Sign in Subscribe
European Union

European Commission Amends Regulation on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The European Commission has issued a regulation, COMMISSION DELEGATED REGULATION (EU) 2025/843, on 15 July 2025, amending Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 on persistent organic pollutants (POPs). This regulation updates the list of substances subject to restrictions, adding UV-328, a chemical used in various products such as coatings and electronic displays.

The regulation was adopted after the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on POPs decided to amend Annex A to include UV-328 with specific exemptions. The European Commission supported this inclusion, and the regulation reflects the exemptions for certain uses of UV-328, such as in land-based motor vehicles, polarizers, and photographic paper.

Key Takeaways:

  • The European Commission has amended Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 to include UV-328 in the list of substances subject to restrictions.
  • UV-328 is used in various products, including coatings and electronic displays.
  • The regulation provides exemptions for certain uses of UV-328, such as in land-based motor vehicles, polarizers, and photographic paper.
  • The exemptions are granted for a duration of five years until UV-328 is fully substituted.
  • The regulation also sets a limit value for UV-328 as an unintentional trace contaminant in substances, mixtures, or articles.
  • The limit value will decrease from 100 mg/kg to 10 mg/kg two years after the entry into force and to 1 mg/kg four years after the entry into force.

Statistics:

  • UV-328 is included in Annex XIV to Regulation (EU) No 1907/2006 with a latest application date on 27 May 2022.
  • The Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on POPs held its 11th meeting from 1 to 12 May 2023.
  • EU airlines are expected to receive aircrafts containing UV-328 in the next 5 years, requiring an exemption to avoid serious consequences.

Sources:

  • OJ L 169, 25.6.2019, p. 45, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2019/1021/oj.
  • OJ L 209, 31.7.2006, p. 3, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/convention/2006/507/oj.
  • Council Decision (EU) 2023/1006 of 25 April 2023 on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union at the eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants as regards the proposals for amendments of Annex A to that Convention (OJ L 136, 24.5.2023, p. 55, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2023/1006/oj).

Read more