Bid to restrict use of 'forever chemicals' in cosmetics

The European Parliament is to consider a legal change to restrict chemicals in cosmetics.

The chemicals, Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances, or PFAS, persist in the body and nature for a long time and have been linked to increased risk of cancer, reproductive disorders, and weakening of the immune system.

Dublin MEP Barry Andrews is bringing the legal change to the parliament today, and said that it would outlaw the use of these "forever chemicals" specifically in cosmetics.

Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, he said: "There's grades of PFAS, thousands of them. They're everywhere. They're used in all of the manufacturing across industry.

"But there are ones that are particularly prone to causing cancer, genetic mutations, and impact the reproductive system. So they're the ones that we are seeking to have banned from the cosmetics industry, as well as those that are identified as endocrine disruptors.

"These are quite technical amendments. But effectively, we're trying to protect human health.

"We're particularly trying to protect young people who use many of these cosmetics, like long-lasting lipstick or waterproof mascara. And that's what is being proposed today."

He explained that PFAS are often not included in the ingredients in products.

"What we're seeing is actually the opposite. What we're seeing is people are, manufacturers, are labelling PFAS-free cosmetics or PFAS-free frying pans or cookware, but there's no obligation to label these ingredients.

"So what member states are doing across the European Union now is really trying to crack down on this. The most common presence of PFAS is in the water table.

"People who live near former landfill sites ... Dublin Airport has had a problem because of fire retardant substances, which can contain a lot of PFAS.

"So, it's really ever present. And I think what's happening now and what we're trying to do in the European Parliament today is to try to make sure that the law really catches up with the science."

Mr Andrews said there is widespread evidence of major impacts on human health.

There is opposition to the move from industry and from some parties in the European Parliament.

"It's part of a wider sort of battle around the trade-offs that are there between environmental protection and ensuring the competitiveness of our businesses," he added.

"And there is a lobby there that will try to resist this. And of course, chemicals are really important to the Irish economy, and we can't ignore that.

"But I don't think there's a trade-off between human health and the overall competitiveness of the economy. I think that's where we draw the line. And that's why these amendments are very focused.

"They're very targeted on cosmetics, on the cosmetics industry. There are derogations in certain industries, and I think that's appropriate where there are no substitutes for PFAS or Forever Chemicals, places like medicinal products or semiconductor industry, where those derogations are appropriate in my opinion.

"So, it's not about absolutely banning in every circumstance Forever Chemicals, it's about applying the restrictions where the science is very clearly pointing us towards protections for human health."

He said that France is the only country in the EU that has already banned the chemicals but Ireland is following EU rules, particularly around food safety.

"But I think the major change that Ireland has to undertake is around the Water Framework Directive, which requires a lot of monitoring of PFAS, particularly obviously in the water table, but also in soil and in sludge, which has to be, which isn't really being done at the moment.

"There's no overall strategy in Ireland about tackling PFAS, but I think that's common across the European Union," he said.

He added: "It's something that has to be followed up on very, very urgently."

Of the 720 MEPs, the ban has the backing of 60.

Mr Andrews said that they are just the ones that have signed the proposal.

"Parties on the right are against these amendments. Parties to the centre and centre-left are in favour of the amendments. So it'll be quite tight, I think, to see the outcome later on today."