The Persistent Organic Pollutants (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 2025
The Persistent Organic Pollutants (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 2025 amend Regulation (EU) 2019/1021, removing Dechlorane Plus and UV-328 from Annex 1's list of controlled substances.
The regulations were enacted by the Secretary of State with consent from the Scottish and Welsh Ministers and came into force immediately upon enactment.
An impact assessment is available online.
Arguments For
Protecting human health and the environment: Removing Dechlorane Plus and UV-328 aligns UK regulations with EU efforts to control persistent organic pollutants, contributing to safer environments and reduced health risks.
Compliance with international agreements: The amendments ensure the UK's continued compliance with the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, demonstrating commitment to global environmental standards.
Streamlining regulations: Removing substances no longer considered to require specific control measures simplifies the regulatory framework, potentially reducing burdens on businesses and government.
Arguments Against
Potential for unintended consequences: Removing these substances might lead to the use of alternative substances with unknown long-term health or environmental impacts.
Economic impacts on specific industries: Companies that utilize Dechlorane Plus and UV-328 might face challenges in sourcing alternatives, leading to increased costs or production disruptions.
Lack of complete scientific consensus: While the decision to remove these substances reflects current scientific understanding, it's possible that further research may reveal continued risks associated with these substances requiring specific regulation.
- Citation, commencement and extent (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Persistent Organic Pollutants (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 2025. (2) These Regulations come into force on the day after the day on which they are made. (3) These Regulations extend to England and Wales and Scotland.
This section details the title, effective date, and geographical scope of the regulations.
The regulations are officially titled "Persistent Organic Pollutants (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 2025" and took effect the day after their creation.
They apply across England, Wales, and Scotland.
- Amendments to Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 (1) The table in Part A of Annex 1 (Substances listed in the Convention and in the Protocol as well as substances listed only in the Convention) of Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 of the European Parliament and of the Council on persistent organic pollutants (recast) is amended as follows. (2) Omit the entries for—(a) Dechlorane Plus; (b) UV-328.
This section outlines the specific amendments made to Annex 1 of Regulation (EU) 2019/1021, also known as the POPs Regulation.
Specifically, the entries for Dechlorane Plus and UV-328 are removed from Part A of Annex 1.
This removes these substances from the list of regulated persistent organic pollutants.
EXPLANATORY NOTE (This note is not part of the Regulations) These Regulations are made in exercise of the powers conferred by Article 15(1) of Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 of the European Parliament and of the Council on persistent organic pollutants (recast) (EUR 2019/1021, “the POPs Regulation”). Regulation 2 amends provisions in Annex 1 to the POPs Regulation so as to remove the entries concerning Dechlorane Plus and UV-328. A full impact assessment of the effect that this instrument will have on the costs of business, the voluntary sector and the public sector is available from www.legislation.gov.uk, and from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Seacole Building, 2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DF.
The explanatory note provides context for the regulations.
It clarifies that the regulations stem from Article 15(1) of the EU's POPs Regulation and specifically details that the amendments remove Dechlorane Plus and UV-328.
It also directs readers to a full impact assessment detailing potential economic effects.