On September 10, 2026, the Official Journal of the European Union published Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/1423, announcing amendments to the EU Persistent Organic Pollutants Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2019/1021, hereinafter referred to as the POPs Regulation), adding the insecticide chlorpyrifos (CAS No. 2921-88-2; EC No. 220-864-4) to the control list in Annex I. The regulation will officially enter into force on September 30, 2026.
Background
Chlorpyrifos was once widely used for agricultural pest control. However, due to concerns over its environmental persistence, bioaccumulation potential, and neurotoxicity, controls on this substance have been progressively tightened worldwide in recent years. This amendment stems from the latest decision of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. From April 28 to May 9, 2025, the twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention adopted a decision to list chlorpyrifos in Annex A to the Convention. The EU endorsed this decision in Council Decision (EU) 2025/868 and has now completed its transposition into EU internal law.
Key Control Measures
- Listing under controls: Chlorpyrifos is added to Part A of Annex I to the POPs Regulation.
- No specific exemptions: Since chlorpyrifos is not approved in the EU as an active substance in plant protection products or biocidal products, no specific exemptions are granted.
- Concentration limit: To strengthen enforcement, when chlorpyrifos is present as an unintentional trace contaminant in substances, mixtures, or articles, the concentration limit is set at: ≤ 0.01 mg/kg (i.e., 0.000001% by weight).
Companies concerned need to conduct residue screening and compliance verification on raw materials, finished products, and their supply chains. In particular, imported chemicals, mixtures, and various articles that may introduce trace amounts of chlorpyrifos could face market access, recall, or enforcement risks if the above limit is exceeded.
