On July 15, 2025, the European Commission adopted an amendment to Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 on persistent organic pollutants (POPs), inserting the chemical UV-328 into Annex I, thereby prohibiting its manufacture, use and trade and laying down specific exemptions together with transitional arrangements.
Background
UV-328 is an ultraviolet-light stabiliser widely used in coatings, plastics, automotive parts and aerospace materials. In May 2023, the eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention (SC-11) decided to list UV-328 in Annex A (elimination) with certain specific exemptions. The Council of the European Union endorsed this decision through Council Decision (EU) 2023/1006. The present EU-level legislative act implements these international obligations.
Control Measures
The following entry is added to Part A of Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2019/1021:
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Substance
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CAS No
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EC No
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Specific exemption on intermediate use or other specification
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‘2-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4,6-di-tert-pentylphenol
(UV-328)
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25973-55-1
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247-384-8
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1.
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For the purposes of this entry, Article 4(1), point (b), shall apply to concentrations of UV-328 equal to or below:
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(a)
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100 mg/kg (0,01 % by weight) from 4 August 2025;
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(b)
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10 mg/kg (0,001 % by weight) from 4 August 2027;
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(c)
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1 mg/kg (0,0001 % by weight) from 4 August 2029;
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where they are present in substances, mixtures or articles.
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2.
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By way of derogation, the placing on the market of UV-328 present in articles and the use of such articles shall be allowed for the following purposes:
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(a)
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in land-based motor vehicles, until 4 August 2030;
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(b)
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in industrial coating for land-based motor vehicles, engineering machines, rail transportation vehicles, and in heavy-duty coatings for large steel structures, until 4 August 2030;
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(c)
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in mechanical separators in blood collection tubes, until 4 August 2030;
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(d)
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in triacetyl cellulose film in polarisers, until 4 August 2030;
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(e)
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in photographic paper, until 4 August 2030;
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(f)
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in civilian and military aircrafts, until 4 August 2030;
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(g)
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in spare parts for any of the following:
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(i)
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land-based motor vehicles;
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(ii)
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stationary industrial machines for use in agriculture, forestry and construction;
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(iii)
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liquid crystal displays in instruments for analysis, measurements, control, monitoring, testing, production and inspection, other than for medical applications;
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where UV-328 was initially used in their production, until the end of their service life or 31 December 2043, whichever comes earlier;
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(h)
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in spare parts for any of the following:
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(i)
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liquid crystal displays in devices within the scope of Regulation (EU) 2017/745, and within the scope of Regulation (EU) 2017/746 of the European Parliament and of the Council;
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(ii)
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liquid crystal displays in instruments for analysis, measurements, control, testing, production and inspection;
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where UV-328 was initially used in their production, until the end of their service life;
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(i)
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in spare parts for civilian and military aircrafts where UV-328 was initially used in their production, until 31 December 2030.
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3.
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Articles containing UV-328 already in use in the Union before or on the date of expiry of the relevant exemption laid down in point 2(a) to (i) may continue to be used.
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Further Information
Official Journal
