Geneva, 4–8 May 2009
1. Opening of the meeting
2. Organizational matters
Item 1: Opening of the meeting
The fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants will be held from 4 to 8 May 2009 at the Geneva International Conference Centre, 15 rue de Varembé, Geneva. The meeting will be opened at 10 a.m. on Monday, 4 May 2009
The President elected at the third meeting of the Conference of the Parties, Mr. Thierno Lo (Senegal) was replaced by Mr. Djibo Leïty Kâ. Mr. Kâ will preside until the Conference of the Parties has elected a new President
Note by the Secretariat
Paragraphs 2 and 3 of rule 22 of the rules of procedure for the Conference of the Parties, adopted by the Conference at its first meeting in its decision SC 1/1, state as follows regarding the election of officers of the Conference
Rule 22
At its first meeting, the Conference of the Parties adopted, in decision SC-1/1, the rules of procedure for the Conference as contained in the annex to that decision, with the exception of the second sentence of paragraph 1 of rule 45, which it agreed to maintain in square brackets to indicate that it had not been agreed and was of no effect
Paragraph 1 of rule 45 reads as follows
Paragraph 6 of part II of Annex II of the Stockholm Convention states that commencing at its first meeting and at least every three years thereafter the Conference of the Parties shall, in consultation with the World Health Organization, evaluate the continued need for DDT for disease vector control on the basis of available scientific, technical, environmental and economic information. The Conference of the Parties now has ordinary meetings every two years. In the light of that fact the Conference of the Parties provided in paragraph 2 of the revised process for DDT reporting, assessment and evaluation contained in annex I to decision SC-3/2 that the evaluation of the continued need for DDT for disease vector control would be undertaken at each ordinary meeting
At its third meeting, the Conference of the Parties concluded in paragraph 2 of decision SC-3/2 that countries that were currently using DDT for disease vector control might need to continue such use until locally appropriate and cost-effective alternatives were available for sustainable transition away from DDT
As referred to in paragraph 9 of document UNEP/POPS/COP.4/4, the report of the expert group on the assessment of the production and use of DDT and its alternatives for disease vector control is set out in the annex to the present note. The report is presented without formal editing
Anne
Executive Summary
The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) is a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from toxic chemicals that remain intact in the environment for long periods, become widely distributed geographically and accumulate in the fatty tissue of humans and wildlife. DDT (Dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane) is one of the twelve chemicals listed under the Stockholm Convention and continues to be the most produced and used. The Conference of the Parties of the Stockholm Convention (COP) allows the use of DDT for public health interventions for disease vector control as recommended by and under the guidance of the World Health Organization (WHO). Some reliance on DDT will most likely continue until locally appropriate and cost-effective alternatives are available for a sustainable transition
As referred to in paragraph 14 of document UNEP/POPS/COP.4/4, the annex to the present note contains a draft business plan for promoting a global partnership on the development and deployment of alternative products, methods and strategies to DDT for disease vector control. The draft plan is reproduced as submitted and has not been formally edited
Article 4 of the Stockholm Convention establishes a register for the purpose of identifying the Parties that have specific exemptions listed in Annex A or Annex B of the Convention.
Paragraph 3 of Article 4 states that any State upon becoming a Party may, by means of notification in writing to the Secretariat, register for one or more types of specific exemption listed in Annex A or Annex B of the Convention. As indicated in paragraph 1 of Article 4, the Register of Specific Exemptions is to be maintained by the Secretariat and made available to the public. The Register is publicly available on the official Convention website (www.pops.int)
Corrigendum
Paragraph 12
“The Conference of the Parties shall, at its third meeting, evaluate the continued need for the procedure contained in paragraph 2 (b) of Article 3, including consideration of its effectiveness.
In its decision SC-3/4, the Conference of the Parties
I. Background
1. According to paragraph 2 (b) of Article 20 of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, one of the functions of the Secretariat is “to facilitate assistance to the Parties, particularly developing country Parties and Parties with economies in transition, on request, in the implementation of this Convention”.
