The second meeting of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee (POPRC.2) of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) took place from 6-10 November 2006, in Geneva, Switzerland.
POPRC.2 considered several operational issues, including the treatment of isomers and precursors, confidentiality arrangements, and submission of information specified in Annex F of the Convention (socioeconomic information). Delegates approved a roster of experts to assist the Committee in its work, as well as a standard work plan for the intersessional preparation of a draft risk profile and a draft risk management evaluation. They adopted 12 decisions: on risk profiles on pentafluorooctane sulphonate, pentabromodiphenyl ether, chlordecone, hexabromobiphenyl and lindane; on the newly proposed chemicals alpha hexachlorocyclohexane, beta hexachlorocyclohexane, pentachlorobenzene, octabromodiphenyl ether and short-chained chlorinated paraffins; on confidentiality arrangements; and on the treatment of isomers, or groups of isomers, of chemicals proposed for listing in Annexes A, B or C of the Convention.
Delegates’ eagerness to approve proposals and risk profiles translated into a cooperative atmosphere and efficient deliberations, both in plenary and in the various contact groups. Their hard work paid off, and the third Conference of the Parties (COP.3) of the Stockholm Convention will be presented with an impressive report on the POPRC’s work, which, as one delegate put it, provides “the backbone of the future work of the Convention.” The outcomes of discussions on key operational issues will facilitate the POPRC’s own work and pave the way towards COP.3 and COP.4. *)
*) Text extracted from the ENB Vol. 15 No. 148 of Monday, 13 November 2006, published by IISD