News Details

On 29 April 2026, the United Kingdom notified the World Trade Organization of a draft statutory instrument amending Annex I of the assimilated Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2019/1021). Prepared by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the proposed Persistent Organic Pollutants (Amendment) Regulations 2026, , are intended to implement the United Kingdom’s obligations under the Stockholm Convention.

New prohibitions on five POPs

The draft introduces new prohibitions on the manufacture, use, and placing on the market of five substances or substance groups:

• UV-328 (CAS 25973-55-1)
• Dechlorane Plus (CAS 13560-89-9 and related isomers)
• Chlorpyrifos (CAS 2921-88-2)
• Medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCPs)
• Long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids (LC-PFCAs), their salts and related compounds

These substances are identified as persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic, with the potential for long-range environmental transport. Their restriction reflects binding commitments under the Stockholm Convention.

The proposal also introduces unintentional trace contaminant (UTC) limits for the newly listed POPs, alongside updates to existing limits for perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS).

Exemptions and implementation timeline

The prohibitions are accompanied by time-limited exemptions for specific applications, in line with those agreed under the Stockholm Convention. These include the continued use of the substances in sectors such as aerospace, defence, medical devices, and certain industrial applications, as well as provisions for replacement parts and maintenance.

• Final date for comments: 28 June 2026
• Proposed adoption: 14 October 2026
• Proposed entry into force: 16 December 2026, in line with the implementation deadlines of the Stockholm Convention.

The United Kingdom notes that restrictions on MCCPs, LC-PFCAs and chlorpyrifos, must be implemented by 16 December 2026 to meet international obligations.

The proposed measures are closely linked to an ongoing consultation launched by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) on 18 March 2026. The consultation seeks stakeholder input on the implementation of these obligations in Great Britain, including exemptions and UTC limits. The consultation is open until 13 May 2026.

The draft statutory instrument can be accessed here.