On February 25, 2025, the Technology Center for the Implementation of Environmental Conventions under the Ministry of Ecology and Environment issued the "Letter on Soliciting Public Comments for Three Indicative Lists Including the 'Indicative List of Long-Chain Perfluorocarboxylic Acids (PFCAs), Their Salts, and Related Compounds'". The document seeks public feedback on three indicative lists related to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS):
- Indicative List of Long-Chain PFCAs, Their Salts, and Related Compounds
- Updated Indicative List of PFOA (Perfluorooctanoic Acid), Its Salts, and Related Compounds
- Updated Indicative List of PFHxS (Perfluorohexane Sulfonic Acid), Its Salts, and Related Compounds
The deadline for submitting comments is May 19, 2025.
Submission Guidelines:
Comments should be submitted in writing by May 19, 2025 (electronic submissions should be sent to the contact email addresses below).
Contacts:
- Yang Jing, Qin Mingyu
- Tel: 010-82268978, 82268582
- Email: yang.jing@fecomee.org.cn; qin.mingyu@fecomee.org.cn
Key Information on the Three PFAS Indicative Lists
Background:
To protect human health and the environment from persistent organic pollutants (POPs), the international community adopted the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (hereinafter referred to as the "Convention") in 2001. The Convention entered into force for China on November 11, 2004, and currently has 186 Parties globally. The Convention maintains an open list of controlled substances, allowing for the addition of chemicals reviewed by the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee (POPRC) and approved by the Conference of the Parties (COP). To date, 34 types of substances are regulated under the Convention.
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts, and related compounds were added to Annex A (Elimination) in 2019, followed by perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), its salts, and related compounds in 2023. To support implementation by Parties, the Convention Secretariat developed indicative lists for these substances and continues to update them. At its 20th meeting in September 2024, the POPRC recommended that the COP consider listing long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs), their salts, and related compounds in Annex A, with specific exemptions. To address overlaps between long-chain PFCAs and PFOA-related compounds, the POPRC established an intersessional working group to draft an indicative list for long-chain PFCAs and invited Parties to submit additional information or comments.
Purpose:
To support China’s compliance with the Convention and provide scientific, comprehensive information to the POPRC.
Key Content:
The three indicative lists provide detailed information such as CAS numbers, abbreviations, and names for:
- Long-Chain PFCAs, Their Salts, and Related Compounds
- Updated PFOA, Its Salts, and Related Compounds
- Updated PFHxS, Its Salts, and Related Compounds