Guidance

The following guidance documents provide information on all aspects related to the environmentally sound management of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), including identification and inventorying of PCBs, regulatory frameworks, handling, transport, storage and disposal, development of national strategies and phaseout plans as well as advice on potential funding mechanisms for PCBs elimination.

1. PCB identification and Inventory
2. PCB disposal
3. Open applications
4. National strategies and phase out plans

Title	English
Technical guidelines: Technical guidelines on the environmentally sound management of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls, polychlorinated terphenyls polychlorinated naphthalenes or polybrominated biphenyls including hexabromobiphenyl (UNEP/CHW.13/6/Add.4/Rev.1)
Technical guidelines: General technical guidelines on the environmentally sound management of wastes of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with persistent organic pollutants (UNEP/CHW.16/6/Add.1/Rev.1) (2023)
PCB management guidance - Maintenance, Handling, Transport and Interim Storage of Liquids Containing PCB and Equipment Contaminated with PCB (PCB Elimination Network, June 2016)
Destruction and decontamination technologies for PCBs and other POPs wastes under the Basel Convention - A training manual for hazardous waste project managers, Vol A (Secretariat of the Basel Convention, 2002)
Destruction and decontamination technologies for PCBs and other POPs wastes under the Basel Convention - A training manual for hazardous waste project managers, Vol B (Secretariat of the Basel Convention, 2002)
Destruction and decontamination technologies for PCBs and other POPs wastes under the Basel Convention - A training manual for hazardous waste project managers, Vol C (Secretariat of the Basel Convention, 2002)
Destruction and decontamination technologies for PCBs and other POPs wastes under the Basel Convention - A training manual for hazardous waste project managers, Vol C, Annexes (Secretariat of the Basel Convention, 2002)

Title	English
Consolidated Guidance on PCB in Open Applications (March 2019)
Open systems uses of PCBs; IPEN 2009
Factsheet on Open Applications: Machinery and Installations
Photo Booklet on Open Applications
Factsheet on Open Applications: Residential and Public Buildings

Document	English
Items: 2
Preparation of a National Environmentally Sound Management Plan for PCBs and PCB-Contaminated Equipment - Training Manual (Secretariat of the Basel Convention, 2003)
Strategy for Parties to meet 2025 and 2028 goals for polychlorinated biphenlys (PCBs) elimination under the Stockholm Convention (UNEP/POPS/COP.11/INF/13) (2023, currently being updated)

Guidance update

Under decision SC-11/3, the Conference of the Parties welcomed the updated guidance for the development of inventories of polychlorinated biphenyls and analysis of polychlorinated biphenyls (UNEP/POPS/COP.11/INF/12), the draft strategy for Parties to meet the 2025 and 2028 goals of the Stockholm Convention (UNEP/POPS/COP.11/INF/13) and requested the Small Intersessional Working Group on PCB to continue supporting the Secretariat in the revision and updating of these guidelines as well as any other relevant guidance under the Stockholm Convention.

The PCB SIWG revised both guidance documents and Parties and observers were invited to submit comments on these drafts by 30 September using the respective forms for providing comments.

Title	English
Items: 5
Form to provide comments to the Strategy to meet 2025 and 2028 targets on PCB under the Stockholm Convention
Form to provide comments to the Updated Guidance for development of PCB inventories and analysis of PCB
Updated Guidance for the development of PCB inventories and analysis of PCB
Updated PCB inventory form
Updated Strategy to meet 2025 and 2028 targets on PCB under the Stockholm Convention

Comments received were considered by the PCB SIWG at its ninth meeting, held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 15 to 17 October 2024, with the aim to finalize the updates as requested by the Conference of the Parties.

Comments received

Draft Strategy for Parties to Meet the 2025 and 2028 goals for polychlorinated biphelys (PCBs) elimination under the Stockholm Convention

Submitter	English
Items: 6
Argentina
Canada
Ethiopia
Iran
Moldova
Somalia

Guidance for development of PCB inventories and analysis of PCBs

Submitter	English
Items: 5
Argentina
Canada
Ethiopia
Somalia
BCRC-Argentina

For further information please contact Mr. Agustin Harte, Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions (agustin.harte@un.org).

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Document	English
Items: 5
Guidance for development of PCB inventories and analysis of PCB (UNEP/POPS/COP.11/INF/12)
Updated PCB inventory form (2024)
Guidelines for the identification of PCBs and materials containing PCBs (UNEP, 1999)
PCB inventory guidance (PCB Elimination Network, 2016)
PCB inventory and analysis form (2023)