Taiwan Announces 269 PFAS Listed as Chemicals of Concern

The Ministry of Ecology and Environment stated that PFAS is a collective term for a series of chemical substances, encompassing over ten thousand types of chemicals, with diverse material forms and wide-ranging applications. Some PFAS, such as perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), its salts and related compounds, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts and related compounds, and perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), its salts and related compounds, have been included in the management of toxic chemicals by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment under the Stockholm Convention due to their significant environmental and human health hazards. The usage restrictions are based on the control processes and regulations of the convention.

In addition to the review of PFAS under the Stockholm Convention, in light of the wide applicability of PFAS and the principles of preventive management, the Ministry of Environment has conducted an inventory of PFAS operated domestically and has developed a draft "List of Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances and Related Management Measures." This draft adopts a tiered management approach to appropriately manage domestic PFAS.

This announcement classifies PFAS into three categories based on operational risks: "perfluoroalkyl acids, their precursors, and other perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances," "polymeric PFAS," and "gaseous PFAS," with a control concentration standard of 0.1% and corresponding management measures for each category. For the manufacture, import, sale, use, or storage of "perfluoroalkyl acids, their precursors, and other perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances" at concentrations of 0.1% or higher, approval documents must be obtained, monthly records kept, and quarterly reports required. Additionally, containers and packaging must be labeled, and safety data sheets (SDS) prepared.

For "polymer PFAS" and "gaseous PFAS" with a concentration of 0.1% or greater but less than 30%, containers and packaging must be labeled; others are not subject to this requirement.The Toxic and Related Chemical Substances Control ActThe actions bound by "the Act" require labeling. The manufacture or import of PFAS polymers or gases with a concentration of 30% or higher requires approval documents, monthly records and quarterly reports, appropriate labeled containers and packaging, and the preparation of SDS.

The Ministry of Environment stated that the addition of these 269 substances has a wide-ranging impact and will continue to communicate with the industry, monitor subsequent management situations, and coordinate joint PFAS management with other ministries and agencies.

The Ministry of Environment emphasized that these 269 types of PFAS substances have been declared as chemicals of concern, and their use for experimentation, research, education, and testing is not subject to the constraints of this act. After the announcement is implemented, transportation personnel are planned to have a two-year grace period.