Register of Specific Exemptions: Decabromodiphenyl ether

Parties may register for specific exemptions listed in Annex A or B pursuant to paragraph 3 of Article 4. These specific exemptions have a limited timeframe and shall expire five (5) years after the date of entry into force of the Convention with respect to that particular chemical (paragraph 4 of Article 4), unless an earlier date is indicated in the Register by the Party or an extension is granted by the Conference of the Parties under paragraph 7 of Article 4.

By decision SC-11/1 adopted at its eleventh meeting, the Conference of the Parties noted that as of 18 December 2023, there will no longer be any Parties registered for specific exemptions for decabromodiphenyl ether for polyurethane foam for building insulation and for textile products that require anti-flammable characteristics. Therefore, no new registrations may be made with respect to these applications after that date.

Specific exemptions

Activity / Specific exemption
Party
Expiry date
Estimated quantity of production / use
Purpose(s) of production / use
Reason for exemption
Remarks
Use:

• Parts for use in vehicles specified in paragraph 2. of Part IX of Annex A.

• Aircraft for which type approval has been applied for before December 2018 and has been received before December 2022 and spare parts for those aircraft. 		Argentina • For vehicles: The specific exemptions for parts for use in legacy vehicles shall expire at the end of the service life of legacy vehicles or in 2036, whichever comes earlier.

The specific exemptions for parts for use in vehicles shall expire at the end of the service life of vehicles or in 2036, whichever comes earlier.

• For aircraft: At the end of the service life of the aircraft. 		- • Parts for use in vehicles specified in paragraph 2. of Part IX of Annex A.

• Aircraft for which type approval has been applied for before December 2018 and has been received before December 2022 and spare parts for those aircraft. 		• Companies requested registration of exemption for the import of auto parts containing chemicals covered in this entry. Three companies applied for this exemption.

• No particular aircraft parts have been identified. However, it is likely that there are parts of old vehicles containing this chemical, therefore the specific exemption is requested until it can be confirmed that such parts do not exist. 		Quantities used are unknown.

Note by Secretariat:
Informal translation on registration – original received in Spanish.
Use:

• Parts for use in vehicles specified in paragraph 2 of Part IX of Annex A. 		Brazil The specific exemptions for parts for use in legacy vehicles shall expire at the end of the service life of legacy vehicles or in 2036, whichever comes earlier.

The specific exemptions for parts for use in vehicles shall expire at the end of the service life of vehicles or in 2036, whichever comes earlier. 		Unknown • Parts for use in vehicles specified in paragraph 2 of Part IX of Annex A. Brazil is working on the development, validation and homologation of parts that do not use BDE-209. It will be necessary to import parts for use in vehicles until the replacement is possible. DecaBDE is imported under the NCM 2903.99.29 (other halogenated derivatives with only bromine) that represents all halogenated derivatives with bromine. The quantity imported under this NCM code was 150kg in 2018.

The automotive sector imports articles with DecaBDE, which makes it difficult to estimate the exact quantity used by the sector. Anyway, we are working with the industry to check with their associates in the IMDS (International Material Data System) the amount imported annually by them. At the same time, we are in contact with the Plastic Association to verify the amount of DecaBDE imported by this sector.
Production:

As allowed for the Parties listed in the Register. 		European Union • For vehicles: The specific exemptions for parts for use in legacy vehicles shall expire at the end of the service life of legacy vehicles or in 2036, whichever comes earlier.

• For aircraft: At the end of the service life of the aircraft 		- • Parts for use in vehicles specified in paragraph 2.(a) (i)-(iii) of Part IX of Annex A

• Aircraft for which type approval has been applied for before December 2018 and has been received before December 2022 and spare parts for those aircraft 		- -
Use:

• Parts for use in vehicles specified in paragraph 2.(a) (i)-(iii) of Part IX of Annex A.

