Umweltpolitik: Dräger hofft beim PFAS-Verbot auf die Bundesregierung

In the ongoing debate about a far-reaching PFAS ban at EU level, Stefan Dräger, CEO of the Drägerwerk, is eagerly awaiting intervention from the federal government. He suggests that the government could still step in, conducting a political assessment of societal impacts and potentially modifying the proposal. Dräger is hoping that the government's move will save the German industrial location.

PFAS refers to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a group of industrially produced chemicals that are water-, fat-, and dirt-resistant. Over 10,000 different substances within this group are known. These substances accumulate in the environment and the body and are therefore referred to as eternity chemicals. There is evidence that certain PFAS can be harmful to health.

The proposed PFAS regulation, Dräger states, is "existentially threatening, not only for Dräger." He advocates for allowing industries to continue using particularly useful substances, provided they are non-toxic and not water-soluble. The production, use, and disposal of these substances would need to be controlled. While Dräger rejects the term "eternity chemicals," environmental activists have adopted it to create dissent.

The assessment is expected to conclude by the end of 2026. PFAS are already partly regulated internationally, at EU level, and nationally. In the EU, a far-reaching restriction procedure has been underway since 2023, initiated by authorities from five European countries, including Germany. Several variants are being discussed. The option of a total ban is now considered unlikely to be implemented.

The assessment process is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Dräger criticized the push for a ban, arguing that it lacks legitimacy as it is not based on a decision by the Bundestag.