Subparagraphs (d) and (e) of Article 5 of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants include the provision that
When applying best available techniques and best environmental practices, Parties should take into consideration the general guidance on prevention and release reduction measures in Annex C [of the Convention] and guidelines on best available techniques and best environmental practices to be adopted by decision of the Conference of the Parties
In its decision SC-2/5, the Conference of the Parties, among other things, welcomed the second edition of the Standardized Toolkit for Identification and Quantification of Dioxin and Furan Releases and noted the requests from Parties and others to verify emission factors and address gaps and other issues to improve the usefulness of the Toolkit, including training in the use of the Toolkit. The Secretariat was requested to initiate an open, transparent process, in cooperation with the Chemicals Branch of the United Nations Environment Programme’s Division of Technology, Industry and Economics (UNEP Chemicals) and in consultation with users and specialized experts in the field of emission factors and measurements related to releases of Annex C persistent organic pollutants, to develop the Toolkit further
In its decision SC-3/6, the Conference of the Parties, among other things, took note of the Toolkit Expert Roster, adopted the process for the ongoing review and updating of the Toolkit, as set forth in the annex to that decision, and requested the Secretariat to implement the process and report on progress made to the Conference of the Parties at its fourth meeting. The Secretariat was further requested to place adequate emphasis on the key sources for which limited monitoring data were available, including sources of hexachlorobenzene and polychlorinated biphenyls, and to support developing countries in their efforts to verify further their emission factors
Introductio
At its third meeting the Conference of the Parties, in paragraph 4 of decision SC-3/8, invited Parties to provide to the Secretariat an indication of their main priorities in implementing their national implementation plans for the period 2007–2015.
The Secretariat has received submissions in response to the above invitation from Algeria, Austria, Côte d’Ivoire, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Lithuania, New Zealand, Madagascar, Mali, Mexico, Monaco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Romania, Slovakia, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago and Ukraine. A compilation of the submissions received is set out in document UNEP/POPS/COP.4/INF/10
Transmission of national implementation plans
Paragraph 1 (a) of Article 7 of the Stockholm Convention requires each Party to “develop and endeavour to implement a plan for the implementation of its obligations under [the] Convention”. Paragraph 1 (b) of the Article states that each Party shall “transmit its implementation plan to the Conference of the Parties within two years of the date on which [the] Convention enters into force for it”
In its decision SC-3/1 on financing and budget arrangements for the biennium 2008–2009, the Conference of the Parties requested
The Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to expedite the recruitment process for all approved staff posts in the Secretariat that were currently vacant
The Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee held its third and fourth meetings in Geneva from 19 to 23 November 2007 and 13 to 17 October 2008, respectively. The meeting reports are contained in documents UNEP/POPS/POPRC.3/20 and UNEP/POPS/POPRC.4/15, respectively
The report by the Chair of the Committee, Mr. Reiner Arndt (Germany), contained in annex I to the present note, highlights major outcomes and issues raised at the third and the fourth meetings of the Committee.
As referred to in paragraph 4 of document UNEP/POPS/COP.4/16, the recommendations of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee of the Stockholm Convention for listing chemicals in Annexes A, B or C of the Convention are provided in the present note
The Committee decided at its third and fourth meetings to recommend the listing of nine chemicals in Annexes A, B or C of the Convention and to submit these recommendations to the Conference of the Parties for its consideration in accordance with paragraph 9 of Article 8 of the Convention
1. On 29 October 2008, the Secretariat communicated the proposed amendments by Parties to list chemicals in Annex A, B or C of the Convention recommended by the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee at its third and fourth meetings for listing in those annexes. The chemicals recommended for listing and the relevant annexes are
(a) Alpha hexachlorocyclohexane in Annex A
Paragraph 4 of Article 9 of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants states that the Secretariat shall serve as a clearing-house mechanism for information on persistent organic pollutants, including information provided by Parties, intergovernmental organizations and non governmental organizations.
