Meeting Documents

1. Opening of the meeting.

2. Organizational matters:

Item 1

Opening of the meeting

1. The twentieth meeting of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee will be held at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in Rome from 23 to 27 September 2024. The meeting will be opened by the Chair of the Committee, Peter Dawson (New Zealand), at 9.30 a.m. on Monday, 23 September 2024. In accordance with the terms of reference of the Committee, prior to the meeting and using a correspondence procedure, the Committee members will meet in closed session to review issues pertaining to conflicts of interest.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. At its nineteenth meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee adopted decision POPRC-19/3 on chlorpyrifos. In paragraph 3 of the decision, the Committee decided to establish an intersessional working group to prepare a risk management evaluation that included an analysis of possible control measures for chlorpyrifos, in accordance with Annex F to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. At its nineteenth meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee adopted decision POPRC-19/1 on chlorinated paraffins with carbon chain lengths in the range C14–17 and chlorination levels at or exceeding 45 per cent chlorine by weight, by which the Committee decided to recommend to the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants that it consider listing those chemicals, subject to further specifying the chemical identity, in Annex A to the Convention with specific exemptions, as specified in paragraph 3 of that decision. The text of decision POPRC-19/1 is set out in annex I to the present note.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. At its nineteenth meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee adopted decision POPRC-19/2 on long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids, their salts and related compounds, by which it decided to recommend to the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants that it consider listing long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids, their salts and related compounds in Annex A to the Convention with specific exemptions, as specified in paragraph 2 of that decision. The text of decision POPRC-19/2 is set out in annex I to the present note.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. Switzerland has submitted a proposal to list polyhalogenated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans in Annex C to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, pursuant to paragraph 1 of Article 8 of the Convention (see annex to the present note). The proposal is being circulated as submitted and has not been formally edited. The Secretariat’s verification of whether the proposal contains the information specified in Annex D to the Convention is set out in document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.20/INF/4.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. At its eleventh meeting, the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants adopted decisions SC-11/9, SC-11/10 and SC-11/11, in which it decided to amend Annex A to the Convention to list methoxychlor, Dechlorane Plus and UV-328, respectively.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. Paragraph 2 of parts IV and V of Annex A to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants provides that at its sixth ordinary meeting and every second meeting thereafter, the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention shall evaluate the progress that Parties have made towards achieving their ultimate objective of elimination of hexabromodiphenyl ether and heptabromodiphenyl ether and tetrabromodiphenyl ether and pentabromodiphenyl ether contained in articles and review the continued need for specific exemptions for those chemicals. The paragraphs also provide that the specific exemptions shall in any case expire at the latest in 2030.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. At its ninth and tenth meetings, the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants adopted decisions SC-9/12 and SC-10/13, by which it decided to amend Annex A to the Convention to list perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts and PFOA-related compounds and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), its salts and PFHxS-related compounds. At the same meetings, the Conference of the Parties adopted decisions SC 9/13 and SC 10/14, in which it requested the Secretariat to compile, in consultation with the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee, the information submitted by Parties and others to establish indicative lists of substances covered by the listing of PFOA, its salts and PFOA-related compounds and by the listing of PFHxS, its salts and PFHxS-related compounds, make the information available on the Convention website, and update it periodically.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. In accordance with paragraph 28 of its terms of reference, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee prepares, for each of its meetings, risk profiles and risk management evaluations as required by Article 8 of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. To perform this task, the Committee establishes an intersessional working group for each chemical and agrees on a workplan for completing the draft risk profiles and risk management evaluations.

I. Opening of the meeting

1. The twentieth meeting of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee was held at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, Rome, from 23 to 27 September 2024.

Note by the Secretariat

A scenario note developed by the Chair of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee, Peter Dawson (New Zealand), to assist participants in preparing for the twentieth meeting of the Committee is set out in the annex to the present note.

