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Corporate commitment to fluorine-free products is further strengthened

GLORIA GmbH welcomes the EU Commission's updated draft regulation for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in firefighting foams. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) submitted the original version of the draft to the EU Commission. The new regulations, which are expected to come into force in mid-2025, represent a significant milestone in protecting people and the environment.

Achim Giesselmann of GLORIA GmbH underscores the company's commitment, stating: "As a responsible company, we phased out PFAS-containing fire extinguishers in the second half of last year and have been relying exclusively on fluorine-free solutions ever since. We support the EU draft regulation and recommend that all users familiarize themselves with the details and plan appropriate measures at an early stage. After all, there are still hundreds of thousands of products containing fluorine in workplaces, for example." The most significant changes in the draft regulation include extending the transitional periods for the sale of fire extinguishers containing PFAS. Another key element of the new draft regulation is the ban on the use of foams containing PFAS for training and testing purposes. Additionally, public fire departments are prohibited

from using foams containing PFAS unless they work in industrial plants that fall under the Seveso III Directive. Finally, the disposal deadlines for PFAS-containing fire extinguishers have been extended until December 31, 2030, allowing for a longer transition period for the proper disposal of existing equipment. For more information on the new regulations, please visit the GLORIA GmbH website at https://www.gloria.de/en/gloria-knowledge/The-GLORIA-Fluorine-Free-Concept/. The updated draft regulation of the EU Commission is also available in English on the EU Commission website: https://ec.europa.eu/transparency/comitology-register/screen/documents/102503/1/consult?lang=en