Ministry of Environment Announces Proposed Draft of "List of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances and Related Management Measures"

• Date:2025-09-15
• Department:Evaluation Management Division

The Ministry of Environment today announced the draft addition of 269 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to the list of chemicals of concern (or "concerned chemical substances"), establishing control concentration standards and operational methods to enhance protection of the environment and public health, while aligning with international management trends.

The Ministry of Environment stated that PFAS is a collective term for a series of chemical substances, numbering over ten thousand types with diverse material forms and wide-ranging applications. Some PFAS, such as perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), its salts and related compounds, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts and related compounds, and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) its salts and related compounds, have been incorporated into toxic chemical substance management by the Ministry of Environment in accordance with the Stockholm Convention due to their obvious environmental and human health hazards, with usage restrictions based on the Convention's control processes and regulations.

Beyond the PFAS reviewed under the Stockholm Convention, given the wide application scope of PFAS and based on preventive management principles, the Ministry of Environment has inventoried domestically operated PFAS and, according to their different material forms and operational risks, planned the draft of "List of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances and Related Management Measures", adopting a tiered management approach to manage domestic PFAS appropriately.

This announcement categorizes PFAS into three groups based on operational risk: "Perfluoroalkyl acids, their precursors and other per- and polyfluoroalkyl compounds", "polymeric PFAS", and "gaseous PFAS", with a control concentration standard of 0.1% and respective management measures established for each category. For manufacturing, importing, selling, using, or storing "Perfluoroalkyl acids, their precursors and other per- and polyfluoroalkyl compounds" at concentrations of 0.1% or above, approval documents must be obtained, monthly records kept, and quarterly reporting required. Additionally, containers and packaging must be labeled and safety data sheets (SDS) must be prepared.

For "polymeric PFAS" and "gaseous PFAS" at concentrations of 0.1% or above but below 30%, container and packaging labeling is required, with other operations not subject to Toxic and Concerned Chemical Substances Control Act (hereinafter referred to as the "Act"). Manufacturing or importing PFAS polymers or gases at concentrations of 30% or above requires approval documents, monthly records with quarterly reporting, proper labeling container and packaging, and preparation of SDS.

The Ministry of Environment noted that the addition of these 269 substances has a broad impact scope and they will continue communication with industry to monitor subsequent management conditions, while coordinating with other ministries and agencies for joint PFAS management.

The Ministry of Environment emphasized that these 269 PFAS substances are announced as chemicals of concern, with uses for experimental, research, educational and testing purposes not subject to the Act. A two-year grace period is planned for handlers following the announcement's implementation.

For information related to this announcement, please refer to the Ministry of Environment's news section for downloadable attachments (https://enews.moenv.gov.tw/), or download it from the Executive Yuan Gazette Online (https://gazette.nat.gov.tw/egFront/) three days after the announcement date. Comments or revision suggestions from all sectors to the Ministry of Environment are welcome within 60 days of the publication of the announcement for consideration (Email: yiting.chao@moenv.gov.tw).