Other Initiatives and Guidance

The Stockholm Convention Regional Centres are invited to express their interest in undertaken research and training on new POPs contained in products and articles, through the implementation of a project funded by the Government of Germany and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

The direct aim of this project is to undertake a study on the presence of new POPs in products and in articles in a developing country or country with economies in transition with high industrial activity.

To find out about the project, use the following link: Project description

The Centers will be selected on the basis of the elements contained in the document Criteria for selecting a Stockholm Convention Regional Center to implement the project sound management of POPs in articles.

The Stockholm Convention Regional Centres are invited to submit a letter to ta@pops.int / ssc@pops.int expressing their interest on implementing the project and indicating how the Centre meets the criteria including an indication on which country the research will take place.

The deadline for submitting an expression of interest is October 19, 2012. No late submissions will be considered.

In addition to the POPS-free programme, the Stockholm Convention secretariat is assisting countries with addressing challenges faced with newly listed chemicals that have been integrated into articles and products throughout their production chain.

In May 2009, the second session of International Conference on Chemicals Management recognized that health and environmental problems and challenges faced by chemicals in products were a priority emerging issue and adopted a resolution agreeing to implement a project on Chemicals in Products. The Conference invited UNEP to lead and facilitate the project.

The POPs Review Committee (POPRC) under the Convention has given consideration to alternatives and substitutes to POPs and has over the course of years developed relevant guidance, including the following:

General guidance on considerations related to alternatives and substitutes for listed persistent organic pollutants and candidate chemicals

UNEP/POPS/POPRC.5/10/Add.1

Guidance on alternatives to perfluorooctane sulfonate and its derivatives

UNEP/POPS/POPRC.6/13/Add.3

The POP RC is also undertaking additional work on alternatives and substitution through one of its intersessional working groups.