The Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Regulation governs the trade of certain hazardous chemicals that are banned or severely restricted in the EU. It places obligations on companies that wish to export these chemicals to non-EU countries or import them into the EU.
What is covered in PIC Regulation?
- Banned or severely restricted chemicals listed in Annex I to the PIC Regulation :
Active substances in pesticides (e.g. atrazine or permethrin) or in biocidal products such as disinfectants, insecticides or parasiticides (e.g. malathion or didecyldimethylammonium chloride),
Industrial chemicals (e.g. benzene or chloroform)
- Chemicals that are banned for export from the EU listed in Annex V to the PIC Regulation (e.g. persistent organic pollutants or some mercury compounds).
The European Commission updates PIC Annex I, which lists the chemicals subject to export notification and explicit consent from the importing country. It now includes 295 entries.
EU exporters are now required to notify their intentions to export 35 additional hazardous chemicals (27 pesticides and 8 industrial chemicals) following an amendment to the EU’s Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Regulation. The new rules start applying on 1 November 2023.
The complete list of PIC chemicals is available at the ECHA page.
In addition to the export notification, most of these chemicals will also require an explicit consent from the importing country before exports can take place. Furthermore, four chemicals that were previously subject only to an export notification, will now also require an explicit consent.
The IT tool ePIC has been updated accordingly and companies can already start notifying their exports.
So pay attention to the new chemicals on the PIC list so that you don't have problems when exporting. If you have any questions or you need any help, please don't hesitate to contact us (info@chem-consutling.si).
Source: ECHA news