EU Flame Retardant Limits Update: PBDE 10 mg/kg + New SVHC

Three major regulatory shifts are now active or under consultation across Ireland and the European Union, from hazardous substance limits to evolving Extended Producer Responsibility schemes. Here's what manufacturers need to know, and how to act next.

🇮🇪 Ireland EPR Consultation: WEEE & Batteries (2025)

Statut: Active enforcement

Deadline for feedback: November 24, 2025

The primary objective of this review is to assess whether the current Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) model for WEEE and batteries in Ireland is working optimally. Ireland is the only country with multiple producer responsibility organizations (PROs) for these waste streams.

The consultation process aims to obtain feedback from all stakeholders in this system: consumers, producers, importers, and manufacturers. The process will also form part of an SME Test to assess the impact of potential changes on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Learn more here

📌 What This Means for Manufacturers

• Actively participate in the consultation to ensure representation of your product category and operational realities.
• Review your current relationships with PROs, future changes may consolidate or restructure obligations.
• SME manufacturers should evaluate administrative and cost implications of any proposed changes to ensure readiness post-review.

🇪🇺 Regulation (EU) 2025/1482: PBDE Limit Now 10 mg/kg

Statut: In effect as of 17 November 2025

Regulation (EU) 2025/1482 updates the European Union's existing legislation on persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and significantly lowers the limits for harmful flame retardants known as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in products.

This regulation was published on 28 October 2025 and lowers the unintentional residue limit (UTC) for the sum of five PBDEs from 500 mg/kg to 10 mg/kg.

Learn more here

📌 What This Means for Manufacturers

• Conduct immediate material audits for electronic components, textiles, and foams in the EU supply chain.
• Coordinate with suppliers to update declarations of conformity and ensure documentation aligns with the new 10 mg/kg threshold.
• Products exceeding the new limits may face customs delays or withdrawal from the EU market - initiate risk assessment promptly.

🇪🇺 ECHA SVHC Update: New Flame Retardant (May 2026 Deadline)

Statut: Active enforcement

Notification deadline: May 5, 2026

The Candidate List of substances of very high concern (SVHC) now contains 251 entries. The latest addition is a very persistent and bioaccumulative flame retardant used in several industrial applications. Importers and producers of articles must notify the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) if their article contains a newly listed SVHC within six months of its inclusion.

Learn more here

📌 What This Means for Manufacturers

• Update SVHC screening processes for all flame retardants, especially for electrical equipment and textiles.
• Verify notification and communication workflows under REACH Article 33 and 7(2) are active and current.
• Map your bill of materials (BoM) and conduct due diligence across the supply chain ahead of the May 2026 notification deadline.

✅ Need to operationalize these changes?

EcoComply continuously monitors EU and global regulations and converts updates like these into actionable compliance workflows, complete with task assignment, evidence tracking, and regulatory intelligence dashboards.