PFAS-PFOS Research Committee reaches final conclusions

The Research Committee PFAS-PFOS of the Flemish Parliament has finished its final report with conclusions and recommendations. The vote on that final report is scheduled for tomorrow. This will be followed by a press conference at which the conclusions and recommendations will be presented.

The investigation committee was set up in the summer of 2021, as a result of the PFOS and PFAS contamination discovered around the sites of chemical company 3M in the Flemish town of Zwijndrecht. Its main task was to investigate who bears political responsibility, what the long-term effects on public health are, and whether the contaminating company 3M can be held liable.

Over the past few months, the committee organised a comprehensive series of hearings. All possible stakeholders were heard, ranging from experts and government departments to 3M and politicians at local, provincial and regional levels.

Originally, the commission aimed for a deadline of 31 January 2022. This was later pushed back to 18 March and then again to 30 March. That day, the report will be discussed in the plenary session of the Flemish Parliament. But first, tomorrow at 10 a.m., the concluding committee meeting will take place with a final discussion and vote on the final report.

PHOTO @ BELGA