1 00:00:02,400 --> 00:00:05,040 PFAS have received a lot of attention in recent years... 2 00:00:05,120 --> 00:00:08,800 from the scientific community, society and politics. 3 00:00:09,080 --> 00:00:12,680 PFAS make up a large group of man-made substances... 4 00:00:12,680 --> 00:00:14,640 with specific useful properties. 5 00:00:15,080 --> 00:00:16,800 As a result, they are used on a large scale. 6 00:00:16,920 --> 00:00:18,800 Some of these properties are... 7 00:00:18,800 --> 00:00:21,320 that PFAS are water, grease, and dirt repellent. 8 00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:23,880 This makes them suitable for applications... 9 00:00:23,880 --> 00:00:25,720 in textiles and packaging. 10 00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:31,000 Additionally, PFAS are resistant to corrosive substances... 11 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:33,160 can withstand extreme cold and heat... 12 00:00:33,160 --> 00:00:35,760 and conduct electricity very poorly. 13 00:00:35,880 --> 00:00:40,600 This also makes them useful in electronic applications and in industry. 14 00:00:40,600 --> 00:00:43,920 However, these properties also have negative sides. 15 00:00:44,160 --> 00:00:51,160 PFAS are harmful to the environment and to human health. 16 00:00:51,160 --> 00:00:53,640 They are a group of substances that break down very poorly... 17 00:00:53,640 --> 00:00:55,640 in the environment and spread easily. 18 00:00:55,720 --> 00:00:59,880 As a result, almost all living things come into contact with PFAS: 19 00:00:59,880 --> 00:01:02,760 plants, animals, and people. 20 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:04,960 Even in the vicinity of the RIVM. 21 00:01:04,960 --> 00:01:06,400 Studies show... 22 00:01:06,400 --> 00:01:09,600 that almost all Dutch people have PFAS in their blood... 23 00:01:09,600 --> 00:01:12,880 sometimes at levels that can affect health. 24 00:01:13,040 --> 00:01:17,360 PFAS have been linked to a weakened immune system... 25 00:01:17,600 --> 00:01:20,440 increased cholesterol levels... 26 00:01:20,600 --> 00:01:21,840 and in some cases... 27 00:01:21,960 --> 00:01:24,400 a potentially carcinogenic effect. 28 00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:26,520 Once PFAS are present in the environment... 29 00:01:26,520 --> 00:01:29,680 it is very difficult to remove this group of substances. 30 00:01:29,680 --> 00:01:32,720 And if it is possible at all, it is often extremely costly. 31 00:01:32,720 --> 00:01:36,200 That is why it is most effective to address PFAS ... 32 00:01:36,280 --> 00:01:39,600 before they end up in the environment. 33 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:41,400 For this reason, the Netherlands... 34 00:01:41,440 --> 00:01:46,080 together with Germany, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark... 35 00:01:46,160 --> 00:01:49,960 has submitted a proposal to restrict the use of PFAS. 36 00:01:50,280 --> 00:01:54,320 This proposal was submitted to the European Chemicals Agency, ECHA. 37 00:01:54,360 --> 00:01:58,480 More than 5,600 responses were received... 38 00:01:58,600 --> 00:02:01,680 from stakeholders, providing additional information... 39 00:02:01,680 --> 00:02:03,720 about the use of PFAS... 40 00:02:03,880 --> 00:02:08,200 and the proposed measures. 41 00:02:08,200 --> 00:02:11,800 In total, this amounted to more than 100,000 pages... 42 00:02:11,800 --> 00:02:14,280 which have been processed to further improve the dossier. 43 00:02:14,280 --> 00:02:16,560 Currently, the scientific committees of ECHA... 44 00:02:16,680 --> 00:02:18,840 are assessing the dossier. 45 00:02:18,960 --> 00:02:22,520 The plan is to be ready in the spring of 2026. 46 00:02:22,640 --> 00:02:23,800 After that... 47 00:02:23,920 --> 00:02:25,760 there will be a consultation... 48 00:02:25,840 --> 00:02:28,960 giving an opportunity to react on the proposed measures. 49 00:02:29,080 --> 00:02:31,960 Where possible, we propose to quickly ban PFAS. 50 00:02:32,120 --> 00:02:35,520 Where that is (not yet) possible, the industry will be given extra time... 51 00:02:35,600 --> 00:02:36,920 to come up with suitable alternatives. 52 00:02:36,960 --> 00:02:39,680 In this way, we are trying to ensure that in the future... 53 00:02:39,680 --> 00:02:42,520 almost no PFAS will end up in the environment.