The concept of a clearing-house mechanism for the exchange of information on persistent organic pollutants was discussed by the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for an International Legally Binding Instrument for Implementing International Action on Certain Persistent Organic Pollutants at its third, fourth, sixth and seventh sessions, on the basis of documents UNEP/POPS/INC.3/INF/5, UNEP/POPS/INC.4/INF/4, UNEP/POPS/INC.6/INF/7 and UNEP/POPS/INC.7/12.
Article 9 of the Stockholm Convention states that each Party shall facilitate or undertake the exchange of information on the reduction or elimination of the production, use and release of persistent organic pollutants and on alternatives to persistent organic pollutants, including information relating to their risks and their economic and social costs
Paragraph 2 of Article 9 states that the Parties shall exchange the information referred to in the first paragraph of that article either directly or through the Secretariat. Paragraph 4 states that the Secretariat shall serve as a clearing-house mechanism for information on persistent organic pollutants, including information provided by Parties, intergovernmental organizations and non governmental organizations.
Technical assistance to be provided by developed country Parties, and other Parties in accordance with their capabilities, shall include, as appropriate and as mutually agreed technical assistance for capacity-building relating to implementation of the obligations under this Convention. Further guidance in this regard shall be provided by the Conference of the Parties
At its first meeting, the Conference of the Parties adopted the guidance on technical assistance and transfer of environmentally sound technologies set forth in the annex to decision SC-1/15 and requested the Secretariat to report on progress in the application of the guidance on technical assistance at each meeting of the Conference of the Parties.
Paragraph 4 of Article 12 of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants reads as follows
The Parties shall establish, as appropriate, arrangements for the purpose of providing technical assistance and promoting the transfer of technology to developing country Parties and Parties with economies in transition relating to the implementation of this Convention. These arrangements shall include regional and subregional centres for capacitybuilding and transfer of technology to assist developing country Parties and Parties with economies in transition to fulfil their obligations under this Convention. Further guidance in this regard shall be provided by the Conference of the Parties
The Parties shall establish, as appropriate, arrangements for the purpose of providing technical assistance and promoting the transfer of technology to developing country Parties and Parties with economies in transition relating to the implementation of this Convention. These arrangements shall include regional and subregional centres for capacity-building and transfer of technology to assist developing country Parties and Parties with economies in transition to fulfil their obligations under this Convention. Further guidance in this regard shall be provided by the Conference of the Parties
Paragraph 6 of Article 13 of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants establishes a financial mechanism for the provision of adequate and sustainable financial resources to developing country Parties and Parties with economies in transition on a grant or concessional basis to assist in their implementation of the Convention. The mechanism is to function under the authority, as appropriate, and guidance of, and be accountable to the Conference of the Parties for the purposes of the Convention.
Paragraph 7 of Article 13 of the Convention states, in pertinent part
As referred to in paragraph 6 of document UNEP/POPS/COP.4/24, set out in the annex to the present note is the report of the Global Environment Facility to the fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties of the Stockholm Convention. The report has been reproduced without formal editing by the Secretariat
Paragraph 2 of Article 13 of the Stockholm Convention states that:
The developed country Parties shall provide new and additional financial resources to enable developing country Parties and Parties with economies in transition to meet the agreed full incremental costs of implementing measures which fulfil their obligations under [the] Convention as agreed between a recipient Party and an entity participating in the mechanism described in paragraph 6. Other Parties may also on a voluntary basis and in accordance with their capabilities provide such financial resources. Contributions from other sources should also be encouraged. The implementation of these commitments shall take into account the need for adequacy, predictability, and the timely flow of funds and the importance of burden sharing among the contributing Parties
1. Paragraph 6 of Article 13 of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants establishes a financial mechanism for the provision of adequate and sustainable financial resources to developing countries Parties and Parties with economies in transition on a grant or concessional basis to assist in their implementation of the Convention. The mechanism is to function under the authority, as appropriate, and guidance of, and be accountable to the Conference of the Parties for the purposes of the Convention. Paragraph 7 of Article 13 states, among other things: [T]he Conference of the Parties shall at its first meeting adopt appropriate guidance to be provided to the mechanism and shall agree with the entity or entities participating in the financial mechanism upon arrangements to give effect thereto. The guidance shall address inter alia:
Paragraph 8 of Article 13 reads as follows
Paragraph 1 of Article 15 of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants requires each Party to report to the Conference of the Parties on the measures that it has taken to implement the provisions of the Convention and on the effectiveness of such measures in meeting the objectives of the Convention. Paragraphs 2 and 3 of the Article set out the information to be reported and stipulate that reporting must be carried out at periodic intervals and in a format to be decided by the Conference of the Parties at its first meeting
By its decision SC-1/22, the Conference of the Parties decided that each Party should submit its first report required by Article 15 by 31 December 2006 for consideration by the Conference of the Parties at its third meeting. By that decision the Conference of the Parties also adopted the format for reporting pursuant to Article 15 that is set out in the annex to the decision.
