40 hazardous chemicals added to PIC – Are you a exporter? You can start notifying them now
Chemicals added to PIC: The European Union has recently expanded its Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Regulation, significantly impacting the export of hazardous chemicals. Effective March 1, 2025, exporters are now obligated to notify authorities regarding 40 newly added hazardous substances.
What chemicals have been added to the list?
This regulatory amendment, enacted by the European Commission, encompasses 35 pesticides and five industrial chemicals, including notable examples such as abamectin, difenacoum, fenpropimorph, dimethomorph, triadimenol, and penflufen. The inclusion of a chemical within Annex I of the PIC Regulation mandates that exporters obtain prior authorization from ECHA (European Chemicals Agency) before initiating any export activities.
Furthermore, a significant portion of these newly added substances, specifically 38 out of the 40, necessitate explicit consent from the importing countries prior to export commencement, as they are listed in both parts 1 and 2 of Annex I. This dual requirement emphasizes the stringent regulatory framework surrounding the export of these hazardous chemicals.
The regulatory status of two previously listed substances, cyanamide and warfarin, has also been amended. Moving forward, their export will now necessitate both explicit consent from the importing country and prior notification to ECHA.
Moreover, a crucial subgroup of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), namely perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), its salts, and related compounds, has been added to Annex V of the PIC Regulation. This addition aligns with the classification of PFHxS as a persistent organic pollutant under the Stockholm Convention, effectively prohibiting its export.
To accommodate these regulatory changes, ECHA’s IT tool, ePIC, has been updated to facilitate the notification process for exporters. Companies can now utilize this updated platform to fulfill their notification obligations for the newly included chemicals.
Background of PIC
The PIC Regulation (Regulation (EU) no. 649/2012) serves as a vital framework for governing the international trade of hazardous chemicals that are either banned or severely restricted within the European Union. This regulation imposes specific obligations upon companies involved in the export or import of these substances.
The European Commission regularly updates Annex I of the PIC Regulation, which outlines the list of chemicals subject to both export notification and the requirement for explicit consent from the importing country. With the recent additions, Annex I now encompasses a comprehensive list of 321 entries.
Do you need to notify chemicals to PIC, Nordiik can help! Contact us!
Source: ECHA