• Aircraft for which type approval has been applied for before December 2018 and has been received before December 2022 and spare parts for those aircraft. 		European Union • For vehicles: The specific exemptions for parts for use in legacy vehicles shall expire at the end of the service life of legacy vehicles or in 2036, whichever comes earlier.

• For aircraft: At the end of the service life of the aircraft 		- • Parts for use in vehicles specified in paragraph 2.(a) (i)-(iii) of Part IX of Annex A

• Aircraft for which type approval has been applied for before December 2018 and has been received before December 2022 and spare parts for those aircraft 		- -
Use:

• Parts for use in vehicles specified in paragraph 2 of Part IX of Annex A.

• Aircraft for which type approval has been applied for before December 2018 and has been received before December 2022 and spare parts for those aircraft. 		New Zealand • For vehicles: The specific exemptions for parts for use in legacy vehicles shall expire at the end of the service life of legacy vehicles or in 2036, whichever comes earlier. The specific exemptions for parts for use in vehicles shall expire at the end of the service life of vehicles or in 2036, whichever comes earlier.

• For aircraft: At the end of the service life of the aircraft 		Unknown • Parts for use in vehicles specified in paragraph 2 of Part IX of Annex A.

• Aircraft for which type approval has been applied for before December 2018 and has been received before December 2022 and spare parts for those aircraft. 		The average age of the New Zealand vehicle fleet is over 14 years and it will therefore be necessary to import and/or manufacture parts for these vehicles for a number of years. Similarly, a specific exemption would be needed for the relevant aircraft and spare parts for those aircraft. -
Production:

As allowed for the Parties listed in the Register. 		Republic of Korea • For vehicles: The specific exemptions for parts for use in legacy vehicles shall expire at the end of the service life of legacy vehicles or in 2036, whichever comes earlier.

• For aircraft: At the end of the service life of the aircraft. 		(Based on 2016)

Production - Adhesives / Bonding agent: 5 ton/year

Imports - Flame retardant: 519 ton/year
Other:          20 ton/year 		- Given the past distribution volume and major uses of deca-BDE in Korea, deca-BDE might be used for manufacturing vehicles, aircrafts or their parts. Therefore it is needed to consider an impact on the used car market and trade of Korea and the service life of already manufactured aircraft.

Under the Act on Resource Circulation of Electrical and Electronic Equipment and Vehicles, Korea has developed a flame retardancy standard for 26 electrical and electronic products such as heaters and electric ovens, which is less than 0.1wt%. Korea is now considering to add more product types into the coverage under this standard 		-
Use:

• Parts for use in vehicles specified in paragraph 2 of Part IX of Annex A.

• Aircraft for which type approval has been applied for before December 2018 and has been received before December 2022 and spare parts for those aircraft. 		Republic of Korea • For vehicles: The specific exemptions for parts for use in legacy vehicles shall expire at the end of the service life of legacy vehicles or in 2036, whichever comes earlier. The specific exemptions for parts for use in vehicles shall expire at the end of the service life of vehicles or in 2036, whichever comes earlier.

• For aircraft: At the end of the service life of the aircraft. 		(Based on 2016)

Total: 647 ton/year
• Flame retardant 459 ton/year
• Adhesives / Bonding agent 116 ton/year
• Other: 72 ton/year 		• Parts for use in vehicles specified in paragraph 2 of Part IX of Annex A.

• Aircraft for which type approval has been applied for before December 2018 and has been received before December 2022 and spare parts for those aircraft. 		Given the past distribution volume and major uses of deca-BDE in Korea, deca-BDE might be used for manufacturing vehicles, aircrafts or their parts. Therefore it is needed to consider an impact on the used car market and trade of Korea and the service life of already manufactured aircraft.

Under the Act on Resource Circulation of Electrical and Electronic Equipment and Vehicles, Korea has developed a flame retardancy standard for 26 electrical and electronic products such as heaters and electric ovens, which is less than 0.1wt%. Korea is now considering to add more product types into the coverage under this standard 		-
Use:

• Parts for use in vehicles specified in paragraph 2 of Part IX of Annex A.

