POPs

Materials & Environmental

Persistent Organic Pollutants (Stockholm Convention / EU Regulation 2019/1021)

35+ POPs Listed Globally. New Substances Added at Every COP. Is Your Supply Chain Ready?

Persistent Organic Pollutants are toxic chemicals that persist in the environment, bioaccumulate through the food chain, and pose severe risks to human health and ecosystems. The Stockholm Convention bans or restricts these substances globally—and the list keeps growing.

Certivo automates POPs substance tracking, supplier validation, and audit-ready evidence across all regulated markets.

35+

POPs listed under Stockholm Convention

186

Countries party to the Convention

0.025 mg/kg

Trace contamination threshold for PFOA/PFOS (EU)

RegulationOverview

Jurisdiction

Global (Stockholm Convention); EU (Regulation 2019/1021); US (TSCA)

Regulatory Body

UN Environment Programme; European Chemicals Agency (ECHA); US EPA

Regulation Number

Stockholm Convention (2001); EU Regulation (EU) 2019/1021, amended by (EU) 2025/1930

Effective Date

May 22, 2001 (Convention adopted); May 17, 2004 (entered into force)

Official Source

https://www.pops.int

Key Threshold

Varies by substance; trace contamination limits as low as 0.025 mg/kg

WhatArePOPs?

Persistent Organic Pollutants are toxic chemicals that persist in the environment for years, accumulate in living organisms, and undergo long-range environmental transport. They pose significant risks to human health—including cancer, reproductive disorders, and immune system damage.

The Stockholm Convention is the global treaty mandating elimination or restriction of POPs. The EU implements these requirements through Regulation (EU) 2019/1021, which often includes stricter thresholds than the Convention itself.

POPs include pesticides (DDT, chlordane), industrial chemicals (PCBs, PFOS, PFOA), and unintentional byproducts (dioxins, furans). New substances are added regularly—medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCPs) and long-chain PFCAs were listed in 2025.

POPs compliance requires substance-level data—CAS numbers and concentration levels—from every supplier. When new POPs are added, your entire portfolio requires reassessment.

Key Components / Sub-Frameworks

Obligation

Ban on manufacture, use, import, export

Annex A (Elimination)

Substances to be eliminated

Obligation

Limited uses with specific exemptions

Annex B (Restriction)

Substances to be restricted

Obligation

Minimize releases; best available techniques

Annex C (Unintentional)

Unintentionally produced POPs

Obligation

No manufacture, placing on market, or use

EU Annex I

Prohibited substances (EU-specific thresholds)

Obligation

POPs waste concentration limits

EU Annex IV

Waste management provisions

Obligation

Registration required; sunset dates apply

Specific Exemptions

Time-limited use allowances

NewPOPsListedin2025:MCCPs,Long-ChainPFCAs,andUV-328NowBanned

COP-12 (May 2025) added medium-chain chlorinated paraffins and long-chain PFCAs to Annex A. The EU adopted UV-328 restrictions with phased trace limits. Products containing these substances face global trade restrictions. If your supplier data is older than 6 months, your compliance status is already uncertain.

KeyComplianceRequirements

Who Must Comply

• Manufacturers producing substances, mixtures, or articles containing POPs
• Importers bringing POPs-containing products into signatory markets
• Exporters (with notification requirements to importing countries)
• Downstream users incorporating POPs in industrial processes
• Waste operators handling POPs-containing materials
• Companies selling products containing trace POPs contamination

Key Thresholds

0.025 mg/kg

PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS concentration triggering prohibition obligations

1% by weight

SCCPs concentration in substances and mixtures

1 mg/kg

UV-328 and Dechlorane Plus trace contamination limits

Varies by substance

Annex A/B listings with substance-specific exemptions and thresholds

CoreObligations

1
Substance Prohibition
No manufacture, placing on market, or use of Annex A substances
DEADLINE
Immediate upon listing
2
Exemption Registration
Register for specific exemptions with national authority
DEADLINE
Before using exemption
3
Trace Contamination Control
Ensure products below threshold limits
DEADLINE
Ongoing
4
Release Minimization (Annex C)
Implement best available techniques for unintentional POPs
DEADLINE
Ongoing
5
Information in Supply Chain
Communicate POPs presence to downstream users
DEADLINE
At time of supply

POPs-SpecificPainPoints

Trace Contamination Traps

Your product doesn't intentionally contain PFOS—but your supplier's flame retardant does, at 0.03 mg/kg. That's above the EU limit. Trace contamination thresholds are measured in parts per million. Without substance-level testing data from every supplier, you can't prove compliance.

