Contact

What are you looking for?

EU Sets Limit for PCP Under Regulation on Persistent Organic Pollutants

SafeGuardSToys and Juvenile Products, Softlines, Softlines, Softlines, Softlines, Hardgoods, Hardgoods, Hardgoods, Hardgoods, Hardgoods, Electrical & ElectronicsMarch 02, 2021

The EU has set a limit for pentachlorophenol (PCP), its salts and esters under the POP Recast Regulation. The amendment will become effective on March 15, 2021.

In 2019, the European Union (EU) published Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 on persistent organic pollutants – ‘the POP Recast Regulation’ (consolidated version to September 2020).

Since its publication, Annex I to Part A of POP recast has been amended on several occasions. These include:

 

  • Adding perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts and PFOA-related compounds
  • Revising point 4 under ‘Specific exemption on intermediate use or other specification’ for perfluorootance sulfonic acid and its derivatives (PFOS)
  • Adding dicofol
  • Amending several entries under ‘Specific exemption on intermediate use or other specification’ for PFOA, its salts and PFOA-related compounds (Regulation (EU) 2021/115)

When the POP Recast Regulation was published, PCP and its salts and esters were listed in Annex I to the legislation without an Unintentional Trace Contaminant (UTC) limit value. Since that publication, the European Commission (EC) has determined these substances are an impurity in some articles, including imported textiles and recovered wood chips for the manufacture of wood panels.

On February 23, 2021, the EU published Regulation (EU) 2021/277 to set a limit of no more than 5 mg/kg for PCP, its salts and esters under ‘Specific exemption on intermediate use or other specification’ in Part A to Annex I of the POP Recast Regulation. This limit value applies to PCP, its salts and esters when they are present in substances, mixtures or articles.

The latest amendment will become effective on March 15, 2021 – the twentieth day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU).

Highlights of the new law are summarized in Table 1.

Regulation (EU) 2019/1021
Substances listed in the Convention and in the protocol as well as substances listed only in the Convention
Regulation (EU) 2021/277 amending Part A to Annex I of Regulation (EU) 2019/1021Part A to Annex I of Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 
Substance
PCP and its salts and esters
(CAS 87-86-5 and others)
PCP and its salts and esters
(CAS 87-86-5 and others)
Specific exemption on intermediate use or other specification 
≤ 5 mg/kg in substances, mixtures or articles
None
Effective DateMarch 15, 2021In force

Table 1

SGS is committed to providing information about development in regulations for consumer products as complimentary services. Through a global network of laboratories, SGS provides a wide range of services including physical/mechanical testing, analytical testing and consultancy work for technical and non-technical parameters applicable to a comprehensive range of consumer products. In the end, it’s only trusted because it’s tested. Contact us for more information or visit our website. 

For enquiries, please contact:

Hingwo Tsang
Global Information and Innovation Manager
t: (+852) 2774 7420

© SGS Group Management SA - 2021 - All rights reserved - SGS is a registered trademark of SGS Group Management SA. This is a publication of SGS, except for 3rd parties’ contents submitted or licensed for use by SGS. SGS neither endorses nor disapproves said 3rd parties contents. This publication is intended to provide technical information and shall not be considered an exhaustive treatment of any subject treated. It is strictly educational and does not replace any legal requirements or applicable regulations. It is not intended to constitute consulting or professional advice. The information contained herein is provided “as is” and SGS does not warrant that it will be error-free or will meet any particular criteria of performance or quality. Do not quote or refer any information herein without SGS’s prior written consent.

Stay on top of regulatory changes within your industry
Read more articles for the Consumer Goods and Retail industry
  • SGS SafeGuardS

1 Place des Alpes,

P.O. Box 2152, 1211,

Geneva, Switzerland