POPs regulation is linked to the UK being signed up to the Stockholm Convention. The current regulation was aligned with the EU POPs regulation, However post BREXIT the implementation is now at the UK level and any exemptions or transition times have to be lobbied for here in the UK. A major difference to REACH restriction is that under REACH the restriction is usually set at the substance being present at > 0.1% w/w whereas under POPs regulation the threshold is usually set at the ppm/ppb range meaning that POP substances maybe present as contaminants from processes higher up the supply chain, rather than being present intentionally.
MedTech Europe have worked to advocate on behalf of the sector at EU levels regarding some POP substances found in medical devices and IVDs, such as plasticizers, UV blockers and flame retardants, found in electronics and plastics as found in instruments etc. Often seeking longer transition timelines to allow the sector to identify and transition to alternatives.
In addition the EU is planning to request that PFAS substances are added to the convention.
You can read DEFRA’s ‘Persistent organic pollutants (POPs): policy information’ report here.
