Substances can be characterized as PBT (Persistent, Bioaccumulative and Toxic)/vPvB. PBT stands for Persistent (hardly degradable in the environment), Bioaccumulative (accumulation of the substance in organisms) and Toxic (toxic to humans and/or ecosystems). vPvB stands for very Persistent and very Bioaccumulative. The aim of the European and Dutch governments is to keep these substances out of the environment, or to keep the concentrations in the environment as low as possible.

PBT and vPvB substances can accumulate in the environment and especially in organisms. The consequences of this are unpredictable and irreversible in the long term. This can also cause long-term exposure to these types of substances in remote areas such as the marine environment. Authorities can ban these substances or impose strict conditions on production, trade and use.

European Legislation

Annex XIII of the REACH Regulation (EC) 1907/2006 lays down the criteria for classification as PBT/vPvB. In principle, all substances must receive a PBT/vPvB assessment at more than 10 tonnes of production or import per year. Substances identified as PBT/vPvB under REACH are placed on the Candidate List of Substances of Very High Concern for authorisation

As of 20 April 2023, the amended CLP Regulation (EG)1272/2008 which establishes the hazard classification, labelling and packaging (CLP) of substances in the European Union. New hazard classifications have been added to this regulation, namely for PBT/vPvB, endocrine disruptors and PMT/vPvM. There is a transition period: for substances that are new to the European market, companies must comply with the amended CLP Regulation (EC) 1272/2008 from 1 May 2025. For substances that are already on the European market, companies must comply with the requirements of the amended CLP regulation as of 1 November 2026. Until these dates, the inclusion of the new hazard classifications is voluntary. More information on the amended CLP Regulation can be found on the website of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)
The POP Regulation (EU) 2019/1021(see under International conventions) with the agreed conditions, such as prohibition or restriction of production, trade and use.
Regulations on specific product groups such as
biocide,
plant protection products, pharmaceuticals and veterinary medicines also include a PBT/vPvB assessment.

International treaties

Similar assessments with similar criteria are also carried out in other international platforms, such as:

  • United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). This is stipulated in the Stockholm Convention and has its own system to identify these types of substances, referred to as Persistent Organic Pollutants (POP). The criteria for this are set out in Annex D..
  • the POP protocol United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
  • the OSPAR Convention(. Also OSPAR has its own criteria to identify PBT substances.

Read more about the The Stockholm Treaty.
Read more about the OSPAR list of Substances of Possible Concern.

Measures

If a substance is labelled as PBT/vPvB under the REACH Regulation, companies must take adequate measures. In addition, European governments can ban substances, or place them under a strict authorization regime, or impose restrictions on the use of a substance. These processes are carried out by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). Read more about REACH autorisation and restriction.

Process of PBT assessment

The REACH criteria are explained in the "Guidance on information requirements and chemical safety assessment, Chapter R.11". It explains in detail how the various data should be interacted in order to arrive at a conclusion for the endpoints P, B and T. 

Screening

Often, not all the data for that assessment are available. For that reason, criteria have been established, which allow for an initial assessment. If a substance does not meet these screening criteria, it is very likely that the substance is not PBT or vPvB.

Information that cannot be directly compared with the criteria

Within REACH, there is an obligation to include all available information in a PBT/vPvB assessment. Not all information can be directly compared with the numerical criteria, but it may be that this kind of information shows that the substance poses a concern for PBT. An example of this is the perfluorinated compounds, which have been assessed as bioaccumulative in humans due to their long half-lives.

Further assessment

If the substance does meet the screening criteria, further testing may be required to verify whether the substance is truly PBT or vPvB.
The full PBT assessment consists of two steps:
1.    identification of PBT substances
2.    evaluation of the sources and main emission pathways to the environment.
In this way, the most appropriate and effective measures can be taken to reduce the emissions of PBT substances into the environment.

 

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