• Aircraft for which type approval has been applied for before December 2018 and has been received before December 2022 and spare parts for those aircraft. 		Norway • For vehicles: The specific exemptions for parts for use in legacy vehicles shall expire at the end of the service life of legacy vehicles or in 2036, whichever comes earlier. The specific exemptions for parts for use in vehicles shall expire at the end of the service life of vehicles or in 2036, whichever comes earlier.

• For aircraft: At the end of the service life of the aircraft. 		Not provided • Parts for use in vehicles specified in paragraph 2(a) (i)-(iii) of Part IX of Annex A

• Aircraft for which type approval has been applied for before December 2018 and has been received before December 2022 and spare parts for those aircraft 		Not provided -
Production:

As allowed for the Parties listed in the Register. 		Switzerland • For vehicles: The specific exemptions for parts for use in legacy vehicles shall expire at the end of the service life of legacy vehicles or in 2036, whichever comes earlier.

• For aircraft: At the end of the service life of the aircraft. 		Unknown • Parts for use in vehicles specified in paragraph 2 of Part IX of Annex A.

• Aircraft for which type approval has been applied for before December 2018 and has been received before December 2022 and spare parts for those aircraft. 		- -
Use:

• Parts for use in vehicles specified in paragraph 2 of Part IX of Annex A.

• Aircraft for which type approval has been applied for before December 2018 and has been received before December 2022 and spare parts for those aircraft. 		Switzerland • For vehicles: The specific exemptions for parts for use in legacy vehicles shall expire at the end of the service life of legacy vehicles or in 2036, whichever comes earlier. The specific exemptions for parts for use in vehicles shall expire at the end of the service life of vehicles or in 2036, whichever comes earlier.

• For aircraft: At the end of the service life of the aircraft. 		Unknown • Parts for use in vehicles specified in paragraph 2 of Part IX of Annex A.

• Aircraft for which type approval has been applied for before December 2018 and has been received before December 2022 and spare parts for those aircraft. 		- -
Production:

As allowed for the Parties listed in the Register. 		United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland • For vehicles: The specific exemptions for parts for use in legacy vehicles shall expire at the end of the service life of legacy vehicles or in 2036, whichever comes earlier.

• For aircraft: At the end of the service life of the aircraft. 		- • Parts for use in vehicles specified in paragraph 2.(a) (i)-(iii) of Part IX of Annex A

• Aircraft for which type approval has been applied for before December 2018 and has been received before December 2022 and spare parts for those aircraft 		- -
Use:

• Parts for use in vehicles specified in paragraph 2.(a) (i)-(iii) of Part IX of Annex A.

• Aircraft for which type approval has been applied for before December 2018 and has been received before December 2022 and spare parts for those aircraft. 		United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland • For vehicles: The specific exemptions for parts for use in legacy vehicles shall expire at the end of the service life of legacy vehicles or in 2036, whichever comes earlier. The specific exemptions for parts for use in vehicles shall expire at the end of the service life of vehicles or in 2036, whichever comes earlier. - • Parts for use in vehicles specified in paragraph 2.(a) (i)-(iii) of Part IX of Annex A

• Aircraft for which type approval has been applied for before December 2018 and has been received before December 2022 and spare parts for those aircraft 		- -
Use:

• Parts for use in vehicles specified in paragraph 2 of Part IX of Annex A

• Aircraft for which type approval has been applied for before December 2018 and has been received before December 2022 and spare parts for those aircraft 		Viet Nam • For vehicles: The specific exemptions for parts for use in legacy vehicles shall expire at the end of the service life of legacy vehicles or in 2036, whichever comes earlier.

