,On 18 March 2026, Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), launched a public consultation on proposed amendments to the Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 as retained in Great Britain law. The consultation seeks stakeholder input on proposed updates to Annex I, including the addition of new substances recently listed under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, which would be prohibited from manufacture, use, and market placement in Great Britain. It also explores policy options for implementing these obligations, including setting specific use exemptions and limits for unintentional trace contaminants (UTCs). The proposals are detailed in a draft Statutory Instrument (SI), and respondents are encouraged to review it while providing feedback. The consultation further invites evidence on related EU regulatory developments, including amendments concerning polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and their potential implications for the UK internal market, particularly under the Windsor Framework. Open until 13 May 2026, the consultation aims to support evidence-based policymaking to enhance environmental and human health protection while considering potential impacts on businesses and regulatory alignment.
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