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‘Forever Chemicals’ regulations tightened

Businesses involved in the production, sale or use of any long-lasting harmful chemicals, defined as ‘persistent organic chemicals (POPs) should be aware that key regulations restricting these activities will be tightened. 

The current UK POP regulations include the implementation of international treaties including the Stockholm Convention and the Aarhus Protocol with the aim of restricting the production and manufacture of POPs. The current regulations already provide for a strict liability offence for companies and any responsible individuals where POP use or production is in breach, they will be guilty of a strict liability offence.

Following the UK Government’s recent consultation it now “intends to proceed with a number of the proposed changes to the POPs Regulations that were set out in the consultation documents”.

These include:

  • new waste concentration limits for PFOA, PFHxS, PCP, and Dicofol, and amended limits for PBDEs
  • new maximum concentration limits for PFOA, PFHxS, PCP and Dicofol and amended limits for PBDEs, and additional EWC codes in Annex V
  • new UTC limits, or amendments to existing limits, for PFOA, PCP, and HCB
  • finalising expiry dates for existing specific exemptions for PFOA.

Posted on 05/09/2024 by Ortolan

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