EU – Commission Regulation (EU) 2015-2030 Amends Regulation (EC) No 850-2004 Regarding Persistent Organic Pollutants

Vol. 873 | 18 Nov 2015

The EU recently published Regulation 2015/2030, which amends Annex I of Regulation (EC) No 850/2004 on persistent organic pollutants (POPs), regarding the prohibition of short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs, C10-C13 chloroalkanes).

Regulation (EC) No 850/2004 is intended to protect human health and the environment from POPs by prohibiting, phasing out, restricting the production of and placing on the market and use of these substances. Annex I of the regulation provides the summary of prohibited POPs that may be restricted to use on their own, preparation and/or contained in articles.

Regulation (EU) 2015/2030 amending Annex I, defines the prohibition criteria of SCCPs in substances and mixtures:

• The production, placing on the market and use of substances or preparations containing SCCPs in concentrations lower than 1 % by weight shall continue to be allowed.

However, the amendment also introduces a new requirement regarding articles that will be applicable to consumer products. The new restriction states:

• Articles containing SCCPs in concentrations equal to or greater than 0.15 % by weight shall be prohibited.

SCCPs have been used in leather processing and can also be used as a plasticizer in rubber, paints, adhesives, flame retardants for plastics including vinyl flooring, carpet backing and in wire and cable coatings.

This restriction shall enter into force on 4 December 2015.

A link to the Regulation is below

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=uriserv:OJ.L_.2015.298.01.0001.01.ENG

 

For additional information please contact:

Mike Redshaw
mike.redshaw@intertek.com
+44 (0)1942 265700