# POPs Regulation – persistent organic pollutants

Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on persistent organic pollutants (recast)

- Status: In force
- Legal order: European Union
- Legal area: Chemicals and worker health
- OJ L 169, 25.6.2019, p. 45, as amended
- Business profile: Smelting, Recycling, Scrap trade, Waste shipments

## In brief

Concerns the recycling of cable scrap, e-waste and shredder residues (inter alia PBDE, PCDD/F): waste containing POPs above the Annex IV thresholds must be destroyed or irreversibly transformed.

## Key obligations

- prohibition of the production, placing on the market and use of substances listed in Annex I, including in articles (Art. 3(1))
- avoidance of contamination of waste with substances listed in Annex IV by waste producers and holders (Art. 7(1))
- waste containing POPs above the Annex IV thresholds – disposal or recovery ensuring the destruction of the POPs, in accordance with Annex V, Part 1 (Art. 7(2))
- minimisation of unintentional releases (PCDD/F, PCB, HCB) from thermal processes – inventories and action plans of the Member States (Art. 6)

## Competent authority

Inspection for Environmental Protection (supervision of waste management)

## Penalties

Penalties laid down by the Member State (Art. 14)

## Entry into force

15.07.2019

## Application

in force; Annexes IV and V as worded by Regulation (EU) 2022/2400 from 10.06.2023

## Key dates

- 10.06.2023: application of the lowered thresholds in Annexes IV and V (Regulation (EU) 2022/2400), inter alia PCDD/F and PBDE
- 30.06.2026: Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/1423 – listing of chlorpyrifos (latest amendment in EUR-Lex)

## Related acts

- [REACH – registration, safety data sheets, restrictions, authorisations](https://igmnir.org/dane/prawo/en/eu-reach/)

## Official sources

- [Text of the act](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2019/1021/oj)
- [Consolidated text](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/PL/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02019R1021-20260930)
- [EUR-Lex – Regulation (EU) 2022/2400 amending Annexes IV and V](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/2400/oj)

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Register as of: 22.10.2026. The official text of the act prevails. IGMNiR. On the website: https://igmnir.org/en/law/#akt-eu-pops