Guidance for National Implementation Plans (NIPs)

Various guidance documents have been developed to support Parties in developing, reviewing, updating and implementing their NIPs. These documents range from providing general guidance on how to develop, review or update a NIP to more focused assistance such as on how to build inventories for certain POPs or to use best available techniques or best environmental practices (BAT/BEP) during the implementation phase of the NIP.

Parties are encouraged to use the available guidance and invited to provide comments based on their experience to improve the usefulness of these guidance documents. The revised and updated guidance documents addressing the comments received from the Parties and other stakeholders have been reflected and were presented to the meeting of the Conference of the Parties held in April 2017.

NIP development, review and update:

Inventories:

NIP Implementation:

History about the development of the Guidance documents :

Conference of the Parties at its first meeting by decision SC-1/12 adopted the Guidance for assisting countries in the preparation of national implementation plans. At its fourth meeting by decision SC-4/9, the COP requested the Secretariat to identify any additional guidance that might be required to assist Parties in their implementation of the Convention. In response to this request and as a follow up to decision SC-5/14, the Secretariat, in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, and with the financial support of the Global Environment Facility has updated relevant existing guidance and developed new guidance to assist parties in the process of developing, reviewing and updating National Implementation Plans under the Convention.

The development of the guidance was accompanied by different activities to ensure that the documents being developed addressed the needs of Parties, were practical, user friendly, applicable and technically and scientifically correct. Three pilots were undertaken in close collaboration with two Stockholm Convention Regional Centres (Czech Republic and India). The pilot testing included the use, thorough review and feedback of the guidance documents as well as a workshop. The countries where the guidance document were pilot tested are Serbia, Nigeria and India. A peer-reviewing process was part of the development of the guidance.

In decisions SC-6/12 and SC-7/10, the COPs once again requested Parties and others to send comments on existing guidance, and thanks to funding from the European Union, these guidance have been revised addressing the comments from the Parties and others and have been presented  and took note by the Conference of the Parties in 2017.

Other available resources

Guidance for the inventory of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and related chemicals listed under the Stockholm Convention on POPs

Scope

The objective of this document is to provide step-by-step guidance that enables Parties to establish an inventory of products and articles containing PFOS and related chemicals and industrial processes using these chemicals. The guidance includes methods for estimating the amount of such chemicals in products and articles in cases where accurate data is lacking. The inventory should provide Parties with baseline data on the presence of PFOS at the national level. Such data would serve as a basis for Parties to develop strategies/action plans for meeting their obligations under the Convention in relation to PFOS.

Main target audience

The focal point responsible for coordinating the process of updating the NIP, staff responsible for planning the inventory, and technical staff responsible for conducting the inventory of PFOS.

Guidance

(Language versions will soon be available)

Arabic Chinese English French Russian Spanish





Other relevant documents

Recommendations on the elimination of brominated diphenyl ethers from the waste stream and on risk reduction for perfluorooctane sulfonic acid(PFOS) and its salts and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride (PFOSF)

Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) and related chemical products – OECD webportal

Draft guidance document on alternatives to perfluorooctane sulfonate and its derivatives, POPRC

Guidance on considerations related to alternatives and substitutes forlisted persistent organic pollutants and candidate chemicals 2009(UNEP/POPS/POPRC.5/10/Add.1)

Supporting documents

Case studies

The Case Study – Inventory of Fire-Fighting Foams in Norway

Some articles and papers

Perfluorinated compounds –occurrence and uses in products

Survey, screening andanalyses of PFCs in consumer products

Perfluorocarboxylic Acid Content in 116 Articles of Commerce

Survey andenvironmental/health assessment of fluorinated substances in impregnated consumer products and impregnating agents

The inventory of sources, environmental releases and risk assessment for perfluorooctanesulfonate in China

Emission Inventory for PFOSin China:Review of Past Methodologies and Suggestions

 

Guidance on best available techniques and best environmental practices for the use of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and related chemicals listed under the Stockholm Convention on POPs

Scope

The Convention prohibits the use of PFOS and its related chemicals except in certain applications or as intermediate in the production of chemicals used in these applications. Production is allowed only for use in these applications and the production of chemicals used in these applications. Parties that produce and/or use PFOS have to register with the Secretariat of the Convention and should take into account guidance on BAT and BEP. Furthermore, in 2011, the COP adopted a decision that encourages Parties to implement recommendations on risk reduction for PFOS, its salts and PFOS-F that relate to the different stages in the life cycle of PFOS and processes and materials containing PFOS. This guidance document has been developed to guide Parties in adequately addressing the risks of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and its related substances.

