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The Stockholm Convention at a Glance



Name:
The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (2001)

(The POPs or Stockholm Convention)



What is the Purpose of the Convention?

The purpose of the Stockholm Convention is to restrict and eventually prohibit the production, use, emissions and import and export of highly toxic substances known as persistent organic pollutants (POPs).

What Substances or Chemicals Are Covered by the Convention?

The Convention currently covers 12 compounds, 'poisons without passports' that are:

  • organic (carbon based);
  • persistent, resisting degradation in the environment;
  • bioaccumulative in fatty tissue;
  • capable of transboundary movement, travbelling vast distances on air and water currents; and
  • are toxic to humans and wildlife.

    They include the:
  • organochlorine pesticides; DDT, endrin, dieldrin, aldrin, chlordane, toxaphene, heptachlor, mirex, hexachlorobenzen (HCB); and
  • industrial chemicals and by-products; polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), HCB dioxins and furans. ,

    There are a further twelve chemicals that are being assessed by the POP Review Committee after being nominated by a Party.
    These include;
  • Pentabromodiphenyl ether (Penta BDE)
  • Chlordecone
  • Hexabromobiphenyl
  • Lindane
  • Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)
  • Alpha & Beta hexachlorocyclohexane (Lindane isomers)
  • Octabromodiphenyl ether (OctaBDE)
  • Pentachlorobenzene
  • Short-chained chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs)
  • Endosulfan
  • Trifluralin

    What are the likely Scenarios where a Developing Country or a Country in Economic Transition would use this Convention?

    Most developing countries and countries with economies in transition have some quantity of POPs sitting in stockpiles or scattered around the country. Becoming a Party to the Stockholm Convention provides an opportunity for developing countries and countries with economies in transition to get assistance to address POPs legacies by ensuring safe removal and disposal of future POPs, as well as such as eliminating dioxins and furans emissions. Some of these activities are already underway and includes removal and treatment of old pesticides and PCB contaminated electrical insulators in Pacific Islands which are being dealt with by the SPREP POP in PIC Project. Meanwhile in Africa the African Stockpiles Programme (see the Bamako Convention section) is preparing to carry out similar projects in African countries who have signed up to the Stockholm and/or Basel Conventions.

    What are the Economic and Social Benefits of the Convention?

    POPs are highly toxic substances found throughout the world. Banning the use and trade in these chemicals will provide considerable human health benefits, as it will stop them entering the food chain. Available funding for POPs implementation has the secondary benefits of building capacity for general chemical management including implementation of the other relevant treaties.

    What are the Costs Associated with the Convention?

    There is an administrative fee and there are costs associated with developing a National Implementation Plan but funding is available to assist developing countries and countries with economies in transition. Depending on the amount of POPs being produced or stockpiled in your country there will be some operational costs. The competent authorities (eg environment department, police, customs officers, port or airport authorities) may need to carry out the following functions:

  • identification of POPs;
  • knowledge of companies' operations that may produce POPs;
  • understanding of laboratory results on sampling and testing; and
  • understanding of methods to minimise or destroy POPs in an environmentally sound manner;

    Will National Legislation be Required?

    Yes. However, because of similarities with other chemical conventions, a single hazardous chemicals Act could be developed.

    Are There Reporting Requirements?

    Yes. Each party is required to provide to the Secretariat information on:

  • measures taken to implement the Convention;
  • effectiveness of measures;
  • statistical data on its total quantities of production, import and export of POPs;
  • a list of states from which it has imported and states to which it has exported POPs.

    Will There be Help in Administering the Convention?

    It is likely that the Secretariat will provide assistance to developing countries. SPREP may provide assistance as part of their involvement with the Waigani Convention and the African Union may provide similar assistance in African Countries.

    What is the Status of the Convention?

    The Convention entered into force on the 17 May 2004 when France became the 50th nation to ratify the Convention.

    Are There Other Agreements Associated with the Convention?

    There are strong linkages with the Basel, Bamako and Waigani Conventions as the types of chemicals overlap. Preliminary Low POPs waste guidelines (15 ppb for dioxins and 50 ppm for all other POPs) were developed by the Open ended Working Group of the Basel Convention as required by Article 6 of the Stockholm Convention. The decision includes methods listed under Basel Convention Technical Guidelines for POPs wastes as environmentally sound methods to destroy POPs waste. The standards for the destruction or permanent transformation of POPs are to be carried out in collaboration with appropriate bodies of the Basel Convention.





    Secretariat for the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants
    11-13 Chemin des Anémones
    1219 Châtelaine
    Geneva, Switzerland
    Tel.: +4122 917 8191
    Fax: +4122 797 3460
    e-mail: ssc@chemicals.unep.ch
    Internet: http://www.pops.int





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