40 Hazardous Chemicals Added to EU PIC Regulation: Amendments Apply from 1 March 2025

The European Commission has adopted an amendment to the EU’s Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Regulation, adding 40 hazardous chemicals to Annex I. The amendment was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 31 December 2024 and will enter into force on 20 January 2025. From 1 March 2025, exporters will have to notify the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) before shipping these substances outside the EU. The update strengthens the EU’s control over hazardous chemicals, with the aim of protecting human health and the environment worldwide.

Highlights of the New Amendments

• Addition of 40 Chemicals to Annex I:

  • Includes 35 pesticides such as abamectin, difenacoum, fenpropimorph and triadimenol.

  • Includes 5 industrial chemicals such as dihexyl phthalate and sodium perborate).

• Export Notification and Explicit Consent:

  • Most of the newly listed substances (38) require both export notification and explicit consent from the importing country.

  • Two pesticides already listed in Annex I, cyanamide and warfarin, will also need explicit consent for export from 1 March 2025.

• Export Ban for the PFHxS Group:

  • Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), its salts and related compounds will be added to Annex V, prohibiting their export. This reflects their classification as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) under the Stockholm Convention.

What Exporters Need to Know

• ePIC System Updated: ECHA’s IT tool, ePIC, is ready to handle export notifications for the updated list of chemicals. Exporters are encouraged to start submitting notifications to ensure compliance.

• Extended Annex I: With this update, the PIC Regulation now covers 321 chemical entries.

• Explicit Consent Requirement: For chemicals listed in Part 2 of Annex I, explicit approval from the importing country must be obtained prior to export.

Background on the PIC Regulation

The PIC Regulation regulates the trade of hazardous chemicals that are banned or severely restricted within the EU. Its main aim is to provide importing countries with information on the risks of these chemicals and to ensure their prior informed consent for import.

Action for Exporters

EU exporters should familiarize themselves with the new requirements and plan ahead to avoid disruption to their supply chains. Notifications through the ePIC system should be submitted well in advance of the enforcement date of 1 March 2025.

The full list of substances can be found in the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/3199 here.