Stockholm Convention

UK: Defra Opens Consultations on POPs and PFAS for Textile and Apparel Sector

The UK government has launched consultations to add five new substances, including MCCPs and LC-PFCAs, to the GB POPs Regulation and refine the indicative list for PFAS. Businesses must prepare for imminent bans on these substances in products and processes, particularly affecting water-repellent coatings, textiles, and flame retardants.

5 Apr 2026, 05:38gov.ukUnited Kingdom

England: Environment Agency Launches Online PCB Equipment Registration Service

The Environment Agency has launched a digital service for the mandatory annual registration of PCB-contaminated equipment in England, effective April 2026. Businesses must ensure compliance with the July 31 annual deadline and budget for significant registration fees while planning for the eventual disposal of these persistent organic pollutants.

4 Apr 2026, 11:02gov.ukUnited Kingdom

Japan Opens Public Comment on CSCL Class I Listing of LC-PFCAs, PFCA-Related Substances, Chlorpyrifos and MCCPs

Japan is consulting on the designation of LC-PFCAs, chlorpyrifos, and MCCPs as Class I Specified Chemical Substances, targeting a full ban by November 2026. Businesses must identify these substances in global supply chains to mitigate the risk of imminent import prohibitions on both chemical mixtures and finished articles.

2 Apr 2026, 16:56public-comment.e-gov.go.jpJapan

EU Council Prepares TBPH Submission For Listing Under Stockholm Convention Annex A

The EU has approved a formal submission to list the flame retardant TBPH for global elimination under the Stockholm Convention. This move signals a definitive regulatory trajectory toward a worldwide phase-out, requiring manufacturers to prioritize substitution in plastic and textile applications.

29 Mar 2026, 17:35data.consilium.europa.euEuropean Union

India Study Finds Standard Tests Miss Most PFAS in Ganga Sediments

A new study reveals that standard testing misses over 99% of PFAS-related contamination in India's Ganges River, exposing a critical gap in national environmental monitoring. These findings are expected to accelerate the development of India's first dedicated PFAS regulatory framework, increasing compliance pressure on industrial and pharmaceutical manufacturing sites.

27 Mar 2026, 20:34doi.orgIndia

EU COREPER I Agenda Sets Adoption of EU TBPH Listing Submission Under Stockholm POPs Convention

The EU is formalizing its position to support a global ban on the flame retardant TBPH under the Stockholm Convention. This signals an impending global phase-out, necessitating early supply chain screening and substitution planning for affected plastic and textile applications.

26 Mar 2026, 12:21data.consilium.europa.euEuropean Union

South Korea MCEE Consults on Adding Methoxychlor, Dechlorane Plus and UV-328 to POPs Regulation

South Korea is consulting on adding Methoxychlor, Dechlorane Plus, and UV-328 to its POPs regulation to align with the Stockholm Convention. Impacted industries, including automotive, aerospace, and electronics, should prepare for mandatory phase-outs and evaluate substitution timelines for specific-use exemptions.

26 Mar 2026, 11:33opinion.lawmaking.go.krSouth Korea

Global Study Reconstructs 50-Year PFAS Deposition and Long-Range Transport to East Antarctica

A new 50-year study in East Antarctica confirms the long-range transport and accumulation of both legacy PFAS and newer alternatives, including a significant rise in trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) from F-gas replacements. This evidence of persistent global contamination reinforces the scientific basis for broader "forever chemical" restrictions and highlights the growing regulatory scrutiny on short-chain PFAS and F-gas degradation products.

25 Mar 2026, 21:34science.orgGlobal

Great Britain Consultation On 2026 Amendments To Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Regulation

The UK is consulting on banning five new substances—including MCCPs and LC-PFCAs—and tightening existing restrictions under the GB POPs Regulation through May 2026. Impacted companies should evaluate supply chain exposure to these substances now to prepare for upcoming prohibitions on manufacture, use, and market placement.

20 Mar 2026, 10:08gov.ukUnited Kingdom

BRS Secretariat Issues Exploratory Study on Interlinkages Between the Montreal Protocol and the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions

The BRS Secretariat has published a study mapping regulatory interlinkages between the Montreal Protocol and the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions. This signals a move toward more integrated global enforcement and technical alignment across chemical production, trade, and waste management for ODS, HFCs, and PFAS.

