Thailand to regulate PFOA by Hazardous Substance Act 
NOTE:
Ministry of Industry of Thailand published “Notification of Ministry of Industry B.E. 2565 (2022): List of hazardous substances (No.7)” in the Royal Gazette on 21 December 2022. See more details in the following:
Thailand adds PFOA in the List of Hazardous Substance
On 9 February 2022, the Department of Industrial Works, Ministry of Industry of Thailand opened a draft notification to revise the hazardous substance list under Hazardous Substance Act B.E. 2535 (1992) for the public hearing process. The purpose is an addition of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) to the list. Prior to this, DIW announced the first draft regarding the PFOA addition in May 2021. This second public hearing process will be closed on 25 February 2022.
Exemption for unintentional trace contaminants
The update from the 1st draft is the exemption for unintentional trace contaminants. The Department of Industrial Works has studied the European Union Regulation (2019/1021) to determine concentrations of unintentional trace contaminants. As a result, the following exemptions under Type 4 (banned substances) are prescribed in the draft.
| PFOA and its salts | Perfluorooctanoic acid
CAS No. 335-67-1 |
Exemption
1. Concentration not more than 0.0000025 % by weight (≤ 0.0000025% w/w) or 2. Contained in polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) micro powders produced by ionizing irradiation or by thermal degradation, at a concentration not more than 0.0001% by weight (≤ 0.0001% w/w) |
| Ammonium Perfluorooctanoate
CAS No. 3825-26-1 |
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| Sodium Perfluorooctanoate
CAS No. 335-95-5 |
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| Potassium Perfluorooctanoate
CAS No. 2395-00-8 |
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| Silver Perfluorooctanoate
CAS No. 335-93-3 |
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| Perfluorooctanoyl Fluoride
CAS No. 335-66-0 |
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| PFOA-Related Compounds | Methyl Perfluorooctanoate
CAS No. 376-27-2 |
Exemption
Impurity at a concentration of not more than 0.0001 % by weight (≤ 0.0001% w/w) and /or when combined with Ethyl Perfluorooctanoate that is an impurity, at the total concentration not exceed 0.0001 percent by weight (≤ 0.0001% w/w)。 |
| Ethyl Perfluorooctanoate
CAS No. 3108-24-5 |
Exemption
Impurity at a concentration of not more than 0.0001 % by weight (≤ 0.0001% w/w) and /or when combined with Methyl Perfluorooctanoate that is an impurity, at the total concentration not exceed 0.0001 percent by weight (≤ 0.0001% w/w)。 |
Specific exemptions by applications;
Following applications will be permitted as Type 3 substances;
- Photolithography or etch processes in semiconductor manufacturing
- Photographic coatings applied to films
- Textiles for oil and water repellency for the protection of workers from dangerous liquids that comprise risks to their health and safety
- Fire-fighting foam for liquid fuel vapor suppression and liquid fuel fires (Class B fires)
- Manufacture of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) for the production of:
o Industrial waste heat exchanger equipment
o Industrial sealants capable of preventing leakage of volatile organic compounds and PM2.5 particulates
- Manufacture of polyfluoroethylene propylene (FEP) for the production of high-voltage electrical wire and cables for power transmission
- Manufacture of fluoroelastomers for the production of O-rings, v-belts, and plastic accessories for car interiors
Download the draft notification at
http://php.diw.go.th/rubfung/upload1/file1_146.pdf
