POPs Convention Review Committee 18th meeting recommends adding Dechlorane Plus and UV-328 to Annex A 
The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (“POPs Convention” or “the Convention”) published, in a press release dated October 6, 2022, the results of the 18th meeting of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee (POPRC, the 18th meeting will be referred to as “POPRC-18”) held in Rome, Italy, from September 26 to 30, 2022. At the POPRC-18, the POPRC resolved to recommend the Conference of the Parties listing Dechlorane Plus and its syn- and anti-isomers (additive-type chlorine-based flame retardants; hereinafter “Dechlorane Plus”) and UV-328 (benzotriazole-type UV absorbers) to Annex A (Elimination), including providing time-limited specific exemptions. In response to this, Dechlorane Plus and UV-328 are to be considered for inclusion in Annex A at the 11th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention (COP), which will be held from May 1 to 12, 2023. For the time-limited specific exemptions, you can find further details at the following related article: POPs Convention Review Committee 18th meeting discusses listing Dechlorane Plus and UV-328 to Annex A
At the POPRC-18, the risk profiles for long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids, their salts and related compounds (LCPFCAs), and medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (additive-type chlorinated flame retardants / MCCPs) were also adopted. The POPRC will therefore discuss draft Risk Management Evaluations for LCPFCAs and MCCPs at its next 19th meeting to be held from October 9 to 13, 2023.
The POPRC meets on an annual basis and makes recommendations on chemical substances covered by the Convention to the COP through three steps shown in the table below. The table also shows chemical substances currently scheduled to be reviewed at each step of the 19th meeting.
| Step | Review content | Chemicals to be reviewed at the 19th meeting |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The suitability of the screening criteria specified in Annex D (Information Requirements and Screening Criteria). | Currently no chemicals proposed by parties. |
| 2 | Consideration of draft risk profiles as specified in Annex E (Information Requirements for The Risk Profile). | Chlorpyrifos (CAS No: 2921-88-2 / proposed by European Union) |
| 3 | Discussion of draft Risk Management Evaluations. |
|
At the POPRC-18, the POPRC also discussed the specific exemptions, which will expire in 2023, for decabromodiphenyl ether and short-chain chlorinate paraffins already listed in Annex A of the Convention, and recommended that such exemptions should be continued.
Related URL
POPRC-18 concludes with recommendations to list Dechlorane Plus and UV-328, and news of Italy becoming a Party to the Stockholm Convention
http://www.pops.int/Implementation/PublicAwareness/PressReleases/POPRC18PressRelease/tabid/9318/Default.aspx
