FIS Postpones Full Implementation Of Fluor Wax Ban

The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) today announced that a full fluor wax ban implementation will be postponed to the 2023/2024 season in order to allow additional time for the further refinement of the fluor testing device and to define the procedures to protect the integrity of FIS competitions. This is the second time the ban has been postponed

Extensive testing of the fluor detection device, together with experts from National Federations and the International Biathlon Union (IBU), led to the conclusion that more time was needed to check new fluor-free waxes to provide accurate results. The testing of these new products is underway. FIS will increase the systematic collection and testing of samples during the upcoming season 2022-23. The close cooperation with the National Federations and the IBU will continue to help to further refine the detection system and define the practical implementation processes and regulations which will ensure the fair implementation of a full ban of all fluor waxes for the season 2023-2024.

The ban is intended to reduce risks to human health and the environment coming from chemicals found in fluorocarbon products used in the preparation of skis. In November 2019 the FIS Council decided that the use of fluorinated ski wax which has been scientifically proven to have negative environmental and health impacts, will be banned in competition for all FIS disciplines from the 2020-21 season.

This follows EU regulations in effect from July 2020, that prohibit the use of certain fluorinated compounds in the manufacture of these products. FIS strongly supports the ban on fluorinated waxes and remains 100% committed to the fastest feasible implementation of fluorine-free competition at all levels and disciplines and in a fair and consistent way for all competitors.