Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are substances that, once released into the environment, accumulate and pose serious risks to both ecosystems and human health.
Clarification of the substance name and scope, stricter concentration limits, and deletion of certain specific exemptions. (Refer to the table below for details)
Effective Date for Column 4, Points 1 & 2: December 3, 2025
Annex I Part A: PFOS
As-Is
To-Be
1
Column I
Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid and its derivatives (PFOS)
C8F17SO2X
(X = OH, Metal salt (O-M+), halide, amide, and other derivatives including polymers)
Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), its salts and PFOS-related compounds
C8F17SO2X
(X = OH, Metal salt (O-M+), halide, amide, and other related compounds including polymers)
2
Column 4 point 1
For the purposes of this entry, point (b) of Article 4(1) shall apply to concentrations of PFOS equal to or below 10 mg/kg (0,001 % by weight) where it is present in substances or in mixtures.
For the purposes of this entry, point (b) of Article 4(1) shall apply to concentrations of PFOS or any of its salts equal to or below 0,025 mg/kg (0,0000025 % by weight) where they are present in substances, mixtures or in articles
3
Column 4 point 2
For the purposes of this entry, point (b) of Article 4(1) shall apply to concentrations of PFOS in semi-finished products or articles, or parts thereof, if the concentration of PFOS is lower than 0,1 % by weight calculated with reference to the mass of structurally or micro-structurally distinct parts that contain PFOS or, for textiles or other coated materials, if the amount of PFOS is lower than 1 μg/m2 of the coated material.
For the purposes of this entry, Article 4(1), point (b), shall apply to the sum of concentrations of all PFOS-related compounds equal to or below 1 mg/kg (0,0001 % by weight) where they are present in substances, mixtures or articles
4
Column 4 point 4
If the quantity released into the environment is…
(deleted)
5
Column 4 point 5
Once standards are adopted by the European Committee…
On June 27, 2025, the EU announced an amendment to strengthen the requirements for PFOS listed in Annex I (Prohibition) of the POPs Regulation.
Regulatory Overview
The EU POPs Regulation (Persistent Organic Pollutants, Regulation (EU) 2019/1021) is based on the Stockholm Convention and addresses the prohibition, restriction, release reduction, and waste management of persistent organic pollutants (POPs).
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are substances that, once released into the environment, accumulate and pose serious risks to both ecosystems and human health.
Examples of chemicals identified as POPs include:
Pesticides (e.g., DDT)
Industrial chemicals (e.g., PCBs – polychlorinated biphenyls)
Unintended by-products generated from manufacturing, combustion, or decomposition processes (e.g., dioxins and furans)
Key amendment details
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/718
Date of Publication: June 27, 2025
Entry into force: July 17, 2025
Changes Related to PFOS
Clarification of the substance name and scope, stricter concentration limits, and deletion of certain specific exemptions. (Refer to the table below for details)
Effective Date for Column 4, Points 1 & 2: December 3, 2025
Column I
Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid and its derivatives (PFOS)
C8F17SO2X
(X = OH, Metal salt (O-M+), halide, amide, and other derivatives including polymers)
Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), its salts and PFOS-related compounds
C8F17SO2X
(X = OH, Metal salt (O-M+), halide, amide, and other related compounds including polymers)
Column 4 point 1
For the purposes of this entry, point (b) of Article 4(1) shall apply to concentrations of PFOS equal to or below 10 mg/kg (0,001 % by weight) where it is present in substances or in mixtures.
For the purposes of this entry, point (b) of Article 4(1) shall apply to concentrations of PFOS or any of its salts equal to or below 0,025 mg/kg (0,0000025 % by weight) where they are present in substances, mixtures or in articles
Column 4 point 2
For the purposes of this entry, point (b) of Article 4(1) shall apply to concentrations of PFOS in semi-finished products or articles, or parts thereof, if the concentration of PFOS is lower than 0,1 % by weight calculated with reference to the mass of structurally or micro-structurally distinct parts that contain PFOS or, for textiles or other coated materials, if the amount of PFOS is lower than 1 μg/m2 of the coated material.
For the purposes of this entry, Article 4(1), point (b), shall apply to the sum of concentrations of all PFOS-related compounds equal to or below 1 mg/kg (0,0001 % by weight) where they are present in substances, mixtures or articles
Column 4 point 4
If the quantity released into the environment is…
(deleted)
Column 4 point 5
Once standards are adopted by the European Committee…
(deleted)