G/TBT/N/GBR/119

29 April 2026

(26-3215)

Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade

Original: English

1.

Notifying Member: UNITED KINGDOM

If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):

2.

Agency responsible:

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)

3.

Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10.1 [ ], 5.6.2 [ ], 5.7.1 [ ], 3.2 [ ], 7.2 [ ], Other:

4.

Products covered (HS codes or national tariff lines. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable): This notification covers products containing the following substances (with CAS numbers in brackets for those substances):

UV-328 (25973-55-1);

Dechlorane Plus - includes its syn-isomer and anti-isomer - (13560-89-9, 135821-03-3, and 135821-74-8);

Medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCPs), meaning a substance or mixture that satisfies one or both of the conditions below:

1. Contains linear chloroalkanes with carbon chain lengths in the range C14-17 and chlorination levels at or exceeding 45% chlorine by weight;

2. Contains linear C14-17 chloroalkanes of the following molecular formulae:

C14H(30−y)Cly where y ≥ 5;

C15H(32−y)Cly where y ≥ 5;

C16H(34−y)Cly where y ≥ 6;

C17H(36−y)Cly where y ≥ 6.

(85535-85-9, 198840-65-2, 1372804-76-6, and others);

Long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids LC-PFCAs their salts and LC-PFCA - related compounds, including:

1. Long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids or their salts, for the purposes of these Regulations, are a homologous series of substances with the molecular formula CnF2n+1COOH (where 8 ≤ n ≤ 20);

2. LC-PFCA-related compounds, for the purposes of these Regulations, are any substance that is a precursor and may transform to LC-PFCAs, where the perfluorinated alkyl moiety has the formula CnF2n+1 (where 8 ≤ n ≤ 20) and is directly bonded to any chemical moiety other than a fluorine, chlorine or bromine atom;

3. The following compounds are not included as LC-PFCAs, their salts and LC-PFCA-related compounds: perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts and PFOA-related compounds;

(375-95-1, 335-76-2, 2058-94-8, 307-55-1, 72629-94-8, 376-06-7,

141074-63-7, 67905-19-5, 57475-95-3, 16517-11-6, 133921-38-7, 68310-12-3 and others).

Chlorpyrifos (2921-88-2)

5.

Details of notified document(s) (title, number of pages and languages, means of access): The Persistent Organic Pollutants (Amendment) Regulations 2026; (7 page(s), in English)

Link to notified document(s) and/or contact details for agency or authority which can provide copies upon request:

https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2026/TBT/GBR/26_02278_00_e.pdf

UK TBT Enquiry Point/ Trade Policy Group

Department for Business and Trade

Old Admiralty Building/ London/ SW1A 2DY

TBTEnquiriesUK@trade.gov.uk

6.

Description of content: The UK is intending to amend Annex I of Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 of the European Parliament and of the Council on persistent organic pollutants ("POPs") (recast) ["the assimilated POPs Regulation"].

The proposed changes are derived from the commitments and guidance set out by the Stockholm Convention, to which the UK is a Party.

In brief, the United Kingdom is proposing:

1. The prohibition from use, manufacture and placing on the market of five chemicals, UV-328 (a plastics and coatings additive which protects from sun damage), Dechlorane Plus (a flame retardant), Chlorpyrifos (pesticide), MCCPs (plasticizer and flame retardant), and LC-PFCAs (PFAS with a number of applications, including surface treatments and consumer products).

2. These prohibitions are subject to some specific exemptions allowing the continued use of the substances. These exemptions align with the exemptions available under the Stockholm Convention. All exemptions are time-limited and are set out in detail in the accompanying statutory instrument.

3. In addition to these specific exemptions, the SI will introduce an unintentional trace contaminant (UTC) level for the five POPs mentioned in point (a).

The SI will also make amendments to the UTC limits for the existing POP, PFOS, and will remove an out-dated reference to the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) for this POP.

7.

Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where applicable: POPs are substances which meet four criteria: they are persistent, toxic, bioaccumulative, and they have the potential for environmental transport far away from sources of emissions, including across international borders. In the past, POPs were used in various products including pesticides and industrial chemicals and released during chemical and agriculture processes. The United Kingdom is a party to the Stockholm Convention, which aims to prohibit, eliminate or restrict the production and use of persistent organic pollutants (POPs).

Protection of Human Health and Safety: the UK is prohibiting chemicals which have been found to be environmentally harmful and have been adopted by UN Stockholm Convention for global elimination to protect human health and the environment.

Therefore, this intervention is necessary to protect human and animal life and health, and the environment. To meet our international obligations under the Stockholm Convention we must implement restrictions on MCCPs, LC-PFCAs and Chlorpyrifos by 16 December 2026.; Protection of human health or safety

8.

Relevant documents:

• Draft statutory Instrument The Persistent Organic Pollutants (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (PDF copy Attached)

• Consultation on potential amendments to the Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Regulation 2026 - Defra - Citizen Space

9.

Proposed date of adoption: 14 October 2026

Proposed date of entry into force: 16 December 2026

10.

Provision of comments

Final date for comments: 28 June 2026

[X] 60 days from notification

Contact details of agency or authority designated to handle comments regarding the notification:

UK TBT Enquiry Point

Trade Group, Department for Business and Trade

Old Admiralty Building, London, SW1A 2DY

tbtenquiriesuk@businessandtrade.gov.uk