Your regular update for technical and industry information
Your regular update for technical and industry information
FEBRUARY 2025 - ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS, HARDLINES, SOFTLINES, TOYS AND CHILDREN'S PRODUCTS
The European Union recently has proposed amendments to the Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Regulation (EU) 2019/1021, targeting polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)1 and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)2. These changes aim to further protect human health and the environment by setting stricter limits on the unintentional presence of these harmful substances in various products.
PCBs and PBDEs are toxic chemicals that persist in the environment, bioaccumulate in living organisms, and pose significant risks to human health and ecosystems. PCBs were widely used in electrical equipment, lubricants, and other industrial applications until they were banned in the 1980s.
However, they can still be found as unintentional trace contaminants in certain products. While PBDEs were commonly used as flame retardants in electronics, textiles, and furniture. Although their use has been phased out, they can still be present in recycled materials, including consumer products like toys and childcare items.
The new amendments introduce stricter unintentional trace contaminant (UTC) limits for these substances, ensuring better enforcement and reducing their presence in the market.
1. Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)
| Parameter | Details |
|
Scope |
Applies to PCBs as unintentional trace contaminants (UTC) in substances, mixtures, and articles. |
|
General UTC Limit |
≤ 0.2 mg/kg for the sum of PCBs in substances, mixtures, and articles (upon entry into force) |
|
Special UTC Limit for organic Pigments and organic dyes |
≤ 25 mg/kg for the sum of PCBs in mixtures, articles containing such organic pigments or dyes upon entry into force, reducing to ≤ 10 mg/kg after three years of entry into force. The testing method of ISO 787 – 28/2019 or equivalent can be used to measure the PCBs content. |
2. Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs)
The current3 UTC limit of the sum of PBDE is 500 mg/kg and the amendment is proposed as follows
| Parameter | Details |
| Scope |
Applies to tetraBDE, pentaBDE, hexaBDE, heptaBDE, and decaBDE in mixtures and articles, including recovered materials. |
|
General UTC limit |
≤ 10 mg/kg for the sum of PBDEs in mixtures and articles (See remark 1) |
|
Special UTC limit for recovered materials |
≤ 500 mg/kg upon entry into force, reducing to 350 mg/kg by 30 December 2025, and 200 mg/kg by 30 December 2027. (See remark 1) |
|
Special UTC limit for childcare products and toys (See remark 2) |
≤ 500 mg/kg upon entry into force, reducing to 350 mg/kg by 30 December 2025, and 10 mg/kg effective 18 months after entry into force. (See remark 1) |
Remark 1: food contact materials subject to Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 are excluded.
Remark 2: childcare articles refer to any product facilitating children’s seating, sleep, relaxation, hygiene, changing and general body care, feeding, sucking, transportation and protection, containing or made of recovered material and toys refer to those subjects to Directive 2009/48/EC.
TÜV SÜD has dedicated experts to assist you in the development of consumer products and meeting applicable regulations. Through a global network of laboratories, TÜV SÜD offers a wide range of services that includes chemical tests, physical or mechanical tests as well as inspections to ensure the compliance of your products in target markets.
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