Per-and poly- fluorinated Chemicals (PFAS)

Italian representative: 
Gianfranco Brambilla, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Food safety, nutrition and veterinary public health

Background: 
Per-and poly- fluorinated Chemicals (PFAS) OECD / UNEP Global Expert Group, started its activities in the 2012, and currently enrols OECD members of academia, governments, as well as representatives of other international organizations.

The PFAS OECD/UNEP Group represents the response to the International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM) Resolution II/5, inviting intergovernmental organizations, governments and other interested parties to: "consider the development, facilitation in an open, transparent and inclusive way of national programs and international management and regulatory approaches, to reduce emissions and the content of relevant per-and poly-fluorinated chemicals in products and work towards global elimination where appropriate and technically feasible."

Scope: 
The PFAS OECD/UNEP Group aims to facilitate the exchange of information between Member States on per- and poly-fluorinated chemicals (PFAS), in order to support a global transition to safer alternatives for both human health and environment. In this context, the activities are aligned with the European Commission's strategy for Sustainable Chemistry 
(https://ec.europa.eu/environment/pdf/chemicals/2020/10/SWD_PFAS.pdf).

Methodology: 
The focus is mainly on those manufacturing activities that represent the main sector of use of PFAS, such as: textiles, paper and materials in contact with food, varnishes and paints, and fire-fighting foams. The information are shared both in the form of documents and webinars, for free consultation - in English. 

Results: 
The dedicated Portal: https://www.oecd.org/chemicalsafety/portal-perfluorinated-chemicals/ provides information on the following areas: a) what are the PFAS; b) Initiatives to reduce environmental and health risk; c) Alternatives to PFAS; d) Production and emissions / environmental fate; e) initiatives taken at the level of individual states. These documents, constantly updated, are the starting point to know the state of the art on per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances assessment and management. Within this frame, the development of analytical techniques and associated strategies to support the reduction/substitution policies in the production, use, and environmental release of PFAS substances, also as unique class of compounds, are included.