Spread to the chip industry! EU proposes to legislate against the use of "permanent chemicals"

Introduction: The EU is planning to launch legislation to ban tens of thousands of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl compounds (PFAS), which are referred to as "permanent chemicals". It is reported that Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden and Norway and other five countries strongly support this proposal. If the proposal is approved, it will be implemented as soon as 2026. PFAS is widely used in electronic equipment, wind turbines, solar panels, cosmetics, medical equipment, industrial equipment and cooking utensils, and is crucial for chip manufacturing.

After the news came out, major chip suppliers in Europe warned that if the ban was implemented, it would cause great interference to the industry.

According to the data, PFAS has extremely stable chemical structure and unique chemical characteristics, as well as water and oil resistance, and has been highly favored by manufacturers for a long time. It will be used in the production process of tens of thousands of products, including automobiles, textiles, medical equipment and non-stick pans. However, studies in recent decades have found that PFAS is highly associated with health risks such as cancer, hormone dysfunction, weakened immune system and environmental damage.

Five European countries, including Germany and the Netherlands, have proposed that the EU phase out "permanent chemicals". In a recent joint statement, they said that if the proposal was adopted, it would become "one of the largest bans on chemical substances in the history of Europe".

"In the long run, banning the use of PFAS will reduce the number of PFAS in the environment, which will also make relevant products and processes safer for human beings," they added.

If this legislative proposal is approved, it will enter into force as early as 2026. According to the draft proposal, once the ban takes effect, relevant enterprises will have a transition period of 18 months to 12 years to introduce PFAS substitutes, which depends on the importance of relevant industries and the availability of substitutes. Some industries, such as medical equipment parts, will be allowed to have a transition period of up to 12 years, while other ordinary industries must be adjusted within 18 months.

In the list of industries that may cause injuries under the "permanent chemicals" ban, the chip industry undoubtedly stands out. Some local chip suppliers in Europe have warned this week that the EU's ban on "permanent chemicals" will cause widespread damage to the already strained semiconductor supply chain.