Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are chemicals that remain in the environment for long periods, can be transported across international boundaries far from their sources via air or water, accumulate in humans and wildlife, and have harmful effects on human health and the environment. In the EU, POPs are regulated by Regulation (EC) No 850/2004 on Persistent Organic Pollutants. The Regulation covers a range of industrial chemicals, pesticides, by-products and chemicals produced unintentionally due to incomplete combustion, and describes the regulatory action for each of the listed chemicals. Some POPs are banned to produce and use and for some POPs, production and use are severely restricted. The POPs Regulation implements teh gloval treaty on POPs, the Stockholm Convention, in the EU.