On December 31, 2024, the EU Commission announced a significant update to the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) regulation. The update includes new substances added to Annex I and Annex V, resulting in 40 additional substances that must be notified starting March 1, 2025. This update covers 35 pesticides and 5 industrial substances.

What Is the PIC Regulation?

The PIC regulation covers the export and import of hazardous substances banned or severely restricted within the EU. It imposes obligations on companies exporting these substances to non-EU countries or importing them into the EU. Exporters and importers must report the quantities of listed chemicals traded during the previous year, with submissions required during the first quarter of the following year.

Connection to the Rotterdam Convention

PIC implements the Rotterdam Convention in the EU, promoting shared responsibility and cooperation in the international trade of hazardous chemicals. The regulation aims to protect human health and the environment by ensuring that importing countries receive critical information on the storage, transportation, use, and disposal of hazardous chemicals.

Scope of the Regulation

The PIC regulation does not apply to chemicals used in drugs, radioactive materials, wastes, chemical weapons, food and food additives, feeding stuffs and medicinal products

PIC in the UK

While PIC has also been implemented in the UK, this latest update has not yet been adopted by UK regulators.

For further details, you can review the released regulation.

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