New Zealand - Proposal to Restrict PFHxS

​As a signatory to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (Stockholm Convention), New Zealand has committed to eliminating and restricting the importation, production, use and disposal of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), through the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 (HSNO Act). Schedule 2A of the HSNO Act lists the chemicals that are subject to the Stockholm Convention obligations.

At its tenth meeting in June 2022, 2 the parties to the Stockholm Convention decided to add a new chemical, perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), its salts, and PFHxS-related compounds to the list of chemicals subject to restrictions under the convention (Decision SC-10/13). The chemical was listed with no specific exemptions.

PFHxS, its salts, and PFHxS-related compounds have been used in a wide variety of applications, including in fire-fighting foams and mist suppressants in electroplating, as moisture and dirt protective coatings in textile, leather, paper, and packaging applications, and in polishing agents.

The public consultation ends on April 5, 2023 at 5pm.​