Main target audience

Staff responsible for developing management plans for the application of BAT and BEP for the production and use of PFOS and technical staff involved in their implementation.

Guidance

(Language versions will soon be available)

Arabic Chinese English French Russian Spanish





Other relevant documents

Guidance for the inventory of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and related chemicals listed under the Stockholm Convention on POPs

Recommendations on the elimination of brominated diphenyl ethers fromthe waste stream and on risk reduction for perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS)and its salts and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride (PFOSF)

Supporting documents

 

Guidance for the inventory of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) listed under the Stockholm Convention on POPs

Scope

The objective of this document is to provide step-by-step guidance that enables Parties to establish an inventory on the establishment of inventories of Hexabromodiphenyl ether and heptabromodiphenyl ether, Tetrabromodiphenyl ether and pentabromodiphenyl ether (and HBB) listed under the Convention in 2009. The inventory should provide Parties with baseline data on them at the national level. Such data would serve as a basis for Parties to develop strategies/action plans for meeting their obligations under the Convention. 

Main target audience

This document will be of use to national focal points for the Convention, the coordinator of the NIP review and update process, and task teams responsible for establishing the inventory. It will also be of interest to other stakeholders concerned with the elimination of PBDEs and HBB.

Guidance

(Language versions will soon be available)

Arabic Chinese English French Russian Spanish





Other relevant documents

Recommendations on the elimination of brominated diphenyl ethers fromthe waste stream and on risk reduction for perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS)and its salts and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride (PFOSF)

Guidance on feasibleflame-retardant alternatives to commercial pentabromodiphenyl ether - 2009 (UNEP/POPS/COP.4/INF24)

Guidance  on considerations related to alternatives and substitutes for listed persistent organic pollutants and candidate chemicals 2009 (UNEP/POPS/POPRC.5/10/Add.1)

Supporting documents

Case studies

Case study in a hypotheticalcountry A on POP-PBDEs in the Transport Sector
Case study on inventory ofPBDEs in electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) and related waste (WEEE)

Some articles and papers

A Survey of PBDES in recycled carpet padding

Brominated Flame Retardantsin Recycled Plastic Products

Identification of FlameRetardants in Polyurethane Foam Collected from Baby Products

Brominated flame retardantsin products: Results of the Swiss market survey 2008

Screening e-waste plasticsin Nigeriafor brominated flame retardants using XRF – towards a methodology for assessingPOPs PBDEs in the e-waste exports – Part 1

Assessing POP-PBDEs and BFRsin e-waste polymers in Nigeria– Part 2

 

Guidance on best available techniques and best environmental practices for the recycling and waste disposal of articles containing polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) listed under the Stockholm Convention on POPs

Scope

The main objective of this document is to provide guidance on best available techniques (BAT) and best environmental practices (BEP) for the recycling and final disposal of products and articles containing POP-PBDEs in an environmentally sound manner, following the recommendations of the COP on the elimination of POP-PBDEs from the waste stream. This document also aims to assist Parties reviewing and updating their NIPs with information on how to meet the obligations of the Convention on POP-PBDEs. It provides guidance on developing action plans for the environmentally sound management (ESM) of POP-PBDE-containing articles and materials based on the POP-PBDE inventory results.

Main target audience

National Stockholm Convention focal points, the project coordination unit implementing the NIP review and update project, and task teams responsible for conducting POP-PBDEs inventories and developing action plans for managing POP-PBDEs.