Article 16 of the Stockholm Convention requires the Conference of the Parties to evaluate the effectiveness of the Convention commencing four years after its date of entry into force and regularly thereafter. The evaluation is to be based on available scientific, environmental, technical and economic information, including monitoring reports on the levels of persistent organic pollutants in the environment
At its second meeting, the Conference of the Parties adopted decision SC-2/13 on effectiveness evaluation, in which it, among other things:
Article 16 of the Stockholm Convention requires the Conference of the Parties to evaluate the effectiveness of the Convention commencing four years after its date of entry into force and regularly thereafter. The evaluation is to be based on available scientific, environmental, technical and economic information, including monitoring reports on the levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in environment
At its second meeting, the Conference of the Parties adopted decision SC-2/13 on effectiveness evaluation, in which it, among other things, decided to implement the elements for a global monitoring plan as proposed in the annex to that decision and to review at its fourth meeting the arrangements, including the global monitoring plan, used for providing the Conference of the Parties with the information for effectiveness evaluation as implemented for the first report
The Ad Hoc Joint Working Group on Enhancing Cooperation and Coordination among the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions was established pursuant to decision SC-2/15 of the Conference of the Parties of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, decision RC 3/8 of the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade and decision VIII/8 of the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal.
The mandate of the Joint Working Group was to prepare joint recommendations on enhanced cooperation and coordination among the three conventions at the administrative and programmatic levels for the consideration of the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention at its ninth meeting and the conferences of the Parties to the Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions at their fourth meetings.
At its third meeting, the Conference of the Parties adopted decision SC-3/19 on effectiveness evaluation by which, among other things, the Conference of the Parties established regional organization groups and a coordination group with the mandates and terms of reference specified in the annex to the decision
In accordance with the terms of reference, the regional organization groups prepared the regional monitoring reports contained in document UNEP/POPS/COP-4/INF/19 and the coordination group prepared the global monitoring report that is set forth in annex to the present note.
Article 17 of the Stockholm Convention states
“The Conference of the Parties shall, as soon as practicable, develop and approve procedures and institutional mechanisms for determining non compliance with the provisions of this Convention and for the treatment of Parties found to be in non-compliance.
Except as otherwise noted or where apparent from the context, the present note describes activities undertaken by the Secretariat from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2008
The Secretariat’s functions are defined in paragraph 2 of Article 20 of the Stockholm Convention. For ease of reference, the Secretariat’s principal activities are described in the present note in terms of those functions. Documents mentioned herein are or soon will be available on the Convention website (www.pops.int).
Information on the provisions of the Stockholm Convention and the rules of procedure of its Conference of the Parties pertaining to official communications with Parties and communication with and representation of observers is provided in document UNEP/POPS/COP.2/26
Communication with Parties is accomplished through:
As discussed below, several paragraphs of the decisions on financing and budget adopted by the Conference of the Parties of the Stockholm Convention at its third meeting require consideration by the Conference of the Parties at its fourth meeting
In decision SC-3/1 on financing and budget for the biennium 2008–2009, the Conference of the Parties, among other things
Addendu
Annexes I–III to the present note contain the operational budget for the biennium 2010–2011 prepared according to three funding scenarios, as requested by the Conference of the Parties in decision SC-3/1. The three budget scenarios are detailed as follows
Opening of the meeting
1. The fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants was held at the Geneva International Conference Centre, Geneva, from 4 to 8 May 2009.
