Register of Specific Exemptions: Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, its salts and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride

Parties may register for specific exemptions listed in Annex A or B pursuant to paragraph 3 of Article 4. These specific exemptions have a limited timeframe and shall expire five (5) years after the date of entry into force of the Convention with respect to that particular chemical (paragraph 4 of Article 4), unless an earlier date is indicated in the Register by the Party or an extension is granted by the Conference of the Parties under paragraph 7 of Article 4.

By decision SC-7/1 and decision SC-9/1, the Conference of the Parties noted that as there were no longer any Parties registered for the specific exemptions for the production and use of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, its salts and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride as adopted by decision SC-4/17, no new registrations may be made with respect to them.

By decision SC-9/4, the Conference of the Parties decided to amend Annex B with a new listing, including amended specific exemptions and acceptable purposes for perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, its salts and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride.These amendments will enter into force on 3 December 2020, on expiry of one year from the date of communication by the depositary of the adoption of the amendment, for all Parties that have not submitted a notification of non-acceptance according to paragraph 3 (b) of Article 22. For those Parties that made a declaration pursuant to paragraph 4 of Article 25, the amendment will enter into force on the ninetieth day after deposit of its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession.

Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (CAS No: 1763-23-1), its salts and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride (CAS No: 307-35-7)

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As adopted by decision SC-9/4 [From 3 December 2020 onwards]

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 ActivitySpecific exemptionPartySorted By Party In Ascending OrderExpiry dateEstimated quantity of production / usPurpose(s) of production / useReason for exemptionRemarks
Use02• Fire-fighting foam for liquid fuel vapour suppression and liquid fuel fires (Class B fires) in installed systems, including both mobile and fixed systems, in accordance with paragraph 10 of part III of Annex B.Argentina06/04/2028Not provided02• Fire-fighting foam for liquid fuel vapour suppression and liquid fuel fires (Class B fires) in installed systems, including both mobile and fixed systems, in accordance with paragraph 10 of part III of Annex B.There appears to be no import or use of these foams, which are not produced in the country. Nonetheless, such foams could remain present in different types of establishments, therefore the specific exemption is requested until it can be ascertained that there are no fire-fighting installations with this type of foam.Quantities used are unknown. 

Note by Secretariat:
 Informal translation on registration – original received in Spanish.
Use01• Metal plating (hard-metal plating) only in closed-loop systemsNorway03/12/2025Not provided• Metal plating (hard-metal plating) only in closed-loop systemsNot provided 
Use02• Fire-fighting foam for liquid fuel vapour suppression and liquid fuel fires (Class B fires) in installed systems, including both mobile and fixed systems, in accordance with paragraph 10 of part III of Annex B.Republic of Korea02/06/2026Not provided02• Fire-fighting foam for liquid fuel vapour suppression and liquid fuel fires (Class B fires) in installed systems, including both mobile and fixed systems, in accordance with paragraph 10 of part III of Annex B.There is a need to phase out the use of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, its salts and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride for fire-fighting equipment in order to enable the replacement of fire-fighting equipment and the treatment of waste generated thereof. 
Use01• Metal plating (hard-metal plating) only in closed-loop systemsViet Nam02/12/2025Not provided• Metal plating (hard-metal plating) only in closed-loop systemsCurrently Viet Nam has still used PFOS as the input materials for direct production and in the articles, products, commodities and equipment containing PFOS in several fields such as: metal plating, fire-fighting foam.

According to Viet Nam’s Law on Environment Protection 2020, precise amounts of PFOS imported and used by each enterprise will be reviewed and approved by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) on case-by-case basis.

Since 2020, Viet Nam has internalized the requirements on POPs management of the Stockholm Convention in Viet Nam's environmental protection legislation.

The PFOS management has been regulated under the Law on Environmental Protection 2020 and the Decree No. 08/2022/ND-CP dated 10th January 2022 of the Government guiding the implementation of the Law on Environmental Protection 2020 that purpose is to protect human health and the environment from POPs' adverse impact.

Besides, Viet Nam has regulated and implemented to control and monitor for the PFOS and articles, products, equipment containing PFOS under the Circular No. 10/2021/TT-BTNMT dated 30th June 2021 of the Minister of National Resources and Environment on environmental monitoring techniques and management of environmental quality monitoring information and data, including the techniques for monitoring of the POPs (including 12 old POPs and 18 new POPs, covering PFOS) in the environment components and in articles, products, commodities and equipment.

At this time, Viet Nam is developing the draft National Technical Regulation on thresholds for POPs in articles, products, commodities and equipment aims to inspect and assess the quality of articles, products, commodities and equipment containing POPs, including PFOS.

Viet Nam will continue to investigate, inventory, monitor, inspect and assess the PFOS and articles, products, commodities and equipment containing PFOS in conformity with the requirements of the Stockholm Convention in upcoming time.
Use02• Fire-fighting foam for liquid fuel vapour suppression and liquid fuel fires (Class B fires) in installed systems, including both mobile and fixed systems, in accordance with paragraph 10 of part III of Annex B.Viet Nam02/12/2025Not provided• Fire-fighting foam for liquid fuel vapour suppression and liquid fuel fires (Class B fires) in installed systems, including both mobile and fixed systems, in accordance with paragraph 10 of part III of Annex B.Currently Viet Nam has still used PFOS as the input materials for direct production and in the articles, products, commodities and equipment containing PFOS in several fields such as: metal plating, fire-fighting foam.

According to Viet Nam’s Law on Environment Protection 2020, precise amounts of PFOS imported and used by each enterprise will be reviewed and approved by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) on case-by-case basis.

Since 2020, Viet Nam has internalized the requirements on POPs management of the Stockholm Convention in Viet Nam's environmental protection legislation.

The PFOS management has been regulated under the Law on Environmental Protection 2020 and the Decree No. 08/2022/ND-CP dated 10th January 2022 of the Government guiding the implementation of the Law on Environmental Protection 2020 that purpose is to protect human health and the environment from POPs' adverse impact.

Besides, Viet Nam has regulated and implemented to control and monitor for the PFOS and articles, products, equipment containing PFOS under the Circular No. 10/2021/TT-BTNMT dated 30th June 2021 of the Minister of National Resources and Environment on environmental monitoring techniques and management of environmental quality monitoring information and data, including the techniques for monitoring of the POPs (including 12 old POPs and 18 new POPs, covering PFOS) in the environment components and in articles, products, commodities and equipment.

At this time, Viet Nam is developing the draft National Technical Regulation on thresholds for POPs in articles, products, commodities and equipment aims to inspect and assess the quality of articles, products, commodities and equipment containing POPs, including PFOS.

Viet Nam will continue to investigate, inventory, monitor, inspect and assess the PFOS and articles, products, commodities and equipment containing PFOS in conformity with the requirements of the Stockholm Convention in upcoming time.

Expired and withdrawn specific exemptions

Activity

Specific exemption

Party

Expiry date

Estimated quantity of production / use

Purpose(s) of
production / use

Reason for exemption

Remarks

Use

01. Metal plating (hard-metal plating) only in closed-loop systems

Switzerland

07/12/2024

Not provided

• Metal plating (hard-metal plating) only in closed-loop systems

Transition to alternatives not yet completed.

On withdrawal: As the transition to alternatives is completed and the use of PFOS is no longer allowed in Switzerland since 1 April 2024, we would like to withdraw this specific exemption as of now.

 
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As adopted by decision SC-4/17 [Status until 3 December 2020]

All registered exemptions have expired or withdrawn (click on the arrow above to see the records).