Overview of the Recast of Persistent Organic pollutants (POPs) Regulation (EU) 2019/1021

Little Pro on 2019-08-08

The EU has published the recast of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) Regulation (EU) 2019/1021. The new regulation repeals the POP Regulation (EC) No 850/2004 and comes into force on 15 July 2019. In this article we will give you an overview of the POPs regulation recast in EU and summarize main changes.

Overview of the Recast of EU POPs Regulation

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are organic chemical substances that persist in the environment, bioaccumulate through the food chain, and pose a risk of causing adverse effects to human health and the environment. The EU POPs regulation implements the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and bans/restricts the manufacturing, marketing and use POPs in EU. The recast of POPs regulation aligns certain definitions and terminologies with those in REACH regulation and EU Waste Framework Directive. It also updates the substances listed in Annex I. POPs listed on Annex 1 shall not be manufactured, placing on the market of use in substances, mixtures or articles unless there are exemptions.

The EU POPs Regulation contains 4 important annexes. They can be downloaded here.

Annex I List of substances subject to elimination
Annex II List of substances subject to restriction
Annex III List of substances subject to release reduction provisions
Annex IV List of substances subject to waste management provisions

Changes in the Recast of EU POPs Regulation

There are 3 main changes in the recast of the EU POPs Regulation.

Adds decabromodiphenyl ether (Deca-BDE) and pentachlorophenol (PCP) and its salts and esters to Annex I with some exemptions for the use of Deca-BDE in electrical and electronic equipment;
Updates restriction limits for tetra-, penta-, hexa- and heptabromodiphenyl ethers falling under Annex I when they are present as an unintentional trace contaminant.
Adds three entries to Annex III: Pentachlorobenzene , Hexachlorobutadiene and Polychlorinated naphthalenes.

Note: Since Deca-BDE is now listed under the POPs Recast Regulation, it is expected to be deleted from the entry 67 to REACH Annex XVII restricted substances list.

Reference

Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on persistent organic pollutants

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