Denmark To Ban Apparel & Shoes Containing Forever Chemicals
The Denmark Ministry of Environment has taken a decision to ban clothing products and shoes containing per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) also called ‘Forever Chemicals’.
In a statement, the ministry said that a national ban on the import and sale of clothes, shoes and waterproofing agents with PFAS will have a genuine environmental effect in Denmark.
According to the ministry, apparel, shoes and waterproofing agents are amongst the largest sources of PFAS in Denmark’s environment.
“Products which do not contain PFAS are available as alternative options, making a ban viable,” it added in the statement.
However, the ministry has exempted professional and safety clothing from the ban, which have different safety and functionality standards.
“The ban would apply till a European Union ban on PFAS products comes into force,” the ministry stated.
The ban may come into effect from July 1, 2025, with a one-year phasing out period, so the effective date will be July 2026.
Due to their chemical properties, PFAS take a long time to break down and can be found in concentrations in human blood samples and hence have been named forever chemicals.
