UK Consults on Revised POPs Chemical Legislation for Great Britain
BAAR, SWITZERLAND / AGILITYPR.NEWS / April 09, 2026 / SGS, the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company, has published SafeGuardS 044.26, focusing on a consultation opened by the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) proposing changes to Annex 1 of the assimilated Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 as it applies to Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales).
The consultation opened on March 18, 2026. Key revisions reflect amendments to the Stockholm Convention, which the UK, as a party to the Convention, must implement at the national level. These changes cover the prohibition, use and placing on the market of five additional POPs. Further proposed amendments respond to scientific or technical progress.
The five new proposed POP chemicals are:
- Chlorpyrifos
- Dechlorane Plus (DP), including its syn- and anti-isomers
- Long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids (LC-PFCAs), their salts and LC-PFCA-related compounds
- Medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCPs)
- UV-328
The proposed additions and revisions will have implications for a wide range of industry and supply chain stakeholders, including manufacturers, users, importers and exporters. The changes will apply to products as well as recyclates, components or sub-components that contain or are contaminated by these substances.
The consultation remains open for comments until May 13, 2026, with the regulations intended to enter into force on December 16, 2026.
SGS experts publish SafeGuardS to keep stakeholders informed about regulatory changes that could impact their business. SafeGuardS 044.26 includes helpful tables with further information about applicable product categories and scope, as well as the proposed changes and specific exemptions for the five substances.
Stakeholders are encouraged to refer to the original SafeGuardS 044.26 for more details.
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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.
SGS SafeGuardS keep you up to date with the latest news and developments in the consumer goods industry. Read the full UK Consults Over Revised POP Chemical Legislation for Great Britain SafeGuardS.
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For further information, contact:
Dr. HingWo Tsang
Global Information and Innovation Manager
Tel: +852 2774 7420
Website: www.sgs.com/hardlines
LinkedIn: SGS Connectivity & Products
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