• For aircraft: At the end of the service life of the aircraft. 		To be updated

According to Viet Nam's Law on Environment Protection 2020, precise amount of decaBDE imported and used by each enterprise will be reviewed and approved by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) on a case-by-case basis 		• Parts for use in vehicles specified in paragraph 2 of Part IX of Annex A

• Aircraft for which type approval has been applied for before December 2018 and has been received before December 2022 and spare parts for those aircraft 		Currently, Viet Nam has still used parts for use in vehicles specified in paragraph 2 of Part IX of the annex A and aircraft for which type approval has been applied for before December 2018 and has been received before December 2022 and spare parts for those aircraft. Since 2020, Viet Nam has internalized the requirements on POPs management of the Stockholm Convention in Viet Nam's environmental protection legislation.

The DecaBDE management has been regulated under the Law on Environmental Protection 2020 and the Decree No. 08/2022/ND-CP dated 10th January 2022 of the Government guiding the implementation of the Law on Environmental Protection 2020, whose purpose is to protect human health and the environment from POPs' adverse impact.

* Based on the date of entry into force of the amendment for that Party

Expired and withdrawn specific exemptions

Activity / Specific exemption
Party
Expiry date
Estimated quantity of production / use
Purpose(s) of production / use
Reason for exemption
Remarks
Production:

As allowed for the Parties listed in the Register. 		China 31/12/2023 Not provided • Textile products that require anti-flammable characteristics, excluding clothing and toys

• Additives in plastic housings and parts used for heating home appliances, irons, fans, immersion heaters that contain or are in direct contact with electrical parts or are required to comply with fire retardancy standards, at concentrations lower than 10 per cent by weight of the part

• Polyurethane foam for building insulation 		- On withdrawal: as of December 31, 2023, the specific exemptions for the production and use of Decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) and Short-chain chlorinated paraffins, which were retained under notifications submitted on June 6, 2023, have now expired.
Use:

• Textile products that require anti-flammable characteristics, excluding clothing and toys

• Additives in plastic housings and parts used for heating home appliances, irons, fans, immersion heaters that contain or are in direct contact with electrical parts or are required to comply with fire retardancy standards, at concentrations lower than 10 per cent by weight of the part

• Polyurethane foam for building insulation 		China 31/12/2023 Not provided • Textile products that require anti-flammable characteristics, excluding clothing and toys

• Additives in plastic housings and parts used for heating home appliances, irons, fans, immersion heaters that contain or are in direct contact with electrical parts or are required to comply with fire retardancy standards, at concentrations lower than 10 per cent by weight of the part

• Polyurethane foam for building insulation 		- On withdrawal: China has fully phased out the production, use, and import/export of the above-mentioned chemicals.
Production:

As allowed for the Parties listed in the Register. 		European Union • For additives in plastic housings and parts: 18/12/2023 - • Additives in plastic housings and parts used for heating home appliances, irons, fans, immersion heaters that contain or are in direct contact with electrical parts or are required to comply with fire retardancy standards, at concentrations lower than 10 per cent by weight of the part. - -
Use:

• Additives in plastic housings and parts used for heating home appliances, irons, fans, immersion heaters that contain or are in direct contact with electrical parts or are required to comply with fire retardancy standards, at concentrations lower than 10 per cent by weight of the part. 		European Union • For additives in plastic housings and parts: 18/12/2023 - • Additives in plastic housings and parts used for heating home appliances, irons, fans, immersion heaters that contain or are in direct contact with electrical parts or are required to comply with fire retardancy standards, at concentrations lower than 10 per cent by weight of the part. - -
Use:

• Textile products that require anti-flammable characteristics, excluding clothing and toys. 		Iran (Islamic Republic of) 18/12/2023 100 tonnes Use as fire retardant in textile. DecaBDE is used as an additive flame retardant and has a variety of applications including textiles, coatings and etc. in Iran. -
Use:

• Additives in plastic housings and parts used for heating home appliances, irons, fans, immersion heaters that contain or are in direct contact with electrical parts or are required to comply with fire retardancy standards, at concentrations lower than 10 per cent by weight of the part. 		Norway 18/12/2023 Not provided • Additives in plastic housings and parts used for heating home appliances, irons, fans, immersion heaters that contain or are in direct contact with electrical parts or are required to comply with fire retardancy standards, at concentrations lower than 10 per cent by weight of the part. Not provided -
Production:

As allowed for the Parties listed in the Register. 		Republic of Korea 18/12/2023 (Based on 2016)

Production - Adhesives / Bonding agent: 5 ton/year

Imports - Flame retardant: 519 ton/year
Other:          20 ton/year 		• Additives in plastic housings and parts used for heating home appliances, irons, fans, immersion heaters that contain or are in direct contact with electrical parts or are required to comply with fire retardancy standards, at concentrations lower than 10 per cent by weight of the part. Under the Act on Resource Circulation of Electrical and Electronic Equipment and Vehicles, Korea has developed a flame retardancy standard for 26 electrical and electronic products such as heaters and electric ovens, which is less than 0.1wt%. Korea is now considering to add more product types into the coverage under this standard.
Use:

• Additives in plastic housings and parts used for heating home appliances, irons, fans, immersion heaters that contain or are in direct contact with electrical parts or are required to comply with fire retardancy standards, at concentrations lower than 10 per cent by weight of the part. 		Republic of Korea 18/12/2023 (Based on 2016)

Total: 647 ton/year
• Flame retardant: 459 ton/year
• Adhesives / Bonding: 116 ton/year
• Other: 72 ton/year 		• Additives in plastic housings and parts used for heating home appliances, irons, fans, immersion heaters that contain or are in direct contact with electrical parts or are required to comply with fire retardancy standards, at concentrations lower than 10 per cent by weight of the part. Under the Act on Resource Circulation of Electrical and Electronic Equipment and Vehicles, Korea has developed a flame retardancy standard for 26 electrical and electronic products such as heaters and electric ovens, which is less than 0.1wt%. Korea is now considering to add more product types into the coverage under this standard.
Production:

As allowed for the Parties listed in the Register. 		United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 18/12/2023 - • Additives in plastic housings and parts used for heating home appliances, irons, fans, immersion heaters that contain or are in direct contact with electrical parts or are required to comply with fire retardancy standards, at concentrations lower than 10 per cent by weight of the part. - -
Use:

• Additives in plastic housings and parts used for heating home appliances, irons, fans, immersion heaters that contain or are in direct contact with electrical parts or are required to comply with fire retardancy standards, at concentrations lower than 10 per cent by weight of the part. 		United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland • For additives in plastic housings and parts used for heating home appliances, irons, fans, immersion heaters: 18/12/2023 - • Additives in plastic housings and parts used for heating home appliances, irons, fans, immersion heaters that contain or are in direct contact with electrical parts or are required to comply with fire retardancy standards, at concentrations lower than 10 per cent by weight of the part. - -
Use:

• Textile products that require anti-flammable characteristics, excluding clothing and toys

• Additives in plastic housings and parts used for heating home appliances, irons, fans, immersion heaters that contain or are in direct contact with electrical parts or are required to comply with fire retardancy standards, at concentrations lower than 10 per cent by weight of the part

• Polyurethane foam for building insulation 		Viet Nam 18/12/2023 30 tons / year (Figure is roughly estimated based on recent years' statistical data. According to Viet Nam's Law on Environment Protection 2020, precise amount will be reviewed by MONRE on a case-by-case basis) • Textile products that require anti-flammable characteristics, excluding clothing and toys

• Additives in plastic housings and parts for heating appliances

• Polyurethane foam for building insulation 		Currently Viet Nam is still using decaBDE as input material for direct production and in articles, products, commodities and equipment in several fields such as chemical, plastic, textile, electric-electronic, insulation materials in building, vehicles Since 2020, Viet Nam has internalized the POPs management requirements from the Stockholm Convention. The DecaBDE management is regulated under the Law on Environmental Protection 2020 and Decree 08/2022/ND-CP. Viet Nam is developing the draft National Technical Regulation on thresholds for POPs in articles, products, commodities and equipment.