The Global Patchwork

Stockholm Convention sets the baseline, but the EU has stricter thresholds. The US hasn't ratified the Convention but regulates some POPs under TSCA. China, Japan, and Korea have their own implementations. One product, five markets, five different compliance requirements—and the lists don't align.

The Rolling Additions Problem

COP-12 added three new substance groups in 2025. Your suppliers declared compliance last year against the 2023 list. Those declarations are now incomplete. Every 2-3 years, the Convention adds new POPs—and your entire product portfolio needs reassessment.

Exemption Expiration Chaos

You're using PFOS under a semiconductor exemption that expires in December 2025. Alternatives exist but require reformulation and requalification. The clock is ticking, but your R&D timeline doesn't match the regulatory deadline. Miss it, and your products become illegal overnight.

Certivo In Action

POPsWorkflow

GET EVIDENCE IN

Collect POPs Declarations and Test Data from Your Supply Chain

CORA launches targeted campaigns to collect substance-level data, test reports, and POPs declarations from suppliers across your global supply chain.

• Launch POPs-specific campaigns to hundreds of suppliers with one click
• CORA-powered outreach in suppliers' native languages
• Collect test reports, SDSs, and material declarations in any format
• Track response rates and escalate non-responders automatically

MAKE SENSE OF IT

Validate Against Global POPs Lists and Trace Thresholds

CORA-driven compliance intelligence extracts substance data to CAS number level, validates against Stockholm Convention and EU POPs lists, and flags threshold exceedances automatically.

• CORA-enabled analysis parses documents to extract CAS numbers, concentrations, and test results
• Automatic validation against 35+ listed POPs and all trace limits
• Real-time alerts when new substances are added to Convention annexes
• Exemption tracking with expiration date monitoring

⚠️

PROVE COMPLIANCE OUT

Generate Audit-Ready POPs Evidence Packages

When customers, regulators, or auditors require POPs compliance confirmation, Certivo delivers complete evidence packages with full traceability.

• One-click generation of POPs compliance certificates
• Customer-specific response packages with substance traceability
• Regulatory submission documentation for exemption applications
• Complete audit trail documenting every declaration and validation

OnePlatform.EveryListedPOP.GlobalThresholdValidation.

Certivo tracks all Stockholm Convention POPs and regional implementations simultaneously. When COP adds new substances or the EU tightens trace limits, Certivo reassesses your entire portfolio and alerts you to newly affected products—before trade restrictions apply.

35+ POPs Tracked

CAS-Level Extraction

Trace Threshold Validation

Exemption Monitoring

Multi-Jurisdiction Coverage

FeaturesTabs

Declaration Collection

Certivo's automated campaigns achieve 95% response rates vs. 20-30% with manual outreach.

• Targeted campaigns by product line, supplier tier, or substance category
• Multi-language outreach in suppliers' native languages
• Intelligent follow-up sequences adapting to supplier behavior
• Format-agnostic: PDFs, Excel, test reports, SDSs, freeform responses

Substance Extraction

Every declaration parsed to CAS number level automatically—no manual data entry.

• Deep extraction of substance names, CAS numbers, concentrations, and test results
• Parses test reports, SDSs, and proprietary templates
• Multi-language document processing
• Anomaly detection for inconsistent or suspicious declarations

POPs Monitoring

Always validated against the current Stockholm Convention and EU POPs lists—not your last audit.

• Automatic sync with COP decisions and EU regulation amendments
• Threshold calculations per substance-specific trace limits
• Proactive alerts when new POPs affect your portfolio
• Historical tracking of POPs status changes

Customer Response

Generate POPs compliance evidence in hours instead of weeks.

• One-click POPs compliance packages with full substance disclosure
• Custom report templates per jurisdiction requirements
• Supplier declaration chain with complete traceability
• Response tracking for customer and regulatory deadlines

Exemption Management

Know which exemptions your products depend on—and when they expire—before compliance gaps appear.

