SG 133/22
The EU has set a limit for hexachlorobenzene under the POP Recast Regulation. The new law will become effective on December 13, 2022.
In November 2021, we informed you that the European Union (EU) was intending to set a limit value for hexachlorobenzene (HCB) falling under Part A to Annex I of Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 on persistent organic pollutants (POP Recast Regulation, consolidated version to March, 2021, SafeGuardS 152/21).
On November 23, 2022, the EU issued Regulation (EU) 2022/2291 of September 8, 2022, to amend the POP Recast Regulation by setting an unintentional trace contaminant (UTC) limit value of 10 mg/kg for HCB to clarify the legal aspects and to facilitate enforcement.
Highlights of the latest amendment and a comparison with HCB under the POP Recast Regulation are summarized in Table 1.
Part A of Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 ‘Substances Listed in the Convention and in the Protocol as well as Substances Listed Only in the Convention’
| Regulation (EU) 2022/2291 amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1021* | Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 | |
|---|---|---|
| Substance (CAS No.) | Hexachlorobenzene (118-74-1) | Hexachlorobenzene (118-74-1) |
| Specific exemption on intermediate use or other specification | ≤ 10 mg/kg (0.001%) in substances, mixtures or articles | None |
| Effective date | December 13, 2022 (20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the EU) | July 2019 |
*The European Commission has determined the presence of hexachlorobenzene as an impurity in some substances, mixtures or articles, including chlorinated solvents, coatings, inks, paints and toners, pesticides, textile and wood applications, as well as plastics (preamble clause 5)
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