The Stockholm Convention regulates the export and import of intentionally produced chemicals listed in Annexes A and B of the Convention.
Among the measures to reduce or eliminate releases from intentional production and use provided by article 3, is the obligation to ensure that any import and export of the chemicals listed in Annex A and B of the Convention complies with strict requirements.
With respect to the import:
- These chemicals can only be imported for the purpose of environmentally sound disposal as set forth in article 6 paragraph 1 (d); or
- For a use or purpose which is permitted for that Party under Annex A or Annex B.
With respect to the export: chemicals for which safer alternatives are not readily available to all countries and for which there is a specific exemption or acceptable purpose can only exported: regulates the import and export of covered POPs, however there is no specific procedure defined under the Stockholm Convention for the international trade of POPs. In the event the POPs fall within the scope of the Basel or the Rotterdam Conventions, then the control procedures provided by these Conventions apply to the import, transit and export, as appropriate, of POPs falling within the scope of those Conventions For the purpose of environmentally sound disposal as set forth in article 6 paragraph 1 (d);
- To a Party which is permitted to use that chemical under Annex A or Annex B; or
- To a non-Party to the Convention which has provided an annual certification to the exporting Party. This certification shall ensure that the importing State will minimize or prevent releases, dispose the chemicals in an environmentally sound manner and respect the provisions of Annex B part II paragraph 2.
The Register of Specific Exemptions is available on the Convention website at:
https://chm.pops.int/Implementation/Exemptions/RegisterofSpecificExemptions/tabid/1133/Default.aspx
The Acceptable Purpose Registers are available at:
https://chm.pops.int/Implementation/Exemptions/ AcceptablePurposesDDT/tabid/456/Default.aspx and;
https://chm.pops.int/Implementation/Exemptions/AcceptablePurposesPFOSandPFOSF/tabid/794/Default.aspx
The template for the certification of non-Party imports is available at:
https://chm.pops.int/Procedures/ExporttoanonPartyState/tabid/3349/Default.aspx
Any export of these chemicals must take into account any relevant provisions in existing international prior informed consent instruments (article 3 paragraph 1 (b)), for instance the PIC procedures provided by the Basel and the Rotterdam Conventions.”