WEBVTT 00:00:02.400 --> 00:00:05.040 PFAS have received a lot of attention in recent years... 00:00:05.120 --> 00:00:08.800 from the scientific community, society and politics. 00:00:09.080 --> 00:00:12.680 PFAS make up a large group of man-made substances... 00:00:12.680 --> 00:00:14.640 with specific useful properties. 00:00:15.080 --> 00:00:16.800 As a result, they are used on a large scale. 00:00:16.920 --> 00:00:18.800 Some of these properties are... 00:00:18.800 --> 00:00:21.320 that PFAS are water, grease, and dirt repellent. 00:00:21.440 --> 00:00:23.880 This makes them suitable for applications... 00:00:23.880 --> 00:00:25.720 in textiles and packaging. 00:00:26.160 --> 00:00:31.000 Additionally, PFAS are resistant to corrosive substances... 00:00:31.000 --> 00:00:33.160 can withstand extreme cold and heat... 00:00:33.160 --> 00:00:35.760 and conduct electricity very poorly. 00:00:35.880 --> 00:00:40.600 This also makes them useful in electronic applications and in industry. 00:00:40.600 --> 00:00:43.920 However, these properties also have negative sides. 00:00:44.160 --> 00:00:51.160 PFAS are harmful to the environment and to human health. 00:00:51.160 --> 00:00:53.640 They are a group of substances that break down very poorly... 00:00:53.640 --> 00:00:55.640 in the environment and spread easily. 00:00:55.720 --> 00:00:59.880 As a result, almost all living things come into contact with PFAS: 00:00:59.880 --> 00:01:02.760 plants, animals, and people. 00:01:02.840 --> 00:01:04.960 Even in the vicinity of the RIVM. 00:01:04.960 --> 00:01:06.400 Studies show... 00:01:06.400 --> 00:01:09.600 that almost all Dutch people have PFAS in their blood... 00:01:09.600 --> 00:01:12.880 sometimes at levels that can affect health. 00:01:13.040 --> 00:01:17.360 PFAS have been linked to a weakened immune system... 00:01:17.600 --> 00:01:20.440 increased cholesterol levels... 00:01:20.600 --> 00:01:21.840 and in some cases... 00:01:21.960 --> 00:01:24.400 a potentially carcinogenic effect. 00:01:24.400 --> 00:01:26.520 Once PFAS are present in the environment... 00:01:26.520 --> 00:01:29.680 it is very difficult to remove this group of substances. 00:01:29.680 --> 00:01:32.720 And if it is possible at all, it is often extremely costly. 00:01:32.720 --> 00:01:36.200 That is why it is most effective to address PFAS ... 00:01:36.280 --> 00:01:39.600 before they end up in the environment. 00:01:39.880 --> 00:01:41.400 For this reason, the Netherlands... 00:01:41.440 --> 00:01:46.080 together with Germany, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark... 00:01:46.160 --> 00:01:49.960 has submitted a proposal to restrict the use of PFAS. 00:01:50.280 --> 00:01:54.320 This proposal was submitted to the European Chemicals Agency, ECHA. 00:01:54.360 --> 00:01:58.480 More than 5,600 responses were received... 00:01:58.600 --> 00:02:01.680 from stakeholders, providing additional information... 00:02:01.680 --> 00:02:03.720 about the use of PFAS... 00:02:03.880 --> 00:02:08.200 and the proposed measures. 00:02:08.200 --> 00:02:11.800 In total, this amounted to more than 100,000 pages... 00:02:11.800 --> 00:02:14.280 which have been processed to further improve the dossier. 00:02:14.280 --> 00:02:16.560 Currently, the scientific committees of ECHA... 00:02:16.680 --> 00:02:18.840 are assessing the dossier. 00:02:18.960 --> 00:02:22.520 The plan is to be ready in the spring of 2026. 00:02:22.640 --> 00:02:23.800 After that... 00:02:23.920 --> 00:02:25.760 there will be a consultation... 00:02:25.840 --> 00:02:28.960 giving an opportunity to react on the proposed measures. 00:02:29.080 --> 00:02:31.960 Where possible, we propose to quickly ban PFAS. 00:02:32.120 --> 00:02:35.520 Where that is (not yet) possible, the industry will be given extra time... 00:02:35.600 --> 00:02:36.920 to come up with suitable alternatives. 00:02:36.960 --> 00:02:39.680 In this way, we are trying to ensure that in the future... 00:02:39.680 --> 00:02:42.520 almost no PFAS will end up in the environment.