Are Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) covered by the RoHS or WEEE directives?

Are Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) covered by RoHS, WEEE and REACH?

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are not explicitly covered by the RoHS or WEEE directives, but REACH does address them more directly.

Here's how each directive relates to POPs:

1. RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances)

Purpose: Limits certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (EEE).

POPs coverage:

Indirect at best. RoHS focuses on substances like lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, PBBs, and PBDEs.

Some POPs (like PBDEs, a type of flame retardant) are restricted under RoHS because they fall into the brominated flame retardant category.

But not all POPs are within RoHS scope.

2. WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment)

Purpose: Addresses collection, recycling, and recovery of EEE waste.

POPs coverage:

Indirect. WEEE does not explicitly regulate POPs.

However, POPs can be relevant in treatment and disposal processes, where preventing their release into the environment is a concern.

3. REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals)

Purpose: Regulates the manufacture, import, and use of chemical substances in the EU.

POPs coverage:

Yes, explicitly.

REACH can restrict or ban substances classified as POPs.

Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs) under REACH may include POPs.

The REACH Restriction List and Authorisation List both can include POPs.

Directive	Covers POPs?	Notes
RoHS	✳️ Partially	Some POPs like PBDEs are included
WEEE	⚠️ Indirectly	Related in waste handling, not substance restrictions
REACH	✅ Yes	Fully covers POPs under substance regulation

List of currently restricted POPs under REACH

Several Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are currently restricted under the REACH Regulation (EC No 1907/2006), primarily through Annex XVII, which lists substances whose manufacture, placing on the market, or use is limited or banned in the EU. These restrictions often align with international obligations under the Stockholm Convention on POPs.

Examples of POPs Restricted Under REACH Annex XVII

Here are some notable POPs currently restricted under REACH:

1. Short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs)

Entry 42: Restricted in concentrations greater than 1% for use in metalworking and leather fat liquoring. Read more at reachonline.eu

2. Polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs)

Entry 8: Includes various PBBs, which are restricted due to their persistence and bioaccumulative properties.

3. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)

Entry 44: Diphenylether, pentabromo derivative (C12H5Br5O) is restricted.

Entry 45: Diphenylether, octabromo derivative (C12H2Br8O) is restricted.

Read more about European Chemicals Agency

4. Hexachloroethane

Entry 41: Restricted for use in the manufacturing or processing of non-ferrous metals.

5. Azo colorants and Azo dyes

Entry 43: Certain azodyes that can release carcinogenic aromatic amines are restricted in textile and leather articles that come into direct and prolonged contact with human skin or oral cavity.