GENERAL

                                                                                                                                                                                                UNEP/POPS/INC/CEG/1/1/Add.1

CRITERIA EXPERT GROUP FOR PERSISTENT

ORGANIC POLLUTANTS

First session

Bangkok, 26-30 October 1998

ANNOTATED PROVISIONAL AGENDA

The first session of the Criteria Expert Group for Persistent Organic Pollutants will be opened by one of the Co-Chairs at 10 a.m. on Monday, 26 October 1998. A representative of the host Government will make an opening statement. The secretariat will provide participants with information on the logistical and hospitality arrangements for the meeting. The secretariat will also make an introductory statement restating the mandate of the Criteria Expert Group, its terms of reference, objectives and the possible outcomes of its work.

Item 2. Adoption of the Agenda

The provisional agenda (UNEP/POPS/INC/CEG/1/1) will be before the meeting for consideration and adoption, with any amendments that the Expert Group deems appropriate.

The Expert Group might wish to use, as background for the discussion under this item, the note by the secretariat on consideration of possible criteria for identifying further persistent organic pollutants as candidates for international action (UNEP/POPS/INC.1/6), prepared for the first session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for an International Legally Binding Instrument for Implementing International Action on Certain Persistent Organic Pollutants, as well as other material, including oral and written presentations from Governments and other participants. The decision 1998/2 of the Executive Body of the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (EB/AIR/WG.5/52, annex II), which details the criteria and procedure used under that Convention for identifying additional persistent organic pollutants, might serve as a practical example. At the request of the Co-Chairs, the secretariat has also prepared the a note on the development of science-based criteria and a procedure for identifying additional persistent organic pollutants as candidates for future international action (UNEP/POPS/INC/CEG/1/2). The Expert Group is invited to discuss, and, as appropriate, make recommendations on any further action necessary to reach agreement on the criteria and values or ranges to be used. Such action could include requesting the secretariat, in consultation with the Co-Chairs, to present an outline for criteria and values or ranges to the Expert Group at its second session. There are a number of issues mentioned in the decision 19/13 C of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and in the report of the Ad Hoc Working Group of the Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety (IFCS), such as the integration of socio-economic factors in the criteria process, the role of migratory species in long-range transport and special considerations for endangered species. The Expert Group might wish to consider, and, as appropriate, recommend further action on these issues.

In an annex to the above-mentioned note from the secretariat (UNEP/POPS/INC/CEG/1/2), two procedures are outlined for adding further POPs to a future convention. The procedures may include additional criteria and information requirements with respect to the criteria. The Expert Group might wish to discuss these as well as possible other options, and, as appropriate, give guidance to the Co-Chairs and the secretariat for preparing a paper for the consideration of the Expert Group at its second session. Any decision on which model to follow would ultimately rest with the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee. However, a clear indication of which model the Expert Group might prefer might precipitate the necessary discussion and decision at second session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee.

The Criteria Expert Group is tentatively scheduled to meet between meetings of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee. The Expert Group at its first session might wish to establish a work plan for the period up to and including the fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, when the work of the Group should ideally have been concluded. The plan might consider issues such as the schedule of meetings, financial resources, and other practical arrangements.

The Expert Group might wish to consider and, as appropriate, propose tentative dates for its next session, to be confirmed by the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee at its second session.

The Expert Group must develop a report for submission to the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee at its second session, identifying the outcomes of the meeting and any issues for discussion and decision by the Committee at that session. The Group might wish to consider a concise meeting report focusing on the main conclusions and recommendations, with the work plan and other documents developed during the meeting attached as annexes. The Co-Chairs might be given the mandate to make any editorial changes and last minute additions to the report with the cooperation of the secretariat.