ECHA Expands List of Substances Subject to PIC Regulation

The Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Regulation is an international agreement, implemented in the European Union through Regulation (EU) No 649/2012, aimed at protecting human health and the environment by regulating the international trade of certain hazardous chemicals. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is responsible for managing the implementation of PIC in the EU and its updates.

A PIC substance is one that has been identified as hazardous to human health or the environment and therefore requires special controls in international trade. These substances are often banned or strictly restricted in at least one country due to the risks they pose.

A total of 40 new hazardous chemicals have been added to Annex I of the PIC Regulation: 35 pesticides and 5 industrial chemicals. Examples include abamectin, difenacoum, and perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS). The regulations for two chemicals, cyanamide and warfarin, have also been modified. In addition to providing notification, explicit permission from the importing country will now be required. This update, which will enter into force on March 1, 2025, imposes new obligations on exporters from the European Union.

Companies exporting any of these substances must:

• Stay informed about new regulations: Companies must be aware of the specific requirements for each substance and destination country.
• Use the ePIC tool: This tool can be used to notify ECHA before exporting these substances.
• Obtain necessary permits: For 38 of the 40 substances, explicit consent from the importing country must be obtained before exporting. This means obtaining approval from the competent authorities of the destination country.

The Chemeter software, in addition to easily generating Safety Data Sheets, labels, and PCN notifications, among other solutions, allows for the control of substances defined in the PIC Regulation to ensure compliance with current legislation.