19 Mar 2026, 19:20brsmeas.orgGlobal

Sweden (KemI) Reminds Companies To Report POPs Stocks By 31 May

Sweden’s Chemicals Agency (KemI) has issued a reminder for the mandatory May 31 annual reporting deadline for stocks of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) exceeding 50 kg. Impacted companies must ensure rigorous inventory oversight for substances listed under the EU POPs Regulation to maintain compliance and mitigate regulatory risk in Sweden.

19 Mar 2026, 15:23kemi.seSweden

New Zealand EPA Seeks Feedback on Restricting Stockholm POPs Chlorpyrifos, MCCPs and LC-PFCAs

New Zealand is consulting on banning or strictly limiting chlorpyrifos, MCCPs, and LC-PFCAs by December 2026 to align with Stockholm Convention obligations. Businesses must audit supply chains across electronics, automotive, and textiles to manage accelerated phase-outs or secure time-limited exemptions for essential uses.

18 Mar 2026, 18:53epa.govt.nzNew Zealand

Stockholm Convention Secretariat Issues Updated Manual for National Reports Under Article 15

The Stockholm Convention Secretariat has released updated reporting guidance for the sixth national reporting cycle, ahead of the August 31, 2026, submission deadline. This reporting process will shape future global assessments of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), directly informing future substance listings and international market restrictions.

18 Mar 2026, 16:17brsmeas.orgGlobal

BRS Secretariat Information Note on Circularity, Life‑Cycle Approaches and the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions

The BRS Secretariat has issued guidance linking the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions to circular economy and life-cycle approaches to support national policy integration. This signals a global shift toward operationalizing chemicals and waste treaties through national circularity mandates, requiring closer alignment between product design and end-of-life management.

18 Mar 2026, 16:16basel.intGlobal

BRS Secretariat Holds Regional Workshop in Kenya on Basel and Stockholm Convention National Reporting

The BRS Secretariat is accelerating capacity-building for African nations ahead of the August 2026 deadline for the 6th Stockholm Convention national reporting cycle. Companies should prepare for enhanced regulatory scrutiny and more rigorous data requests regarding the production, import, and export of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) across the region.

18 Mar 2026, 15:55brsmeas.orgKenyaAFR

Japan Amends Technical Standards for Handling Dechlorane Plus

Japan has amended technical handling and labeling requirements for Dechlorane Plus under the Chemical Substances Control Law as of March 2026. Affected firms must verify site-level containment, emission tracking, and documentation protocols to ensure continued compliance for this persistent organic pollutant.

18 Mar 2026, 12:43laws.e-gov.go.jpJapan

Global PFAS Regulatory Gaps Risk Shifting Pollution to Developing Countries

A March 2026 global analysis warns that diverging PFAS regulations are driving the relocation of PFAS-intensive manufacturing and waste to jurisdictions with weaker controls. Multinational firms should anticipate increased pressure for harmonized global restrictions and "polluter pays" obligations to address these regulatory gaps.

12 Mar 2026, 20:34pubs.acs.orgGlobal

In Vitro Study Finds Repeated PFOA Exposure Impairs Intestinal Barrier Integrity

New scientific evidence demonstrates that repeated PFOA exposure progressively impairs human intestinal barrier integrity, even at low concentrations. These findings provide critical mechanistic data that may justify more aggressive global PFAS restrictions and lower acceptable exposure thresholds for consumer products.

12 Mar 2026, 11:13sciencedirect.comEuropean Union

UK Defra Seeks Comments on Revised Stockholm Convention Indicative List for Long-Chain PFCAs, PFOA and PFHxS (2026)

UK Defra has launched a consultation, closing 1 May 2026, on a revised indicative list of PFAS substances regulated under the Stockholm Convention. This technical refinement clarifies the scope of global POPs restrictions, requiring businesses to re-verify compliance for specific chemical variants and anticipate tighter supply chain controls.

12 Mar 2026, 05:43gov.ukUnited Kingdom

UK Defra Calls for Comments on Revised Draft POPs Risk Profile for Brominated Dioxins and Furans (POP 2026)

The UK is seeking stakeholder input on a revised draft risk profile for brominated and mixed halogenated dioxins and furans under the Stockholm Convention. A successful listing as Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) would trigger future global and national bans on the production and use of these substances, impacting sectors involved in flame retardants and chemical manufacturing.

12 Mar 2026, 05:43gov.ukUnited Kingdom