"Australia moves to ban three ‘forever chemicals’ – but family of US teen say more needs to be done", 7 Oct 2023

Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has confirmed the federal government will now effectively ban three of the most notorious “forever chemicals” made by US manufacturer 3M by the end of this year...

By the end of 2023, nine toxic chemical groups listed on the Stockholm Convention including PFOA, PFOS and PFHxS will be listed on the Government’s Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management Standard.

“This means that the import, use and manufacture of over 500 chemicals that are harmful to the environment will be banned or severely restricted,” [Plibersek] said.

The move means Australia will join 171 other countries which have already banned one of the most dangerous forever chemicals after it was added to the Stockholm Convention in 2009...

A 3M spokeswoman said the company had announced its plan to exit all forever chemicals manufacturing by the end of 2025 and would work to discontinue the use of PFAS across its product portfolio.

“We have already reduced our use of PFAS over the past three years through ongoing research and development, and we will continue to seek to innovate new solutions for customers,” she said.

Eleven other companies continue to produce forever chemicals internationally...