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Canada proposes phase out of 'forever chemicals' in consumer products

Canada on Wednesday proposed phasing out "forever chemicals" in many consumer products after finding them to be toxic and harmful at current high levels found in people and the environment.

Restrictions on the Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, would come in over several years starting in 2027, after consultations.

At a fire hall in Montreal, Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault said firefighting foams containing these chemicals would be banned in a first phase, followed by products such as cosmetics, food packaging materials, and textiles.

The prohibition would eventually also target PFAS in prescription drugs and medical devices.

Guilbeault called this "a significant step forward to better protect all Canadians from forever chemicals."

It follows announcements in 2024 of guidelines for PFAS in Canadian drinking water and fertilizer.

The United States, the European Union and Australia have also begun restricting the use of PFAS amid health and environmental concerns.

Testing found PFAS in the Canadian environment, including in the Arctic, in wildlife and "in almost 100 percent of the Canadian population," for example, in blood and brains, according to government documents.

PFAS are human-made chemicals used since the late 1940s to mass produce the nonstick, waterproof and stain-resistant treatments that coat everything from frying pans to umbrellas, carpets, dental floss and ski wax.

Because PFAS take an extremely long time to break down—earning them their "forever" nickname—they have seeped into the soil and groundwater, and from there into the food chain and drinking water.

Chronic exposure to even low levels of the chemicals has been linked to liver damage, high cholesterol, reduced immune responses, low birthweights and several kinds of cancer.

The new rules will aim to "achieve the lowest levels of environmental and human exposure to PFAS that are technically feasible," a senior official told a briefing.

The ban, however, would exclude fluoropolymers, a type of heat-resistant plastic used in aerospace, automotive and electronics, which will continue to be assessed.

Other exemptions may be considered depending on available alternatives, socioeconomic factors and what the rest of the world is doing, the official said.