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German Economic Ministers Oppose Blanket PFAS Ban, Cite Deindustrialization Risks

The EU is exploring limited bans with carve-outs to align environmental health objectives with industrial supply chain demands.

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Overview

  • The Wirtschaftsministerkonferenz has opposed a sweeping PFAS prohibition on grounds that it would trigger widespread industrial decline across EU member states.
  • Chair Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut warned that banning all PFAS compounds would dismantle key manufacturing sectors by removing essential chemical inputs.
  • Schleswig-Holstein Economic Minister Claus Ruhe Madsen noted that of over 10,000 PFAS substances, around 2,000 are deemed harmless and merit exemption.
  • PFAS are used in everything from nonstick cookware to weather-resistant textiles and face scrutiny for their persistence in the environment and associations with liver damage and certain cancers.
  • Ministers also urged improved frameworks for the defense industry, calling for accelerated procurement and targeted infrastructure investments to bolster strategic capabilities.