EUROPE

New EU Regulation Targets Dechlorane Plus as Persistent Organic Pollutant

On 25 September 2025, the European Union included Dechlorane Plus in its legislation on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). Through Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/1930 which amended Annex I of Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 to add this substance, with specific exemptions for intermediate uses and defined applications.

Dechlorane Plus, used in adhesives, polymers, textiles, plastics, consumer electronics, and medical equipment, will be regulated with strict limits as an unintentional trace contaminant (UTC): up to 0.1% until 15 April 2028, and 0.0001% from that date onward.

Temporary exemptions include medical applications, spare parts for vehicles, and medical devices, with deadlines extending to 2043 in some cases.

This move aligns EU legislation with the Stockholm Convention. The regulation will enter into force on 15 October 2025.