EU - Draft proposal amending POP Regulation

​During their latest meeting the EU Competent Authorities for POP proposed several changes amending Annex I of POP Regulation. Amendments include but not limited to PFOA, PFOS, PCB, HBCDD and newly listed PFHxS as POPs.

Draft proposals includes the following amendments.

- ​the specific exemptions of PFOA, PFOS, and HBCDD would be updated

- Unintentional Trace Contaminant limit of PCB is newly included

- PFHxS would be introduced as an new entry under Annex I​

​Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), its salts and PFHxS-related compounds​

- PFHxS or any of its salts: < 25 ppb​

- ​​​​​PFHxS-related compounds: ∑< 1000 ppb​

Exemption:

- PFHxS in firefighting foam mixtures that are to be used or are used in the production of other firefighting foam mixtures: < 100 ppb (effective 3 years after the date of entry into force)

​​Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts and PFOA-related compounds

- Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) micropowders produced by ionising irradiation or by thermal degradation as well as in mixtures and articles for industrial and professional uses containing PTFE micropowders: < 0.025 mg/kg (1 mg/kg until 90 days after the date of entry into force)

- The manufacture, placing on the market and use of PFOA and its salts where they are present in PTFE micropowders that are transported or treated for the purpose to reduce the concentration of PFOA and its salts below the limit of 0.025 mg/kg: < 1 mg/kg

- The date of review for exemption in point 3 is modified from 5 July 2022 to 25 August 2023

- Removal of exemption in point 5 (e) for the use of PFOA, its salts and PFOA-related compounds in the manufacture of PTFE and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) for specific production.

Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid and its derivatives (PFOS)

- Reduction of the limit from 10 mg/kg to 1 mg/kg for substances and mixtures

- Removal of the limits for semi-finished products or articles (0.1 % by weight) and coated materials (1µg/m²). The limit value applicable to articles would be 1 mg/kg

- Removal of exemption for mist suppressant for non-decorative hard-chromium plating

​Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB)

- Limit: < 10 mg/kg in substances, mixtures or articles

​Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD)

- Reduction of limit value from 100 mg/kg to 75 mg/kg for substances, mixtures and articles

- ​For the use of recycled polystyrene in the production of expanded polystyrene (EPS) and extruded polystyrene (XPS) insulation material for building applications, the limit value remains at 100 mg/kg. This exemption shall be reviewed and assessed by the EC by January 1, 2026.