The European Union is under pressure to ban “forever chemicals” but a battle is heating up over the toxic substances known as PFAS in Brussels, where industry groups are seeking as many exemptions as possible. “It is by far the biggest file I’ve handled in the past five years,” said lobbyist Simon Terwagne of consultancy Forward Global, which represents clients from the chemical industry.

“Reducing exposure to PFAS is a sensible goal, but it must be done in the most measured and proportionate way possible,” he said. Such chemicals are found everywhere in daily life, from cosmetics to kitchen utensils, food packaging to toilet paper. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic chemicals that take an extremely long time to break down. Businesses use PFAS because of their non-stick, waterproofing and heat-resistant properties despite the environmental and health risks, reported Agence France-Presse.

The chemicals have been linked to higher cholesterol levels, cancer, and adverse effects on........

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