SG 32/23
New Zealand has launched a consultation on its proposal to restrict PFHxS, its salts and PFHxS-related compounds as a persistent organic pollutant (POP). Comments are accepted until April 5, 2023.
In June 2022, the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention added perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), its salts and PFHxS-related compounds in Annex A (elimination) to the convention without specific exemptions (Decisions SC-10/13 and SC-10/14)
In February 2023, New Zealand’s Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) announced a proposal to restrict PFHxS, its salts and PFHxS-related compounds as a new persistent organic pollutant (POP) in Schedule 2A of the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 (HSNO Act, version as at November 1, 2022)
According to the announcement, comments will be accepted until April 5, 2023. The changes need to be included in the HSNO Act by mid-November 2023
PFHxS, its salts and PFHxS-related compounds are a sub-category of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and have been used in a variety of consumer goods. These include, but are not limited to:
- Firefighting foams
- Metal plating
- Water, grease and dirt protective coatings in textiles, leather, upholstery, paper and packaging materials
- Polishing and cleaning/washing agents
- Coatings and impregnation/proofing, such as those for protection from damp and fungus
- Manufacture of electronics and semiconductors
PFHxS has also been used as a substitute for perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) in many applications.
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