Brazil Bans New Electrical Equipment PCBs

On the 25th of November 2021, the Brazilian National Congress sanctioned a legislation concerning the mandatory controlled disposal of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Law 14250/2021 complements Decree 5472/2005, which is responsible for promulgating the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in the country. 

Besides the phasing-out of PCBs, equipment and waste containing PCBs are subject to the decontamination process before being discarded. This includes, for example, materials, oils, fluids, and other operational substances.   

 In addition, businesses handling equipment or residues contaminated with PCBs are required to prepare and submit to the environmental authority an inventory with a list of supplies in stock, operational and stored equipment, and contaminated waste owned. The environmental authority will issue a manual within 180 days for this purpose.  

Law 14250/2021 imposes provisions to all holders of PCBs or contaminated equipment/substance, including the appropriate final destination of its residue/waste. The PCB inventory will have up to 3 years after the date of the law’s publication to be prepared, available and sent to the competent environmental agency

Last Update: 2021-12-20