The European Union is once again tightening its grip on persistent pollutants. On October 15, 2025, this regulation enters into force—Dechlorane Plus being officially added to the EU list of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). This marks another crucial step toward eliminating hazardous chemicals that linger in the environment, accumulate in living organisms, and threaten both ecosystems and human health.
But what exactly is Dechlorane Plus, and why has it been targeted for such a sweeping ban? Let’s explore how this once-useful flame retardant became a global concern—and what industries must do to adapt.
Dechlorane Plus (often abbreviated DP) is a chlorinated flame retardant developed in the 1960s as a replacement for Dechlorane (also known as Mirex), another POP banned decades ago. Structurally, it’s a highly chlorinated bicyclic compound composed of carbon, hydrogen, and chlorine atoms (C₁₈H₁₂Cl₁₂). This chemical design gives it remarkable stability, thermal resistance, and low volatility—properties once considered ideal for preventing fires in polymers and electrical components.
Yet, those same qualities make DP extremely persistent and bioaccumulative. It does not break down easily, even under harsh environmental conditions, allowing it to travel long distances through air and water. Researchers have found DP residues not only near industrial zones but also in remote Arctic regions, confirming its global spread.
Because of its effectiveness, Dechlorane Plus has been widely used in:
Application Area | Examples of Products | Function |
|---|---|---|
Electronics and cables | Wire coatings, connectors, circuit boards | Flame retardant additive |
Automotive parts | Plastic housings, insulation materials | Prevent fire propagation |
Adhesives and sealants | Industrial glues, coatings | Thermal stability and flame resistance |
Construction materials | Building polymers, roofing membranes | Fire-retardant performance |
Textiles and furnishings | Upholstery back-coatings | Reduced flammability |
Check out this governmental reference for more details on DP.
Although efficient, DP’s persistence and potential toxicity led regulators to reconsider its use, especially as safer alternatives emerged.
The decision to regulate Dechlorane Plus didn’t happen overnight. It followed years of environmental monitoring, toxicological studies, and international negotiation. The main reasons for its inclusion in Annex A of the Stockholm Convention on POPs (May 2023) and subsequently in Annex I of the EU POPs Regulation are:
First, Environmental persistence – DP resists degradation, remaining in soil, sediment, and water for decades.
Second, Bioaccumulation – It builds up in the tissues of fish, birds, and mammals, including humans.
Then, long-range transport – It travels globally through atmospheric and oceanic currents.
Toxicity and potential endocrine disruption – Laboratory studies suggest developmental, neurological, and hormonal effects.
Finally, Global detection – Monitoring has revealed DP in air, dust, wildlife, and even human breast milk.
Thus, regulators determined that the risks outweigh the benefits, and safer substitutes must take over.
In May 2025, the European Commission adopted Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/1930, amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 on persistent organic pollutants. The act aligns EU law with the Stockholm Convention decision (SC-11/10) to eliminate Dechlorane Plus globally, except for a few critical uses.
Starting October 15, 2025, the manufacture, placing on the market, and intentional use of Dechlorane Plus in the EU will be prohibited, with time-limited exemptions for specific sectors such as aerospace, defence, and certain medical devices.
To provide industry with a realistic transition, the regulation also introduces unintentional trace contaminant (UTC) limits:
Period | Maximum Allowable DP Concentration | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Until April 15, 2028 | ≤ 1,000 mg/kg (0.1%) | Transitional tolerance for existing supply chains |
From April 15, 2028 onward | ≤ 1 mg/kg (0.0001%) | Near-total elimination threshold |
Moreover, exemptions will gradually expire, for instance:
Aerospace and defence applications: until February 26, 2030
Medical imaging and radiotherapy equipment: until 2030
Repair or maintenance of existing equipment: until December 31, 2043 or end of service life
These conditions ensure industries phase out DP responsibly while avoiding abrupt disruptions.
While the EU often leads in environmental policy, the Stockholm Convention listing means this measure has worldwide implications. All participating countries must implement similar restrictions unless they have registered a specific exemption.
Switzerland, for example, already aligned its national POP regulation in February 2025. Other jurisdictions—such as Canada, the United States, and Japan—are assessing their domestic responses. Consequently, companies operating internationally will need to ensure consistent compliance across multiple markets.
Dechlorane Plus is not a new chemical, but its environmental footprint has only become clear through modern monitoring. Its chemical stability, once praised, now defines its persistence; its effectiveness, once desirable, now raises alarms about bioaccumulation.
When regulators apply the precautionary principle, they act to protect health and the environment even if scientific certainty about every hazard is incomplete. Because DP behaves like many other legacy POPs—resisting breakdown, traveling globally, and accumulating in food chains—it fits squarely within the criteria of the Stockholm Convention.
Furthermore, the phase-out aligns with Europe’s broader goals under the European Green Deal, which aims for a toxic-free environment and a sustainable circular economy. Removing persistent flame retardants like DP helps prevent re-release during recycling, waste treatment, and product disposal.
To stay compliant, manufacturers should act before October 15, 2025 by:
First, screening products and materials for any Dechlorane Plus content.
Second, requesting updated declarations or test reports from suppliers.
Switching to safer alternatives, preferably those already assessed under REACH.
Updating documentation and risk assessments to reflect compliance with the POPs Regulation.
Finally, cooperating with testing laboratories capable of detecting DP at trace levels (≤ 1 mg/kg).
Taking proactive steps now will prevent costly recalls or penalties later.
Although Dechlorane Plus once symbolized innovation, it now represents an outdated approach to fire safety—one that disregarded long-term ecological balance. By eliminating such persistent pollutants, the EU reaffirms its leadership in global chemical safety and sets the tone for other regions to follow.
Soon, companies will no longer rely on chemicals that burn less but last forever in nature. Instead, they’ll adopt smarter designs, safer materials, and sustainable production methods.
The addition of Dechlorane Plus to the EU POPs Regulation is more than a regulatory update—it’s a transformative signal. Industry must adapt, laboratories must innovate, and policymakers must stay vigilant. Every action, from reformulation to testing, will contribute to a cleaner, safer future.
On October 15, 2025, the countdown to a world free of Dechlorane Plus begins. And this time, the flame retardant that refused to burn will finally fade away.
Do you need to know more about POP and how you can verify compliance? Contact Enviropass!