Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/718 amends PFOS listing (PFOS-related compounds) and tightens unintentional trace contaminant limits; removes hard chromium plating mist-suppressant exemption

The EU amended Annex I of the EU POPs Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2019/1021) via a delegated act addressing perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS). The update aligns the PFOS entry to cover “PFOS, its salts and PFOS-related compounds”, tightens unintentional trace contaminant (UTC) limits (including a separate limit for the sum of PFOS-related compounds), and deletes the Annex I specific exemption for PFOS use as a mist suppressant for non-decorative hard chromium (VI) plating. The research text notes deferred applicability for parts of the Annex starting 3 Dec 2025, which compliance teams should treat as the date when the updated PFOS conditions/limits become applicable for substances/mixtures/articles placed on the market or managed under POPs controls.