Chemical name:

Final regulatory action has been taken for the category: Industrial

Final regulatory action: The chemical is Banned

Use or uses prohibited by the final regulatory action:

No known use of the chemical in Guyana prior to the final regulatory action.

Use or uses that remain allowed:

All formulation or preparation and all use prohibited by the final regulatory action.

The final regulatory action was based on a risk or hazard evaluation: Yes

Summary of the final regulatory action:

Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control (Prohibited Pesticides) Order No.4 of 2015 made under the Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Act 2000 (No 13 of 2000) Prohibits importation, sale and use of Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, perfluorooctane sulfonates, perfluorooctane sulfonamides and perfluorooctane sulfonyls or any substance in any form containing Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, perfluorooctane sulfonates, perfluorooctane sulfonamides and perfluorooctane sulfonyls.

The reasons for the final regulatory action were relevant to: Human health and environment

Summary of known hazards and risks to human health:

PFOS and PFOS related substances pose potential risk to human health. In human blood samples, PFOS has been detected in the serum of occupational and general populations. PFOS bioaccumulates and binds preferentially to proteins in the plasma. Hazard Assessment concluded that PFOS is persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic in mammals. PFOS has been detected in the serum of occupational and general populations. There is a statistically significant association between PFOS exposure and bladder cancer and there appears to be an increased risk of episodes of neoplasm of the male reproductive system, the overall category of cancers and benign growths, and neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract.

Expected effect of the final regulatory action in relation to human health:

The possibility of risks and exposure to this chemical by humans decreased.

Summary of known hazards and risks to the environment:

PFOS and PFOS related substances pose potential risk to the environment. PFOS is persistent in the environment. It does not hydrolyse, photolyse or volatilise from the aquatic environment, PFOS has been detected in fish, and in wildlife worldwide. The oral assimilation in fish and mammals and the low elimination rate, it can be concluded that PFOS poses similar environmental concerns for bioaccumulation to substances that are very bioaccumulative.

Expected effect of the final regulatory action in relation to the environment:

Reduce the exposure to aquatic organism and other animals.

Date of entry into force of the final regulatory action: 02/04/2015