A limit for SCCPs in articles under POPs Regulation

On 14 November 2015, Official Journal of the European Union published amendment (EU) 2015/2030 to Regulation (EC) No 850/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council on persistent organic pollutants. The SCCPs entry in Annex I is amended and it clarifies articles that contain SCCPs in concentrations lower than 0,15 % by weight are allowed to be placed on the market and used.
 
The amendments are as the following:

Substance	CAS No	EC No	Exemption and other stipulations
Alkanes C10-C13, chloro (short-chain chlorinated paraffins), SCCPs	85535-84-8	287-476-5	1. By way of derogation, the production, placing on the market and use of substances or preparations containing SCCPs in concentrations lower than 1 % by weight or articles containing SCCPs in concentrations lower than 0,15 % by weight shall be allowed. 2. Use shall be allowed in respect of: (a)conveyor belts in the mining industry and dam sealants containing SCCPs already in use before or on 4 December 2015; and (b) articles containing SCCPs other than those referred to in (a) already in use before or on 10 July 2012. 3. Article 4(2) third and fourth subparagraphs shall apply to the articles referred to in point 2 above.

 
The biggest alternation is the addition of the SCCPs limit in articles (0,15 % by weight). Besides, Point 3 “Placing on the market and use of articles produced before or on 10 July 2012 containing SCCPs as a constituent of such articles shall be allowed until 10 January 2013.” is deleted while Point 2 and 4 are amended accordingly.
 
SCCPs are widely used in baby bathtubs, mobile phone cases, purses and other plastic products. It may also be present in electronic and electrical equipment, employed in lubricants during metal processing, rubber & leather clothing, glue, etc. The concentration of SCCPs is also subject to this limit when the products are exported to the EU.
 
Reminder: Besides POPs Regulation, the Candidate List (SVHC List) under REACH Regulation also imposes restriction on SCCPs. It is noticeable that SVHC content shall be based on spare parts and results of composite tests will not be recognized. Exporters should strengthen quality control to reduce or even eliminate safety hazard by product testing so as to avoid ban or withdrawal of products in the targeted market.