Mastering EU POPs Regulation: Strategies for Managing Persistent Organic Pollutants

Overview of EU POPs Regulation

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are organic substances—either naturally occurring or synthetically produced—that pose significant risks to human health and the environment due to their high toxicity, resistance to degradation and ability to bioaccumulate. POPs can travel long distances through air, water, or migratory species, leading to global distribution and contamination of ecosystems far from their original sources.

Globally, POPs are strictly regulated under the Stockholm Convention and the Aarhus Protocol. Within the European Union, these international commitments are implemented through the POPs Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2019/1021), which entered into force on June 25, 2019, with the goal of minimizing environmental and human exposure to POPs through stringent control measures.

As of October 31, 2024, the POPs Regulation governs a list of 32 controlled POPs, with more substances expected to be added in the future. Non-compliance—such as placing restricted substances on the EU market—can result in severe penalties, including sales bans, product recalls, and mandatory destruction.

Key Regulatory Bodies for EU POPs Regulation

European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)

• Assists the EU in identifying and proposing new POPs for listing under the Stockholm Convention
• Collects and compiles information from Member States
• Provides technical and scientific support for POPs implementation plans
• Coordinates enforcement across Member States via the ECHA’s Enforcement Forum

European Commission

• Responsible for proposing and updating legislation under the POPs Regulation
• Receives notification from Member States about designated competent authorities

National Competent Authorities (NCAs)

• Each EU Member State designates one or more agencies to implement and enforce the POPs Regulation nationally
• Responsible for surveillance, reporting, and compliance monitoring

Objectives of the EU POPs Regulation

• Prohibit or severely restrict the production, placing on the market and use of POPs
• Minimise the environmental release of POPs that are formed as industrial by-products
• Ensure safe storage of restricted POPs
• Ensure the environmentally sound disposal of waste consisting of, or contaminated by POPs.

Scope and Compliance Obligations

The EU POPs Regulation applies to substances, mixtures, and articles placed on the EU market. Requirements vary depending on which Annex a POP is listed under:

Our Services

POPs Compliance Assessment

Our expert compliance team offers in-depth evaluations of your products and processes to identify potential gaps under the POPs Regulation. We provide:

• Customized compliance improvement plans
• Risk identification and mitigation strategies
• Support for sustainable and regulation-aligned product development

POPs Substance List Monitoring

We maintain a comprehensive, real-time updated POPs substance database, including:

• Officially regulated substances
• Substances under proposal or review

This allows your business to:

• Stay up-to-date with regulatory changes
• Receive early warnings about potential future restrictions
• Reduce risk of non-compliance and supply chain disruption

Regulatory Consulting & Training

Our team of senior regulatory experts provides:

• Expert consultations on complex POPs compliance issues
• In-depth interpretation of legal texts and enforcement expectations
• Tailored training programs with real-world case studies
• In-house staff education to improve regulatory awareness and risk control

POPs Substance Lists

We provide access to the following lists with detailed substance profiles, regulatory status, and compliance thresholds:

• List of substances subject to the POPs Regulation
• List of substances proposed as POPs

Interested in navigating POPs compliance with confidence?
Contact REACH24H for expert guidance, up-to-date regulatory intelligence, and tailored compliance strategies.