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POPs

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

EU POPs Regulation – Persistent Organic Pollutants

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are organic substances that persist in the environment, accumulate in living organisms, and pose risks to human health and the environment. POPs can be transported across international boundaries via air, water, or migratory species, resulting in their presence in regions where they are not produced or used. Therefore, international risk management is necessary. POPs are regulated globally under the Stockholm Convention and the UNECE Protocol. The EU has established POPs regulations to protect human health and the environment, which entered into force on May 20, 2004. The main enforcement authority is the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).

Regulated products

The scope of EU POPs regulation is the same as EU REACH, categorizing products into substances, mixtures, and articles (as illustrated below). Except for a few exemptions (e.g., substances used for laboratory research or as reference standards), most products must comply with POPs requirements.

Regulatory content

Prohibits or strictly restricts the intentional production, use, import, and export of persistent organic pollutants in substances, mixtures, and articles, as well as restricting intentional production containing POPs.

Regulated items under REACH — Substances, mixtures and articles

Substance

Means a chemical element and its compounds as they occur naturally or are obtained through manufacturing processes.

Examples: gold, silver, copper, toluene, acetone, ethanol, etc.

Mixture

A mixture or solution composed of two or more substances.

Examples: paint, plastic pellets

Article

An object given a specific shape, surface, or design during manufacturing, which determines its function more than its chemical composition.

Examples: screws, lead frames in ICs, gold wires, etc.

Exempted specific items

Substances used for laboratory research or as reference standards.
Substances present as unintentional trace contamination in substances, mixtures, or articles.
For substances added to Annex I and II after July 15, 2019, if present in articles manufactured before the effective date, Article 3 does not apply for six months prior to the effective date.
If substances listed in Annex I and II Part A are intended for use as intermediates in closed systems, Member States must notify the Secretariat.

Regulated substances under POPs regulation

POPs regulated substances are listed in Annex I and II. Substances in Annex I are generally prohibited in substances, mixtures, and articles unless specific conditions are met. Substances in Annex II are restricted. The following table lists POP substances potentially found in electronic products:

POP substance	Possible application	POP substance	Possible application
Tetrabromodiphenyl ether	Flame retardant	Heptabromodiphenyl ether	Flame retardant
Pentabromodiphenyl ether	Flame retardant	Hexabromobiphenyl	Flame retardant
Hexabromodiphenyl ether	Flame retardant	PCN (polychlorinated naphthalenes)	Used in capacitors and wire insulation compounds
Hexachlorobenzene	Used in fireworks, explosives, synthetic rubber, agricultural fungicides	PCB (polychlorinated biphenyls)	Insulating materials in capacitors and transformers; also used in paints and solvents
Hexachlorobutadiene	Solvents, heat transfer fluids, hydraulic systems, rubber industry	PFOS and related compounds	Textiles, cookware, carpets, paper, coatings, fire-fighting foam, aviation fluids
SCCP (short-chain chlorinated paraffins)	Plasticizers and flame retardants in plastics, leather processing, metalworking, paints	HBCDD	Flame retardant in plastics
DecaBDE	Flame retardant	PFOA and related compounds	Textiles, cookware, carpets, paper, coatings, fire-fighting foam, aviation fluids
PFHxS and its salts and related compounds	Textiles, cookware, carpets, paper, coatings, fire-fighting foam, aviation fluids

How should Taiwanese exporters respond?

Export of raw materials or finished products to Europe

Must comply with EU POPs regulations and ensure that substances listed in Annex I and II are below the regulatory limits.

SGS service solutions

SGS comprehensive POPs solution

Testing services for all EU POPs regulated substances:

High-risk assessment → SGS can recommend high-risk substances based on product application, reducing unnecessary testing costs.
Full EU POPs testing → SGS can test all regulated POPs substances in products.

FAQ

Please refer to POPs FAQ

Have questions about regulations or testing?
Write them here, and a specialist will reply to you!

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EU POPs Regulation – Persistent Organic Pollutants
Controlled Products
Regulatory content
Exempted Items
Regulated substances under POPs regulation
How Taiwanese exporters should respond
SGS service solutions
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POPs

EU POPs Regulation – Persistent Organic Pollutants

Regulated products