On 18 February 2025, the European Commission published on its official website a draft amendment to Annex I of the POPs Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 proposing to revise the limit values for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) (including tetra-, penta-, hexa-, hepta- and decaBDEs).Relevant enterprises can submit feedback before 18 March 2025, and the final regulatory requirements are subject to the final resolution of the European Commission.
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB)
Existing control requirements:
Without prejudice to Directive 96/59/EC, articles already in use at the time of entry into force of this Regulation are permitted to remain in use.
The proposed amendments are set out below:
For the purposes of this entry, regulation 4(1)(b) applies to substances, mixtures, articles or objects with a concentration of PCB ≤ 0.2 mg/kg (0.00002 % w/w).In the case of organic pigments and organic dyes, and mixtures and articles containing organic pigments or organic dyes, determined by a method of analysis complying with ISO 787-28/2019 or demonstrated to have comparable or similar accuracy and performance to ISO 787-28/2019, clause (b) shall apply to
a) PCB concentrations ≤ 25 mg/kg (0.0025% w/w) at the time of entry into force of this Regulation;
b) PCB concentrations of ≤10mg/kg (0.0010% w/w) at [OP insert date: 3 years after entry into force].
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers（PBDE）
Existing regulatory requirements (point 2 of the fourth column of the Annex I, Part A table entries for TetraBDE, PentaBDE, HexaBDE, HeptaBDE and DecaBDE only):
Tetrabromodiphenyl ether, pentabromodiphenyl ether, hexabromodiphenyl ether, heptabromodiphenyl ether and decabromodiphenyl ether in mixtures or articles, the sum of the concentrations of these substances, should not exceed 500 mg/kg, with the Committee reviewing and evaluating this bullet point by 16 July 2021, including the effects on health and the environment.
The proposed amendments are as follows (point 2 of the fourth column for the entries for tetrabromodiphenyl ether, pentabromodiphenyl ether, hexabromodiphenyl ether, heptabromodiphenyl ether and decabromodiphenyl ether in the table in Annex I, Part A only):
For the entries for tetrabromodiphenyl ether, pentabromodiphenyl ether, hexabromodiphenyl ether, heptabromodiphenyl ether and decabromodiphenyl ether, Article 4(1)(b) applies to the sum of the following concentrations of these substances
a) 10 mg/kg in mixtures or articles at the time of entry into force of this Regulation, with the exception of food contact materials controlled by Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004;
b) as an exception to point (a), 500 mg/kg at the entry into force of this Regulation, 350 mg/kg from 30 December 2025 and 200 mg/kg from 30 December 2027, when these substances are present in mixtures or articles containing tetrabromo, pentabromo, hexabromo, heptabromo, or decabromodiphenyl ether or when they are made from recycled materials containing these substances, butExcept for food contact materials subject to Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004;
c) as an exception to point (a), 500 mg/kg at the entry into force of this Regulation, 350 mg/kg from 30 December 2025 and 10 mg/kg from [OP insert date: 18 months after entry into force], if these substances are present in toys subject to Directive 2009/48/EC or in any material which facilitates the child's sitting, sleeping, relaxation, hygiene and well-being.(e.g., nappy-changing and general body care, feeding, sucking, transporting and protection of children), if they are present in toys governed by Directive 2009/48/EC or in any product facilitating sitting, sleeping, relaxing, hygiene, nappy-changing and general body care, feeding, sucking, transporting and protection of children, and if they contain or are made from recycled materials containing tetrabromo, pentabromo, hexabromo, heptabromo or decabromodiphenyl ether, with the exception of food-contact materials governed by Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004.
In recent years, POPs regulations have been updated frequently and enforcement has been strengthened, with many products being notified by RAPEX for violating POPs regulations.Anbotek reminds relevant enterprises that POPs regulations as one of the mandatory regulations for products exported to Europe, should do a good job of effective control of the supply chain, especially at the production stage, pay attention to the sampling and inspection of multiple links to ensure that the final product is successfully compliant!
Post time: Feb-28-2025
