EU: POPs publish more stringent limits on PBDEs
October 2025 - Electrical & electronics, hardlines, softlines and toys and children's products
The European Commission has tightened the limits for brominated flame retardants by amending Annex I of the Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Regulation (EU) 2019/10211. These chemicals were commonly used in electronics, upholstered furniture, plastic and textiles to increase fire resistance.
This amendment focuses on the polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) group of brominated flame retardants. This group includes tetrabromodiphenyl ether(tetraBDE), pentabromodiphenyl ether(pentaBDE), hexabromodiphenyl ether(hexaBDE), heptabromodiphenyl ether(heptaBDE), and decabromodiphenyl ether(decaBDE). These substances are classified as POPs due to their toxic, bioaccumulative, and persistent nature. The regulatory update2 lowers the Unintentional Trace Contaminant (UTC) concentration limits of PBDEs and establishes phased limits specifically for materials derived from recovered material. This is because the uses of PBDEs are largely phased out and the topic of PBDEs found in recovered materials is properly addressed.
To allow the industry time to adapt, the new requirements are being phased in, with the final, strictest limits applying in the coming years. Table A outlines the new limit values introduced by this update.
Table A: Summary of the requirements for the sum of PBDEs under Annex I of POPs Regulation
#Childcare articles refer to any product facilitating children’s seating, sleep, relaxation, hygiene, changing and general body care, feeding, sucking, transportation and protection and toys refer to those subject to Directive 2009/48/EC.
*Please note that electrical and electronic equipment within the scope of Directive 2011/65/EU is exempt from the above requirement. This exemption is currently in effect.
References:
[1] Consolidated version of POPs Regulation (Date: 15 October 2025)
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