The European Commission has published Regulation (EU) 2016/293 to amend Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 850/2004 on persistent organic pollutants (POPs) regarding hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD). According to the new Regulation, the production, placing on the market and use of HBCDD, whether on their own, in preparations or as constituents of articles, shall be prohibited from 22 March 2016. However, there are some exemptions and two key one are listed below:

1. The prohibition shall not apply in case of HBCDD occurring as an unintentional trace contaminant (concentrations ≤ 0.01 % by weight) in substances, preparations, articles or as constituents of the flame-retarded parts of articles.
2. The use of HBCDD in the production of expanded polystyrene articles, and the production and placing on the market of HBCDD for such use. Provided that such use has been authorizsed in accordance with Title VII of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (REACH).

Note: Hexabromocyclododecane” (HBCDD) means: hexabromocyclododecane, 1,2,5,6,9,10-hexabromocyclododecane and its main diastereoisomers: alpha- hexabromocyclododecane; beta-hexabromocyclododecane; and gamma-hexabromocyclododecane.