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EU POPs adopts draft revised PBDEs limit requirements

Time：

2025-07-28

The EU POPs adopts a draft of revised PBDEs limit requirements, mainly updating the limit requirements for polybrominated diphenyl ethers in the fourth column, point 2 of the table in Part A of Annex I to POPs.

On July 24, 2025, the European Commission adopted a draft of the revised Regulation on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs Regulation, (EU) 2019/1021) regarding the requirements for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and the next step will be to officially publish the revised regulation in the EU Official Journal. This revision mainly updates the limit requirements for polybrominated diphenyl ethers in the second point of the fourth column of the table in Part A of Annex I of POPs.

Revision content

Substance name	Current requirements Specific exemptions for intermediate use or other specifications	Revised draft Specific exemptions for intermediate use or other specifications
tetrabromodiphenyl ether Pentabromodiphenyl ether Hexabromodiphenyl ether Heptabromodiphenyl ether DecaBDE	For the entries of tetrabromodiphenyl ether, pentabromodiphenyl ether, hexabromodiphenyl ether, heptabromodiphenyl ether, and decabromodiphenyl ether, Article 4 (1) (b) shall apply to the sum of substances present in mixtures or articles at a concentration not exceeding 500 milligrams per kilogram, which shall be reviewed and examined by the European Commission before July 16, 2021. This review should assess all impacts related to health and the environment.	For tetrabromodiphenyl ether, pentabromodiphenyl ether, hexabromodiphenyl ether, heptabromodiphenyl ether, and decabromodiphenyl ether, Article 4 (1) (b) shall apply to the total concentration of these substances as follows: a. At the time of entry into force of this regulation, if they are present in mixtures or articles, they shall be 10mg/kg, except for food contact materials subject to regulation EC No 1935/2004; b. As an exception to point (a), the effective rate of this regulation is 500mg/kg, 350mg/kg from around December 30, 2025, and 200mg/kg from December 30, 2027. If they exist in recycled materials containing tetrabromodiphenyl ether, pentabromodiphenyl ether, hexabromodiphenyl ether, heptabromodiphenyl ether, decabromodiphenyl ether, or in mixtures or articles made from recycled materials, except for food contact materials subject to EC Regulation 1935/2004; c. As an exception to point (a), this regulation shall come into effect at a rate of 500mg/kg, from December 30, 2025 at 350mg/kg, and from [OP insert date: 18 months after entry into force] at 10mg/kg, if they are present in toys subject to Directive 2009/48/EC, or in any product that facilitates child seating, sleep, relaxation, hygiene, changing clothes and general bodily care, feeding, sucking, transportation and protection, containing or made from recycled materials containing tetrabromodiphenyl ether, pentabromodiphenyl ether, hexabromodiphenyl ether, heptabromodiphenyl ether, decabromodiphenyl ether, except for food contact materials subject to Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 '.

Regarding PBDEs

The English name for polybrominated diphenyl ethers is PolyBrominated Diphenyl Ethers, abbreviated as PBDEs. There are 209 homologous compounds including tetrabromodiphenyl ethers, pentabromo, hexabromo, octabromo, decabromo, etc. The main use of polybrominated diphenyl ethers is as flame retardants, added to composite materials during the manufacturing process to improve the fire resistance of products. Because it can release free radicals at high temperature and block combustion reaction, it is used as a flame retardant in electronic products, textiles and foam - a persistent organic pollutant, known to pose risks to human and environmental health. Although the EU has gradually phased out the production of polybrominated diphenyl ethers, they are still widely present in recycled materials.

POPs regulations

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are a class of natural or synthetic organic pollutants that have long-term residues, bioaccumulation, semi volatility, and high toxicity, and can migrate over long distances through various environmental media (atmosphere, water, organisms, etc.), posing serious hazards to human health and the environment.

The main purpose of POPs regulations is to protect human health and the environment from the hazards of POPs, by reducing their production, use, and emissions, lowering their concentrations in the environment, and thereby reducing potential threats to ecosystems and humans. The regulations also require proper management and disposal of waste containing POPs to prevent secondary pollution to the environment.

Compliance recommendations

This revision mainly tightens the limit requirements for PBDEs. However, it should be noted that PBDEs under the POPs regulations are exempted from RoHS control for electronic and electrical products. Therefore, production companies do not need to pay attention to the PBDEs limit requirements in the POPs of electronic and electrical products. However, companies should focus on whether products other than electronic and electrical products such as packaging and batteries comply with the requirements of the revised draft.

In recent years, the EU's POPs regulations have been updated frequently and enforcement efforts have been continuously strengthened. There have also been more and more cases of Chinese products being reported for violating POPs regulations when exporting to the EU. Enterprises should pay timely attention to regulatory developments, respond to adjustment strategies, ensure that products comply with new regulatory requirements, and reduce the risk of violations.

Jiayu Testing has a professional testing technology team equipped with advanced instruments and equipment, proficient in various regulatory standards. We specialize in providing customized testing services for POPs substances and global environmental regulation testing consulting services for electronic and electrical products, food contact materials, toys, and children's products. We provide you with a comprehensive and complete one-stop testing and certification solution. Welcome to contact us at 400-9269-886!