,The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs has launched a consultation on proposed amendments to the Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Regulation 2026, inviting stakeholder feedback until 13 May 2026. The draft legislation aims to strengthen environmental and public health protections by adding five new substances to Annex I of the assimilated Regulation (EU) 2019/1021, effectively prohibiting their manufacture, use, import, and export. These substances include medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCPs), long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids (LC-PFCAs), UV-328, Dechlorane Plus (DP), and chlorpyrifos. In addition to new restrictions, the consultation seeks views on revising existing controls for perfluorooctane sulfonates (PFOS) and assessing implications of recent EU amendments to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). The government also aims to gather input on evaluation processes, evidence generation, and stakeholder engagement for identifying future POPs under the Stockholm Convention. Furthermore, respondents are encouraged to provide evidence on how EU regulatory updates—applicable in Northern Ireland—may impact Great Britain and whether similar measures should be adopted across England, Scotland, and Wales.
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