UK POP Chemicals Legislation Revised for Great Britain

SGS summarizes revisions made to the UK’s legislation on POP chemicals for Great Britain. End Quote

(1888PressRelease) April 11, 2025 - SGS, the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company, has published SafeGuardS 051.25, detailing revisions to the UK’s persistent organic pollutants (POP) legislation for Great Britain.

POP chemicals resist degradation and persist in the environment. As toxic substances, they bioaccumulate in the food chain and present risks to human, animal and environmental health.

Following a consultation by the UK’s Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), two new pieces of legislation have been issued:

• The Persistent Organic Pollutants (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (UK SI 2025/296)
• The Persistent Organic Pollutants (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2025 (UK SI 2025/297)

These two laws revise the retained Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 on POP. They became effective on April 1, 2025.

UK SI 2025/296 introduces an unintentional trace contaminant (UTC) limit for hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and pentachlorophenol (PCP), its salts and esters, revises several provisions for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts and PFOA-related compounds and adds new entries for dechlorane plus (DP), methoxychlor and UV-328. It also revises the waste requirements for several POP chemicals listed in Annexes IV and V of Regulation (EU) 2019/1021.

UK SI 2025/297 amends the entries for DP and UV-328 listed in Part A, Annex 1 of the POP Recast Regulation, allowing certain time-limited applications.

SGS experts publish SafeGuardS to keep stakeholders informed about regulatory changes that could impact their business. SafeGuardS 051.25 includes a useful table with further information on the substances and specific exemptions in UK SI 2025/296 and its scope. Additional details are also provided on the presence or use of HCB, PCP, DP, methoxychlor and UV-328 in consumer goods.

Stakeholders are encouraged to refer to the original SafeGuardS 051.25 for more details.

SGS chemical testing
SGS offers a comprehensive range of testing services to help manufacturers and suppliers ensure their products are safe and comply with national and international regulations concerning harmful chemicals. In the end, it’s only trusted because it’s tested. Learn more about SGS chemical testing services. [www.sgs.com/en/services/chemicals-testing]

SGS SafeGuardS keep you up to date with the latest news and developments in the consumer goods industry. Read the full UK Amends Legislation on POP Chemicals for Great Britain SafeGuardS. [www.sgs.com/en/news/2025/04/safeguards-05125-uk-amends-legislation-on-pop-chemicals-for-great-britain]

Subscribe today and receive SGS SafeGuardS direct to your inbox. [http://www.sgs.com/subscribes]

For further information contact:

Dr. HingWo Tsang
Global Information and Innovation Manager
Tel: +852 2774 7420
Website: http://www.sgs.com/hardlines
LinkedIn: SGS Connectivity & Products

About SGS
SGS is the world’s leading Testing, Inspection and Certification company. We operate a network of over 2,500 laboratories and business facilities across 115 countries, supported by a team of 99,500 dedicated professionals. With over 145 years of service excellence, we combine the precision and accuracy that define Swiss companies to help organizations achieve the highest standards of quality, compliance and sustainability.

Our brand promise – when you need to be sure – underscores our commitment to trust, integrity and reliability, enabling businesses to thrive with confidence. We proudly deliver our expert services through the SGS name and trusted specialized brands, including Brightsight, Bluesign, Maine Pointe and Nutrasource.

SGS is publicly traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange under the ticker symbol SGSN (ISIN CH0002497458, Reuters SGSN.S, Bloomberg SGSN:SW).

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