The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has issued an updated statement clarifying exemptions from the PFAS chemical ban under Australia’s Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management Standard (IChEMS), effective from July 1, 2025. The ban restricts the import, manufacture, and use of three PFAS chemicals: PFOS, PFOA, and PFHxS, supporting Australia’s commitments to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.

However, IChEMS exemptions apply to chemicals used for therapeutic purposes. This means that medical devices (including components, packaging, instructions, and spare parts), medicines (and their packaging), and biologicals (and their packaging) are not subject to the PFAS ban.

While the TGA does not regulate environmental safety, it encourages manufacturers to gradually reduce PFAS use in these products and urges sponsors to report any supply disruptions impacting patient care due to the IChEMS restrictions.

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Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA); PFAS; PFOS; PFOA; PFHxS