,480 and give people 6 months to respond. 29 00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:18,800 After that, independent scientists... 30 00:01:18,880 --> 00:01:20,520 will give their recommendations... 31 00:01:20,600 --> 00:01:23,40 and then everyone can respond to these too. 32 00:01:24,240 --> 00:01:25,760 In the third phase... 33 00:01:25,960 --> 00:01:28,560 the proposal and the scientific recommendations... 34 00:01:28,680 --> 00:01:30,960 will be submitted to the European Commission. 35 00:01:31,360 --> 00:01:33,640 They will vote on implementing a ban... 36 00:01:34,0 --> 00:01:36,280 and then the law will come into force. 37 00:01:37,40 --> 00:01:39,760 The ban will take effect after a few months... 38 00:01:39,800 --> 00:01:42,320 though for applications that are difficult to replace... 39 00:01:42,400 --> 00:01:45,360 companies will get more time to find an alternative. 40 00:01:46,280 --> 00:01:48,840 Ultimately, a European ban on PFAS... 41 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:52,80 will ensure a safer and healthier living environment.