Guidance on best available techniques (BAT) and best environmental practices (BEP) for the use of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and related chemicals listed under the Stockholm Convention, updated 2021

  • Date 2021-07-26

The Convention prohibits the production and use of PFOS and its related chemicals except in certain applications or as intermediate in the production of chemicals used in these applications. Producer and/or users of PFOS have to register with the Secretariat of the Convention and should take into account guidance on BAT and BEP. They were encouraged by the Conference of the Parties to implement recommendations on risk reduction for PFOS, its salts and PFOS-F that relate to the different stages in the life cycle of PFOS and processes and materials containing PFOS. This guidance (March 2021) has been developed to guide producers and users in adequately addressing the risks of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and its related substances.

Main target audience is staff responsible for developing management plans for the application of BAT and BEP for the production and use of PFOS and technical staff involved in their implementation.

Go to: Stockholm Convention 

Further literature:

UBA: Report "Best available techniques for the substitution of PFOS in surface treatment of metals and plastics and analysis of alternative substances to PFOS for use in chromium plating and plastic etching (in German)Report: Best available techniques for the substitution of PFOS in surface treatment of metals and plastics and analysis of alternative substances to PFOS for use in chromium plating and plastic etching" (in German) (Texte | 211/2020)

An overview of possible substitutes for PFOS is also provided in the publication of the German UBA „Verwendung von PFOS in der Galvanik – Kennzeichen eines geschlossenen Kreislaufs, Verwendung von Ersatzstoffen“ (Texte | 63/2016, in German).