Note by the Secretariat

A tentative schedule for the work of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee at its twentieth meeting is set out in the annex to the present note. The schedule will be adapted as necessary as work progresses. The present note, including its annex, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

1. In its decision SC-11/8, on the operation of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee, the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants appointed the 14 designated experts listed in the annex to that decision to serve as members of the Committee with terms of office from 5 May 2024 to 4 May 2028. The curricula vitae of those members are set out in document UNEP/POPS/COP.11/INF/6/Rev.1.

Note by the Secretariat

1. Paragraph 2 of Article 8 of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants reads as follows: “The Secretariat shall verify whether the proposal contains the information specified in Annex D. If the Secretariat is satisfied that the proposal contains the information so specified, it shall forward the proposal to the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee.”

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on the draft risk management evaluation: chlorpyrifos (UNEP/POPS/POPRC.20/2), the annex to the present note sets out additional information relating to the draft risk management evaluation for chlorpyrifos prepared by the intersessional working group on chlorpyrifos. The present note, including its annex, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

1. As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on the draft risk management evaluation: chlorpyrifos (UNEP/POPS/POPRC.20/2), additional information relating to the draft risk management evaluation for chlorpyrifos in an Excel format has been prepared by the intersessional working group on chlorpyrifos. The Excel file contains the following sheets:

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on the draft risk management evaluation: chlorpyrifos (UNEP/POPS/POPRC.20/2), the annex to the present note sets out a compilation of comments and responses relating to the draft risk management evaluation for chlorpyrifos, submitted by the chair of the intersessional working group on chlorpyrifos. The present note, including its annex, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on further assessment of information on chlorinated paraffins with carbon chain lengths in the range C14–17 and chlorination levels at or exceeding 45 per cent chlorine by weight (UNEP/POPS/POPRC.20/3), the annex to the present note sets out a compilation of comments and responses, as well as information submissions, relating to the draft assessment of information on chlorinated paraffins with carbon chain lengths in the range C14–17 and chlorination levels at or exceeding 45 per cent chlorine by weight, submitted by the chair of the intersessional working group. The present note, including its annex, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on further assessment of information on long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids, their salts and related compounds (UNEP/POPS/POPRC.20/4), the annex to the present note sets out a compilation of comments and responses relating to the draft assessment of information on long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids, their salts and related compounds, submitted by the chair of the intersessional working group on long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids, their salts and related compounds. The present note, including its annex, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on persistent organic pollutants in stockpiles, products and articles in use and in wastes (UNEP/POPS/POPRC.20/6), the annex to the present note sets out a report prepared by the intersessional working group outlining the options for identifying persistent organic pollutants in stockpiles, products and articles in use and in wastes and issues related to the production, import and export of products and articles containing persistent organic pollutants. The present note, including its annex, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

The annex to the present note sets out a report outlining the options for identifying persistent organic pollutants in stockpiles, products and articles in use and in wastes and issues related to the production, import and export of products and articles containing persistent organic pollutants prepared by the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee at its twentieth meeting on the basis of the draft report contained in document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.20/INF/9. The present note, including its annex, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on persistent organic pollutants in stockpiles, products and articles in use and in wastes (UNEP/POPS/POPRC.20/6), the annex to the present note sets out a compilation of comments and responses relating to the report outlining the options for identifying persistent organic pollutants in stockpiles, products and articles in use and in wastes and issues related to the production, import and export of products and articles containing persistent organic pollutants. The present note, including its annex, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on the evaluation and review of brominated diphenyl ethers pursuant to paragraph 2 of parts IV and V of Annex A to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (UNEP/POPS/POPRC.20/7), the annex to the present note sets out the report for the evaluation and review of brominated diphenyl ethers listed in Annex A to the Stockholm Convention. The present note, including its annex, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

1. In paragraph 9 of decision SC-11/8, the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants requested the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee to assess the need for interpretation in its meetings and to report on the results of its assessment to the Conference of the Parties at its twelfth meeting.

Note by the Secretariat

The annex to the present note contains a draft indicative list of long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids, their salts and related compounds, updated during the twentieth meeting of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee. The revisions are based on the draft indicative list set out in document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.19/INF/9. The present note, including its annex, has not been formally edited.