2. The meeting began at 10.15 a.m. on Monday, 4 May 2009, with opening statements by Mr. Donald Cooper, Executive Secretary of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants; Mr. Bakary Kante, Director, Division of Environmental Law and Conventions, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), who read a statement by Mr. Achim Steiner, Executive Director of UNEP; and Mr. Cheikh Ndiaye Sylla (Senegal), who replaced Mr. Djibo Leïty Kâ, as outgoing President of the Conference, who had replaced the President elected at the third meeting of the Conference, Mr. Thierno Lo (Senegal).
The annex to the present note contains a scenario note prepared by the Secretariat to assist participants in preparing for the fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants
As referred to in paragraph 15 of document UNEP/POPS/COP.4/4 and in document UNEP/POPS/COP.4/6, supporting information for the DDT business plan for promoting a global partnership on the development and deployment of alternative products, methods and strategies and related reference material are contained in the annexes to the present note. The annexes are as follows
Annex I on costing assumptions
As referred to in paragraph 9 of document UNEP/POPS/COP.4/7, the annex to the present note sets outs a communication from the Government of China in which it provides information on the specific exemptions that it has in accordance with Article 4, Annex A and Annex B of the Stockholm Convention. The communication is presented as received from the Government of China and has not been formally edited
The Government of Australia has provided information on its specific exemption in accordance with Article 4, Annex A and Annex B of the Stockholm Convention. The information, contained in the annex to the present note, has been reproduced as received without formal editing
The Conference of the Parties, in its decision SC-3/6, among other things, adopted the process for the ongoing review and updating of the Standardized Toolkit for Identification and Quantification of Dioxin and Furan Releases, as set out in the annex to that decision, and requested the Secretariat to implement the process and report on progress made to the Conference of the Parties at its fourth meeting. It further requested the Secretariat to place adequate emphasis on the key sources for which limited monitoring data were available, including sources of hexachlorobenzene and polychlorinated biphenyls, and to support developing countries in their efforts to verify further their emission factors
All experts nominated by Parties and others included in the Toolkit expert roster (Toolkit experts), were involved in the Toolkit review and updating process, at least by electronic means. Representatives selected from the roster were invited to participate in Toolkit expert meetings held annually. Such selection took into account the specific topics of the meetings, the expertise available and geographic distribution and balance between developed and developing countries. The meetings were open to observers
1. As referenced in document UNEP/POPS/COP.4/15 on the financial report and review of the staffing situation in the Secretariat, the annexes to the present note set forth updated information on expenditures and on contributions pledged or received as at 31 March 2009. The annexes are
(a) Annex I: updated staffing table
1. By paragraphs 2 and 3 of decision SC-3/5 on guidelines on best available techniques and provisional guidance on best environmental practices, the Conference of the Parties of the Stockholm Convention, among other things, adopted the revised draft guidelines on best available techniques and provisional guidance on best environmental practices contained in document UNEP/POPS/COP.3/INF/4 and invited Parties and others to provide to the Secretariat comments on their experience in implementing the guidelines and guidance. By paragraph 4 of that decision, the Conference of the Parties requested the Secretariat, within available resources, to collect information (e.g., make use of a questionnaire) on experiences gained in using the revised guidelines and guidance through field tests and other means and to compile the information provided and report to the Conference of the Parties at its fourth meeting in that regard
2. By its letter of 16 August 2007 and a follow-up questionnaire, the Secretariat invited Parties and observers to provide the information requested in paragraphs 3 and 4 of decision SC-3/5. In response, the Secretariat received submissions from the following Parties: Argentina, France (on behalf of the European Union), Lithuania, Monaco, Mozambique, New Zealand, Romania and Slovakia. Those submissions have been reproduced in annex I to the present note without formal editing
Overview
By its decision SC-3/9, the Conference of the Parties of the Stockholm Convention requested the Secretariat to undertake work to support and strengthen the capacity of Parties that were developing countries or countries with economies in transition to participate fully in the work of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee. The Committee took note of the request and established an intersessional working group chaired by Mr. Mario Yarto (Mexico) to deal with the implementation of the activities proposed by the Secretariat in document UNEP/POPS/COP.3/12. A key outcome of the work of the intersessional working group was the development of the guidance document, in the form of a handbook, for effective participation in the work of the Committee, contained in document UNEP/POPS/COP.4/INF/9.