Guidance

(Language versions will soon be available)

Arabic Chinese English French Russian Spanish





Other relevant documents

Guidance for the inventory of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) listed under the Stockholm Convention on POPs

Recommendations on the elimination of brominated diphenyl ethers fromthe waste stream and on risk reduction for perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS)and its salts and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride (PFOSF)

 

Guidance for the control of the import and export of POPs

Scope

This document aims to help stakeholders – customs authorities, local control authorities, national government authorities, and companies – to understand which POPs can be traded internationally and how POPs listed in 2009 and 2011 and DDT can be controlled, whether as substances or contained in mixtures or articles.

Main target audience

National Stockholm Convention focal points, the project coordination unit implementing the NIP review and update project, different task teams responsible for conducting inventories and developing action plans and customs officers.

Guidance

Other relevant documents

Supporting documents

 

Labelling of products or articles that contain POPs-initial considerations

Scope

This document aims to provide some considerations on how to select and implement a national label system. It describes approaches to the labelling of POPs, whether as substances, mixtures or in articles, based on a range of voluntary or legally binding instruments.  The target audiences are policy makers responsible for developing regulations for the management of POPs and authorities involved in the collection of information on POPs.

Main target audience

National Stockholm Convention focal points, the project coordination unit implementing the NIP review and update project, the different task teams responsible for conducting inventories and developing action plans, officers in charge of registers of pesticides and/or industrial chemicals.

Guidance

Other relevant documents

Globally Harmonized Systemof Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) 

Supporting documents

 

Guidance for Developing a National Implementation Plan for the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (updated in 2012 to include the POPs listed in 2009 and 2011)

Scope

The document aims at providing guidance to countries and assists them in the process of developing, reviewing and updating their NIPs. The Convention makes it clear that NIPs should be developed to address the specific needs of each Party. This document therefore is not intended to be prescriptive and should be used, in whole or in part, to contribute to the successful development of a NIP.  This latest edition complements the earlier editions by addressing the review and updating of a NIP and, in particular, taking into account the need to do so due to changes in the obligations arising from amendments to the Convention in May 2009 and April 2011 to include 10 new chemicals in its Annexes A, B, and C. It also strengthens linkages with the Basel Convention and broader national chemicals management efforts. The guidance will be further revised as needed to take account of issues arising during its use in the field.

To have a comprehensive overview, this guidance document should also be used as a companion to the whole set of NIP guidance documents. 

Main target audience

National Stockholm Convention focal points, the project coordination unit implementing the NIP review and update project and the different task teams responsible for conducting inventories and developing action plans.

Guidance

Other relevant documents

Step-by-step companion guide to the review andupdating of the National Implementation Plans (2011)

Supporting documents

 

Guidance on calculation of action plan costs for specific POPs (updated)

Scope

In developing, reviewing, and updating a national implementation plan (NIP) for the Stockholm Convention, a number of action plans (or “strategies” or other similar plans) can be developed. The implementation of each action plan will typically require a range of resources, such as human resources, facilities, equipment, services, and materials. Accurate costing of action plans will greatly facilitate national implementation as well as an understanding of the true costs of implementing the Convention globally. In order to facilitate a calculation of action plan costs, UNITAR, in collaboration with the Secretariat of the Stockholm Convention, has developed the following guidance, which presents a number of considerations that a Party may wish to take into account.

Main target audience

National Stockholm Convention focal points, the project coordination unit implementing the NIP review and update project.

Guidance

Other relevant documents

Decision trees

 

Draft guidance on Socio-Economic Assessment for National Implementation Plan Development and Implementation under the Stockholm Convention (2007) (not revised)

Scope

The purpose of this guide is to assist Parties to conduct a socio-economic assessment when developing or implementing their implementation plan under the Stockholm Convention.

The guide has three main objectives, the first one is to give guidance on Socio-Economic Assessment and provide a compelling rationale for its adoption in the development and execution of national implementation plans for the Stockholm Convention on persistent organic pollutants; the second objective is to familiarize the teams responsible for developing and executing national implementation plans with the process and methods of conducting Socio-Economic Assessment such that they are able to oversee the work of specialists. The guidance aims also at providing a practical toolkit setting out how collection of relevant socio-economic data and their analysis can be set alongside analysis of technical and other issues in order to inform decision-making within the planning and executing of a national implementation plan.

Main target audience

National Stockholm Convention focal points, the project coordination unit implementing the NIP review and update project.

Guidance