Regional policies and regulations against PFAS

Since PFAS were first mentioned in the Stockholm Convention, a lot has happened in terms of their regulation. Hanella Artus gives an overview of the legal framework for PFAS and the efforts to restrict them at EU level. Matthias Barjenbruch gives an insight into the new Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (EU) 2024/3019, which does not regulate PFAS, but is nevertheless of great interest and poses major challenges for operators of wastewater treatment plants. Klara Ramm focuses on a new element of the Directive, extended producer responsibility. Jukka Mehtonnen reports on the actions of EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR) to reduce the impact of hazardous substances, including PFAS, while Lotta Ruokanen presents the regional policy on hazardous substances of the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission (HELCOM). Finally, Gunnar Thorsen presents PARC, a major EU project to assess the risks posed by chemicals to human health and the environment.