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EU Adopts POPs Restrictions for Long-Chain PFCAs and MCCPs Image

EU Adopts POPs Restrictions for Long-Chain PFCAs and MCCPs

Date
24 Sep 2026

Reference source : Official Journal of the European Union

The European Commission has adopted two delegated regulations adding long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids (C9–C21 PFCAs), their salts and related compounds, and medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCPs) to Annex I of the EU Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Regulation.

The acts were adopted on 7 and 11 September 2026, respectively, and implement decisions taken under the Stockholm Convention in 2025. They will generally prohibit the manufacture, placing on the market and use of the substances, whether on their own, in mixtures or in articles, subject to specified exemptions and limits for unintentional trace contaminants.

Long-Chain PFCA Restrictions

The regulation establishes general unintentional trace contaminant limits of 0.025 mg/kg for PFCAs and their salts and 0.26 mg/kg for PFCA-related compounds.

C9–C14 PFCAs are already restricted under entry 68 of Annex XVII to the REACH Regulation. Following the adoption of the delegated regulation, the Commission intends to begin removing that entry.

The principal transitional provisions are:

Deadline

Provision

3 August 2028

Limits of 1 mg/kg for C9–C21 PFCAs and their salts and 10 mg/kg for related compounds apply to Class B firefighting foams already installed in systems.

31 December 2030

Exemption expires for specified semiconductors used in spare parts for certain finished electronic equipment.

16 December 2030

Separate limits for C9–C14 and C15–C21 PFCAs in certain fluoroplastics, fluoroelastomers and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) micropowders end. The relevant C9–C14 limits will then apply to the entire C9–C21 group.

No specified end date

A combined limit of 10 mg/kg applies to C9–C21 PFCAs, their salts and related compounds in fluorine-free firefighting foams installed after a system has been cleaned.

 

MCCP Limits and Exemptions

The MCCP regulation establishes a general unintentional trace contaminant limit of 1,000 mg/kg, or 0.1% by weight, in substances, mixtures and articles.

Its principal transitional provisions and exemptions are:

Deadline

Provision

16 December 2028

A temporary limit of 20,000 mg/kg, or 2% by weight, applies to MCCPs in recovered material from cable recycling and articles made from it when used in road furniture or fence-support blocks. Exemptions also apply to specified construction wires and cables, sealants, polyurethane foams and waterproof and anti-corrosion coatings.

16 December 2031

Exemptions expire for specified medical-device wires and cables, polyurethane foam containing recovered material and certain aerospace and defence uses.

31 December 2036

Exemption expires for MCCPs used as extreme-pressure additives in specified heavy-duty metalworking fluids.

31 December 2041

Exemptions expire for certain spare parts, ammunition-related uses and space and defence applications. Some uses may instead continue until the end of the relevant equipment’s service life.

 

Manufacturers, suppliers and importers placing chlorinated paraffins on the market must provide information on MCCP concentrations in the Safety Data Sheet. Where the concentration exceeds 0.1% by weight, the document must also describe appropriate measures and operating conditions to minimise releases and exposure. Concentrations must be determined using representative batches and validated analytical methods.

Scrutiny Period Underway

The European Parliament and Council have two months from the respective adoption dates to object to the delegated regulations. If no objection is raised, the acts will be published in the Official Journal and will enter into force 20 days later. Both regulations are scheduled to apply from 16 December 2026.

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