New Regulation on PCBs in Peru: What Does It Mean for the Chemical Sector?

The Government of Peru has published Supreme Decree No. 018-2025-SA, which establishes the Technical Regulation on the Environmental and Sanitary Management of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs). This new regulation represents a significant step forward in Latin America in terms of chemical safety and environmental protection.

Supreme Decree No. 018-2025-SA – What Are PCBs and Why Are They Regulated?

PCBs are chemical compounds historically used in electrical equipment, hydraulic fluids, and other industrial products. Due to their high persistence in the environment and adverse effects on human health, their use is restricted or banned in many countries. Peru now joins this effort with a regulation aimed at eliminating their use and ensuring responsible management.

Supreme Decree No. 018-2025-SA – What Does the New Regulation Establish?

The decree clearly defines concentration levels that determine whether a material is contaminated, permitted, or free of PCBs:

• Contaminated with PCBs: ≥ 50 ppm in liquids or ≥ 10 μg/100 cm² on non-porous surfaces.
• Permitted concentration: between 2 and <50 ppm (liquids) or between 0.4 and <10 μg/100 cm² (surfaces).
• PCB-free: < 2 ppm (liquids) or < 0.4 μg/100 cm² (surfaces).

These definitions establish clear criteria for the identification, treatment, and elimination of materials containing PCBs.

Supreme Decree No. 018-2025-SA – What Obligations Does It Impose on Entities?

Companies operating in Peru that possess equipment or products containing PCBs must comply with a series of requirements:

• Prepare a complete inventory of affected materials.
• Properly label equipment.
• Implement protection measures for exposed workers.
• Apply strict controls in the storage, transport, treatment, and trade of these materials.

Additionally, the regulation includes oversight and sanction mechanisms to ensure effective compliance.

Supreme Decree No. 018-2025-SA – What Are the Key Deadlines?

The regulation sets two fundamental dates:

• End of PCB use: before December 31, 2025.
• Environmentally sound elimination: before December 31, 2028.

These deadlines allow entities to plan the transition in an orderly manner but require immediate action to meet the established requirements.

At Siam, we closely monitor regulatory updates affecting the chemical sector in Latin America. We offer our clients tools such as Chemeter, which enable the generation of documentation in compliance with current regulations and support alignment with international chemical safety standards. For more information, please visit the legislation section on Peruvian regulations.