EU Proposed to Amend POPs Regulation to Restrict Medium Chain Chlorinated Paraffins (MCCPs)

Targeted audience	EU/EEA manufacturers, EU/EEA importers and their upstream providers
Products concerned	Substances, mixtures, articles
Key industries concerned with this insight	Electrical and electronic equipment (EEE)
Application date	Second quarter 2026 (estimated)
Main content or requirements	On 21 November 2025, the EU proposed to amend POPs Regulation Annex I Part A by adding a new entry to restrict medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCPs) in substances, mixtures and articles to be placed on the EU market. The MCCPs content limit is 1000 mg/kg (0.1%).
Reference	Link 1 Link 2

On 21 November 2025, the European Commission proposed a regulation to add a new entry to Part A of Annex I to the EU POPs Regulation (EU) 2019/1021, which restricts medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCPs) (CAS No. 85535-85-9, 198840-65-2, 1372804-76-6 and others) in substances, mixtures and articles to be placed on the EU market. The amendment is scheduled to enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU). The amendment is scheduled to be adopted in the second quarter of 2026.

Requirement

The medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCPs) content limit in substances, mixtures and articles is 1000 mg/kg (0.1%) (sum) for the linear C_14-17 chloroalkanes of the following molecular formulae:

C₁₄H_(30-y) Cl_y where y ≥ 5,
C₁₅H_(32-y) Cl_y where y ≥ 5,
C₁₆H_(34-y) Cl_y where y ≥ 6, and
C₁₇H_(36-y) Cl_y where y ≥ 6.

EU manufacturers, suppliers and importers of chlorinated paraffins shall determine the MCCPs content in representative batches using validated analytical methods. The results shall be indicated in the EU Safety Data Sheet (SDS) to be provided to their downstream users and customers. When the results exceed 1000 mg/kg (0.1%), the appropriate risk management measures and operating conditions to minimise the releases and exposure shall be indicated in the SDS as well. The results and the description of the analytical methods used shall also be provided to the competent authorities (of the Member States where the chlorinated paraffins are placed on) upon their request.

Transition Period

Additional transition periods are granted for certain metalworking fluids, motor vehicles, machinery used in agriculture, construction, forestry or landscaping, medical devices, diagnostic devices, instruments for measurement, analysis, manufacturing, control, monitoring, testing and inspection, aerospace and defence applications, and ammunition and ammunition markings.

Usage

The main function of MCCPs is that of a secondary plasticiser (extender) in PVC. Moreover, MCCPs provide flame-retardant properties that are harnessed on top of their function as a plasticiser extender. MCCPs are used as such in PVC, rubber and other polymers, including polyurethane, polysulphide, acrylic and butyl sealants and adhesives.

MCCPs are classified as reprotoxic via lactation of breast-fed children, and have very high acute and chronic toxic effects to aquatic life, according to the EU CLP Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008. MCCPs have also been assessed as being very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB) and persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT), and identified as a substance of very high concern (SVHC) on 8 July 2021. In May 2025, the substance was listed in Annex A to the UN Stockholm Convention, and it was decided that the production and use of the substance shall be eliminated globally.

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