What are Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)?

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are toxic chemical substances that resist natural breakdown, remain in the environment for long periods, and build up in living organisms. Examples include polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), DDT, and dioxins. POPs can travel long distances through air and water, affecting ecosystems and human health worldwide.

What is the EU POPs Regulation (EU 2019/1021)?

The EU POPs Regulation, also known as Regulation (EU) 2019/1021, is the European Union’s legal framework for controlling persistent organic pollutants. It enforces the Stockholm Convention by restricting or banning POPs production, use, and disposal to prevent environmental contamination.

Which industries are most affected by POPs legislation?

Industries such as electronics, automotive, textiles, and construction are most affected by persistent organic pollutant (POP) regulations. These sectors often use materials containing POPs, such as flame retardants, lubricants, or plasticizers, and must comply with EU POPs restrictions to continue selling products in the European Union.

How can companies ensure compliance with the EU POPs Regulation?

To comply with the EU POPs Regulation, companies should collect full material disclosures (FMDs) from suppliers, perform chemical screening to detect POPs, and use Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Compliance software. Ongoing monitoring of new POPs listings under the Stockholm Convention helps maintain compliance as regulations evolve.

SCIP Database Available to General Public for Testing

On February 17, 2020, the European Chemical Agency (ECHA) announced the Substances of Concern In articles as such or in complex objects (Products) (SCIP) database prototype was available for the general public to use. The testing phase provides companies the opportunity to submit test data and provide the ECHA with feedback on the development process. The database was established under the European Union (EU) Waste Framework Directive (WFD) (2018/851).

The released environment is only for basic functionality testing, and the timeline for implementation of the final database remains unchanged. As such, all test data will be removed in October 2020, allowing companies to prepare and validate data prior to making submissions starting January 5, 2021.

To learn more about your SCIP database reporting requirements, download our overview, Understanding the EU Waste Framework Directive & SCIP Database.

To provide feedback and suggestions that may enable ECHA to develop enhancements to the final release of the SCIP database in October 2020, Assent Compliance has been an active participant in the SCIP IT User Group. Assent continues to be involved in the development of system-to-system functionality that will be used to digitally submit data from third-party platforms into the database, as well as the development process for existing data exchange standards, such as IPC-1752B, IPC-1754 and IEC 62474.

How Assent Can Help

Assent’s software automates supply chain data management, enabling companies to more efficiently meet their SCIP database reporting requirements. The Assent Compliance Platform leverages a workflow-driven, programmatic approach to supply chain engagement, the identification of articles containing SVHCs, and the retrieval of both required and optional SCIP data.

Access to both required and optional data supports enhanced reporting and transparency across the supply chain. The platform integrates to provide companies with a viable third-party option for submissions. For more information about how Assent can help your company, contact us today.

Ann Schober

Sustainability Expert

Leveraging her extensive experience in project management and sustainability within both the private and non-profit sectors, Ann provides strategic guidance to companies navigating complex regulatory Read More

Ann Schober | Sustainability Expert

Leveraging her extensive experience in project management and sustainability within both the private and non-profit sectors, Ann provides strategic guidance to companies navigating complex regulatory landscapes with a specialized focus on conflict minerals, and environmental, social, and governance ...