Amendment to PBDE entries in the POPs Regulation
Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/1482 has been published, lowering the limits for PBDEs (polybrominated diphenyl ethers) in Annex I of Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 (POPs)
05 Nov 2025On 28 October 2025, Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/1482 was published, amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 on persistent organic pollutants (POPs).
The new regulation introduces lower concentration limits for tetrabromodiphenyl ether (tetraBDE), pentabromodiphenyl ether (pentaBDE), hexabromodiphenyl ether (hexaBDE), heptabromodiphenyl ether (heptaBDE), and decabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE), collectively known as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), which were historically used as flame retardants in plastics, textiles, and electronic components.
The updated PBDE limits are as follows:
- mixtures and articles: reduced from 500 mg/kg (previously allowed) to 10 mg/kg (as the sum of the listed PBDEs), excluding food contact materials (where PBDEs should be absent in principle);
- mixtures and articles containing or made from recovered materials: 350 mg/kg from 30 December 2025, with a further reduction to 200 mg/kg starting from 30 December 2027 (in both cases as the sum of the concentrations of the listed PBDEs), excluding food contact materials (where they should be absent in principle);
- toys and childcare articles containing or made from recovered materials: 350 mg/kg from 30 December 2025, with a further reduction to 10 mg/kg from 30 December 2027 (in both cases as the sum of the concentrations of the listed PBDEs), excluding food contact materials (where they should be absent in principle).
Regarding points b) and c), the regulation also clarifies that from its entry into force (17 November 2025), the existing limit of 500 mg/kg (sum of the listed PBDEs) remains applicable until the new thresholds take effect.
Although the production and use of PBDEs are now banned in the EU, these substances continue to be detected in recycled materials, posing a risk of reintroduction into the market through consumer products, including toys and childcare articles. For this reason, the regulation emphasizes the importance of paying particular attention to these product categories to safeguard human health and the environment.
The regulation will enter into force on the twentieth day following its publication, i.e., on 17 November 2025.