Australia sues consumer goods giant 3M.

On May 28, the Australian government announced it had filed a lawsuit against the American consumer goods giant 3M for A$2 billion (US$1.43 billion) for polluting military bases by using fire-fighting foam containing so-called "permanent chemicals".

Australian Defence Minister Peter Khalil said the Defence Force has removed 200,000 tonnes of toxic per-fluoroalkyl and poly-fluoroalkyl (PFAS) chemicals from the land due to the risk to the community. These chemicals are known as “permanent chemicals” because they decompose very slowly, are resistant to heat, water, and oil, and are used in non-stick pans, stain-resistant carpets, and other products. However, their use is increasingly being restricted worldwide due to adverse health effects.

For its part, 3M has offered assurances regarding environmentally safe disposal practices, asserting that Australia's allegations are unfounded. 3M pledged to "defend itself against these allegations through legal means" and stated that it "has never manufactured PFAS in Australia, nor did it cease selling related products in Australia approximately two decades ago."

Meanwhile, the government is seeking compensation to offset the costs of managing environmental pollution caused by the corporation. This is considered the most significant legal action the Australian government has ever taken.

RG

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/australia-kien-tap-doan-hang-tieu-dung-3m-a487089.html