CONSUMER PRODUCTS AND RETAIL E-SSENTIALS

EU: PopS Proposed New Limit of Pentachlorophenol

SEPTEMBER 2020 - CHILDREN'S PRODUCTS, ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS, HARDLINES, SOFTLINES, TOY PRODUCTS

The European Commission (EC) proposed the new limit of pentachlorophenol (PCP) and its salts and esters. These chemicals are regulated under Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Regulation¹ for substances, mixtures and articles. The draft² is now opened for comments for 4 weeks. It is planned to adopt this amendment by the fourth quarter of 2020. 

These chemicals were newly included under Annex 1 of POPs Regulation back in 2019 without an Unintentional Trace Contaminant (UTC) limit value. They can be found in various articles, e.g. textiles and clothing, footwear and wooden products. As the EC, European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and competent authorities of the EU Member States received enquiries about the PCP’s limit in articles, the EC proposed to adopt a limit of 5 mg/kg for substances, mixtures and articles as UTC. This would help to clarify the situation and ease the uncertainty for enforcement. This may also facilitate the recycling of wood chips. This proposed requirement may apply after 20th day following the date of publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

[1]  Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 (consolidated version published on 4 July 2020)

[2]  Draft amendment for clarify the limits of PCP