The South Korean government established a joint task force with local industry officials on Wednesday to respond to the European Union's plan to phase out per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The EU plans to publish a draft opinion on PFAS restrictions later this month, aiming for universal adoption by 2027.
The South Korean government on Wednesday, March 25, established a joint task force with local industry officials to address the European Union's plan to phase out per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources said. The task force, including ministry officials, related business associations, and companies, aims to develop a preemptive response strategy ahead of the EU's planned publication of a draft opinion on PFAS restrictions later this month. The EU seeks to universally adopt these restrictions by 2027 at the latest, a development expected to impact a wide range of Korean industries, including semiconductors, batteries, and automobiles. PFAS, dubbed 'forever chemicals' for their strong carbon-fluorine bonds, are used in electronics and semiconductor manufacturing as well as everyday products like food packaging. They accumulate in the environment and human body due to resistance to heat, water, and oil. The ministry stated it will actively respond to the EU's regulatory push while aiding private industries in developing PFAS replacement materials. It has supported R&D projects for PFAS-free textiles and secondary battery materials since 2024. 'Since the EU's PFAS regulation could have wide-ranging impacts on our key industries, the public and private sectors should work closely together to systematically respond to different stages of the EU's push for regulatory legislation,' said Lee Min-woo, director general for industrial policy at the ministry.
