SPECTARIS Warns PFAS Ban Threatens Eyewear Coatings and Medical Supply

German industry association SPECTARIS submitted four statements to the European Chemicals Agency’s SEAC consultation, opposing the proposed blanket restriction on over 10,000 PFAS substances. The group advocates for a risk-based approach with exemptions for fluoropolymers, arguing no unacceptable risk has been proven. In eyewear, PFAS enable durable, easy-clean lens coatings; SPECTARIS claims these applications are low-emission and lack equivalent alternatives, warning of reduced product quality and competitiveness. The association also highlights risks to medical technology, noting potential impacts on patient care and the availability of approximately 150,000 established medical devices. SPECTARIS criticizes procedural deficits, including insufficient sector-specific assessments and short transition periods, citing a BDI legal opinion that challenges the ban’s proportionality and regulatory basis.