PFOS Directive Will Carry Out A Big Test For Leather Enterprises

Reporters yesterday learned from the Zhongshan inspection and quarantine bureau that the EU Directive on the restriction of the use of PFOS will be formally implemented in June 27th this year. The implementation of the directive will have an impact on the export of textiles, leather, paper, packaging, dyeing auxiliaries, cosmetics and other products in Zhongshan, and the scope of the impact will be extensive.

PFOS is known as perfluorooctane sulfonyl compounds. It is the main active ingredient of antifouling agents for textiles and leather products. It is widely used in the field of civil and industrial products. It is one of the most difficult organic pollutants to be degraded at present.

In October 25, 2006, the European Parliament adopted the directive to restrict the use of PFOS, which stipulates that EU members will formally implement restrictions on PFOS in June 27, 2008.

Because PFOS has a very wide range in the textile industry, the implementation of this directive will directly affect the export of textiles, leather, paper, packaging, dyeing auxiliaries, cosmetics and other products.

At present, China has not yet developed a textile auxiliaries that can fully comply with EU's PFOS control standards.

Textiles and clothing are one of the six pillar industries in Zhongshan. The European Union is the fourth largest export market in Zhongshan.

At present, there are about 800 textile and garment production and export enterprises in Zhongshan.

Because of the harsh foreign trade environment this year, Zhongshan's textile exports to the EU have slipped year by year.

According to incomplete statistics, in the first quarter of this year, the 11532 batch of textile exports in Zhongshan amounted to US $217 million 934 thousand.

In order to meet the requirements of the PFOS ban standard, textile enterprises must use environment-friendly textile auxiliaries, and their production costs will inevitably increase. At the same time, textile enterprises also need to pay the necessary testing fees.

This is undoubtedly exacerbated by the textile enterprises that survive in the difficult environment.

At present, the developed countries in the United States and Japan show great concern for PFOS substances. Some experts predict that such substances will be completely banned in the next few years.

Therefore, the Zhongshan inspection and Quarantine Bureau recommends that the vast majority of textile enterprises should speed up the upgrading and pformation of PFOS replacement products and production technology, and improve the environmental protection requirements of the products. On the other hand, it is necessary to communicate with relevant European importers as soon as possible, and intensify the selection, testing and application of alternative products, so as to reduce the losses caused by the implementation of the directive.