Synopsis
These regulations will amend the assimilated, Great British version of the Recast Persistent Organic Pollutants Regulation (EU) 2019/1021.
Manufacturing, use and placing on the market restrictions will apply to three further chemicals (UV-328, dechlorane plus and methoxychlor).
Summary
The Persistent Organic Pollutants (Amendment) Regulations 2024 will amend the assimilated, Great British version of the Recast Persistent Organic Pollutants Regulation (EU) 2019/1021. The amending regulations are due to come into force by 26 February 2025.
This legislation will apply across Great Britain.
What will change?
Three chemicals (UV-328, dechlorane plus and methoxychlor) were added to Annex A of the Stockholm convention in May 2023. The Persistent Organic Pollutants (Amendment) Regulations 2024 will bring the corresponding restrictions into force in Great Britain.
The three chemicals will be added to Annex I to the assimilated Recast Persistent Organic Pollutants Regulation (EU) 2019/1021, which prohibits the manufacture, use and placing of named POPs on the market.
Unintentional Trace Concentration (UTC) limits
UTC limits set maximum concentrations of POPs that may be present within articles, substances and mixtures, if the inclusion of POPs is unintentional.
The amending regulations will set UTCs for UV-328, dechlorane plus and methoxychlor. UTC limits will also be introduced for two existing designated POPs (hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and pentachlorophenol (PCP)), while existing UTC limits for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) will be reduced and removed.
Waste controls on POPs
Annex IV and Annex V to the Recast Persistent Organic Pollutants Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 apply requirements on the management of waste containing POPs.
The amending regulations add waste control requirements for PCP, PFOA, dicofol and perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), while updating waste controls on polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs).
Two further European Waste Catalogue (EWC) codes are added as a route for the disposal of POPs where the POPs are not destroyed or permanently transformed: fly ash from peat and untreated wood (10 01 03) and soil and stones (17 05 04).
Background
The Recast Persistent Organic Pollutants Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 prohibits and restricts the production, placing on the market and use of POPs. It also regulates the management of existing POPs and associated wastes. These measures aim to eliminate POPs and to prevent the release of existing POPs.
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