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EU ‘declares war’ on toxic chemicals: why big pharma and IT giants could flee Ireland for the US

The US could be the beneficiary of a potential blanket ban on the use of PFAS, better known as ‘forever chemicals’.

The US could be the beneficiary of a potential blanket ban on the use of PFAS, better known as ‘forever chemicals’.
Andrew KellyREUTERS

The United States could benefit from an exodus of leading pharmaceutical and tech companies from Ireland, as the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) weighs up a proposed ban on ‘forever chemicals’ in the European Union.

The Irish Independent has reported that Pfizer Pharmaceuticals and Intel are among major firms considering the future of their Ireland sites.

What are PFAS, or ‘forever chemicals’?

Since early 2023, the ECHA - a body which says it “implements the EU’s chemicals legislation to ensure the safe use of chemicals across Europe” - has been considering a total ban on perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

PFAS are synthetic chemicals used in a range of industrial processes and consumer products. They are widely utilized by manufacturers because of their resistance to things like heat and corrosion.

Why are PFAS dangerous?

PFAS are known as ‘forever chemicals’ because they are not degradable. “Once released into the environment, these PFAS cannot be broken down into carbon dioxide or methane by bacteria, enzymes, or sunlight,” the European Environmental Bureau explains.

Over time, PFAS can work their way into the Earth’s soil, water and air - and, in turn, into the food and drinking water consumed by humans.

Multiple health effects associated with PFAS exposure have been identified and are supported by different scientific studies,” says the US’s National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

Per the NIEH, adverse health effects associated with PFAS include increased cancer risk and weakened immune systems.

What is the proposed PFAS ban?

The proposed European Union ban on PFAS - put forward by Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and the non-EU member state Norway - would give companies between 18 months and 12 years to bring in alternatives to around 10,000 PFAS.

If the prohibition is approved by EU member states, it is expected to come into force from 2026.

“A ban on PFAS would reduce quantities of PFAS in the environment over the long term,” the five countries said in a statement last year. “It would also make products and processes safer for humans.”

Before a PFAS ban can become EU law, a proposal must be introduced by the European Commission, before being put to a vote by the EU’s member states. Currently, there are 27 countries in the bloc.

What have companies said about PFAS ban proposal?

Pfizer Ireland has said an EU ban on PFAS “would severely threaten the viability of this [the pharmaceutical] sector [in the bloc],” per the Irish Independent. “Investment would more likely flow to outside the EU, where no such ban is applicable, such as to the USA or Singapore.”

Meanwhile, the Irish Independent cited Intel Ireland as saying it “would simply not be possible” to continue its operations in the EU.

What is the PFAS situation in the US?

In the US, many states have adopted policies that implement some level of restriction on the use of PFAS, but no blanket bans currently exist in the country.

According to Safer States, a national alliance of environmental health organizations, three US states - Maine, Minnesota and Washington - have taken the most significant steps to phase out the use of PFAS.

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