Results of 16th meeting of Stockholm Convention’s Review Committee 
The Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee (POPRC) of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (hereinafter “the Convention”) held its 16th meeting (POPRC16) from January 11 to January 16, 2021 and announced the outcomes of the meeting. At POPRC16, new deliberations were held on Dechlorane Plus and its syn- and anti-isomers, Methoxychlor, and UV-328, as well as on measures to support elimination in the Parties of decabromodiphenyl ether, short-chain chlorinated paraffins, and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), all of which are already listed in Annex A (Elimination) to the Convention.
A summary of the final decisions on the three chemicals at POPRC16 is given in the table below.
| Chemicals | Proposing country | Final Decision (Summary) |
| Dechlorane Plus and its syn- and anti-isomers
Usage: Chlorinated flame retardants |
Norway | l Decided to differ the decision on the draft risk profile to the 17th meeting;
l Noted that the information on persistence, bioaccumulation and potential for long-range environmental transfer was conclusive, but could not reach agreement that the information on adverse effects was sufficient to reach a conclusion on the risk profile; l Decided to establish an intersessional working group to review and update the draft risk profile in accordance with Annex E (Requirements for Information on Risk Profiles); l Invited Parties and observers to submit additional information on adverse effects to the Secretariat by March 1, 2021. |
| Methoxychlor
Usage: pesticide |
European Union | l Adopted risk profile;
l Agreed that Methoxychlor is likely, as a result of its long-range environmental transport, to lead to significant adverse human health and environmental effects such that global action is warranted l Decided to establish an intersessional working group to prepare a risk management evaluation that includes an analysis of possible control measures for Methoxychlor in accordance with Annex F to the Convention (Information on Socio-economic Considerations); l Invited Parties and observers to submit the information specified in Annex F to the Secretariat by March 1, 2021. |
| UV-328
Usage. UV absorber |
Switzerland | l Decided that UV-328 fulfilled the screening criteria as set forth in Annex D;
l Decided to establish an ad hoc intersessional working group to further review the proposal and prepare a draft risk profile in accordance with Annex E; l Invited the Parties and observers to submit to the Secretariat the information specified in Annex E by March 1, 2021. |
A summary of the final decisions of the deliberations in support of the elimination in the Parties of decabromodiphenyl ether, short chain chlorinated paraffins, and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which are already listed in Annex A (elimination) to the POPs Convention is given in the table below.
| chemicals | Final Decision (Summary) |
| Decabromodiphenyl ether and short chain chlorinated paraffins | Completed the review of information on specific exemptions requested by Conference of the Parties (COP).
l Decided to submit reports on the review of information on the specific exemptions will be submitted to the COP for consideration at its 10th meeting; l Requested the Secretariat to prepare a draft decision reflecting the recommendations of the POPRC contained in the said report for consideration by the Parties at the tenth session of the Conference of the Parties. |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts and PFOA-related compounds | l Invited members, Parties and observers to submit comments on the revised draft indicative list of substances covered by the listing by February 28, 2021.
l Requested the Secretariat to prepare, by March 31, 2021, a further revised draft indicative list of substances covered by the listing, taking into consideration the comments submitted. l Invited members, Parties and observers to submit further comments on the revised draft indicative list by April 30, 2021. l Requested the Secretariat, in consultation with the Chair and the Vice-Chair of the POPRC, to update the indicative list of substances covered by the listing of PFOA, its salts, and PFOA-related compounds, taking into account the comments submitted, and to make it available on the Convention’s website prior to the 10th Meeting of the COP. |
The 17th meeting of the POPRC is tentatively scheduled to take place from September 27 to October 1, 2021.
[Related URL]
Sixteenth meeting of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee (POPRC.16)
http://chm.pops.int/TheConvention/POPsReviewCommittee/Meetings/POPRC16/Overview/tabid/8472/Default.aspx
