The European Commission has published Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 on persistent organic pollutants (POPs). The previous POPs Regulation (EC) No 850/2004 shall be repealed accordingly. The Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 shall enter into force on 15 July 2019.

Because Regulation (EC) No 850/2004 has been substantially amended several times, and it is necessary to be further amended, therefore, Regulation (EC) No 850/2004 shall be recast in the interests of clarity.

The objective of this Regulation is to protect human health and the environment from POPs by prohibiting, phasing out as soon as possible, or restricting the manufacturing, placing on the market and use of substances subject to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, or the Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on Persistent Organic Pollutants, by minimising releases of such substances, and by establishing provisions regarding waste consisting of, containing or contaminated by any of those substances. The following are the highlight of the Regulation:

Control of manufacturing, placing on the market and use, and the listing of substances

1. The manufacturing, placing on the market and use of substances listed in Annex I, whether on their own, in mixtures or in articles, shall be prohibited, subject to some exemptions.
2. The manufacturing, placing on the market and use of substances listed in Annex II, whether on their own, in mixtures or in articles, shall be restricted, subject to some exemptions.

Stockpiles

1. The holder of a stockpile, which consists of or contains any substance listed in Annex I or II, for which no use is permitted, shall manage that stockpile as waste and in accordance with waste management.
2. The holder shall manage the stockpile in a safe, efficient and environmentally sound manner and taking all adequate steps to ensure that the stockpile is managed in a manner that will protect human health and the environment.

Waste management

Producers and holders of waste shall undertake all reasonable efforts to avoid, where feasible, contamination of this waste with substances listed in Annex IV (List of substances subject to waste management provisions).

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