• Map products and components to applicable exemptions
• Track exemption expiration dates and renewal deadlines
• Alert compliance teams 90/60/30 days before exemptions expire
• Generate exemption dependency reports by product, supplier, or category

RelatedRegulations

• REACH (SVHC)
  Some POPs are SVHCs; overlapping substance concerns

• PFAS Regulations
  PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS are listed POPs; broader PFAS bans emerging

• EU RoHS
  Both restrict hazardous substances in electronics

• TSCA (US)
  US regulates some POPs under TSCA Section 6

• California Prop 65
  Some POPs require Prop 65 warnings

• Basel Convention
  Governs transboundary movement of POPs waste

Managing POPs alongside related materials regulations eliminates duplicate supplier requests. Certivo validates one submission against multiple frameworks automatically.

IndustriesMostImpacted

Chemical Manufacturing
Your Pain Point: Producers of regulated substances; trace contamination in feedstocks

Electronics Manufacturing
Your Pain Point: Flame retardants, capacitor fluids, and coatings containing POPs

Automotive Manufacturing
Your Pain Point: POPs in coatings, lubricants, electrical components, and flame retardants

Consumer Goods
Your Pain Point: Water-repellent treatments, flame retardants in treated fabrics

Industrial & Heavy Equipment
Your Pain Point: Legacy PCBs, chlorinated paraffins in metalworking fluids

Aerospace & Defense
Your Pain Point: Critical exemptions for specialized applications; long product lifecycles

Construction Materials
Your Pain Point: UV stabilizers, flame retardants, plasticizers containing POPs

Medical Devices & Equipment
Your Pain Point: Time-limited exemptions for implantable devices

ReturnonInvestment

Proactive

Compliance Monitoring

Catch New Listings Before Trade Stops

When COP adds new POPs, Certivo reassesses your portfolio instantly. Know which products are affected before customs flags them.

80%

Faster Assessment Cycles

Automated Substance Validation

CORA-powered regulatory intelligence extracts substance data and validates against all POPs lists automatically. No more manual cross-referencing against 35+ substances.

Complete

Audit Defense

Evidence at Your Fingertips

Generate audit-ready POPs compliance packages in hours. Every test report, declaration, and validation—documented and traceable.

Key Statistics

35+

POPs tracked across all Convention annexes

99.2%

Substance extraction accuracy from supplier declarations

95%

Supplier response rate with CORA-powered campaigns

FrequentlyAskedQuestions

What's the difference between the Stockholm Convention and the EU POPs Regulation?
The Stockholm Convention is the global treaty establishing which substances are POPs and requiring parties to eliminate or restrict them. The EU POPs Regulation (2019/1021) implements the Convention in EU law—often with stricter trace contamination thresholds than the Convention requires. Certivo tracks both and validates against the stricter applicable limit.

How does Certivo track new POPs additions?
Certivo monitors Stockholm Convention COP decisions, POPRC recommendations, and EU regulatory amendments. When new substances are listed, the platform automatically reassesses your product portfolio and alerts you to affected products—typically within days of official publication.

What happens when a POPs exemption expires?
Exemptions allow time-limited use of specific POPs for critical applications. Certivo tracks all registered exemptions and sends alerts 90, 60, and 30 days before expiration. The platform also flags products relying on expiring exemptions so you can plan reformulation or alternative sourcing.

How does Certivo handle trace contamination thresholds?
POPs regulations set maximum trace contamination limits—often as low as 0.025 mg/kg. Certivo collects test reports and supplier declarations, extracts concentration data, and validates against applicable thresholds for each substance. Products exceeding limits are flagged automatically.

Does Certivo support POPs compliance outside the EU?
Yes. Certivo tracks Stockholm Convention requirements applicable to all 186 signatory countries, plus US TSCA POPs provisions, Japanese Chemical Substances Control Law, and other regional implementations. Multi-jurisdiction validation ensures compliance wherever you sell.

Ready to Automate POPs Compliance?

See how Certivo transforms POPs tracking from reactive scrambling to continuous confidence.

Book a Demo

Talk to an Expert