To increase the involvement of all stakeholders around the world, the following five workshops were held to introduce the handbook and to promote the work of the Committee
1. As referred to in paragraphs 23 (a), 25 and 33 (m) of document UNEP/POPS/COP.4/16, the handbook for effective participation in the work of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee is set out in the annex to the present note.1 The draft was prepared by Mr. Mario Yarto (Mexico) and Mr. Bo Wahlström (Sweden) and reviewed during the intersessional periods by the ad hoc intersessional working group on effective participation established by the Committee at its third meeting. The draft handbook was posted on the website of the Stockholm Convention (www.pops.int) and Parties and observers were invited to provide comments and feedback thereon.
2. The purpose of the handbook is to enhance stakeholders’ understanding of the review process and to increase Parties’ capacity to identify and provide information pertaining to the risk profile and risk management of the chemicals under review.
Compilation of submissions received by the Secretariat on indications of main priorities in implementing national implementation plans for the period 2007–2015 under the Stockholm Convention
By paragraph 5 of its decision SC-1/12, the Conference of the Parties requested the Secretariat, in collaboration with other relevant organizations and subject to resource availability, to develop additional guidance on calculation of action plan costs, including incremental and total costs and action plans for specific persistent organic pollutants, to assist countries in the preparation of national implementation plans and in doing so to take into consideration the particular circumstances of developing countries and countries with economies in transition
By decision SC-3/8, the Conference of the Parties requested the Secretariat to complete the draft of the additional guidance called for in paragraph 5 of decision SC-1/12 for consideration by the Conference of the Parties at its fourth meeting, provided that the resources needed to do so were made available.
1. The Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee of the Stockholm Convention decided at its third and fourth meetings to recommend the listing of nine chemicals in Annexes A, B or C of the Convention and to submit these recommendations to the Conference of the Parties for its consideration in accordance with paragraph 9 of Article 8 of the Convention.
2. The Secretariat notified Parties on 30 October 2008 of the Committee’s recommendations and invited them to notify the Secretariat by 1 December 2008 of any relevant issue that they wished to raise pertaining to the recommendations at the fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties. As at 26 February 2009, the Secretariat had received responses from Algeria, China, Lithuania, Mauritius and Slovakia. The responses, reproduced in the annex to the present note, have not been formally edited.
A list of capacity-building workshops planned by the Secretariat from May to December 2009 is set out in the annex to the present note.
As referred to in document UNEP/POPS/COP.4/23, activity reports from the following nominated Stockholm Convention centres were submitted to the Secretariat: Basel Convention Coordinating Centre for Asia and the Pacific, Beijing, China; Research Centre in Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology (RECETOX), Brno, Czech Republic; Basel Convention Regional Centre for French speaking African countries, Dakar, Senegal; and the Regional Activity Centre for Cleaner Production, Barcelona, Spain. The reports are set out in annexes I to IV to the present note
Following the completion of document UNEP/POPS/COP.4/23, an activity report was received from a further Stockholm Convention centre, the National Centre for Environmental Research and Training (CENICA), Mexico City, Mexico. That report is set out in annex V to the present note
The text of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants was adopted at the meeting of the Conference of Plenipotentiaries on 22 May 2001 in Stockholm. In accordance with its Article 26, the Convention entered into force on 17 May 2004, on the ninetieth day after the date of deposit of the fiftieth instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession
According to paragraph 2 of Article 26 of the Convention, “for each State or regional economic integration organization that ratifies, accepts or approves this Convention or accedes thereto after the deposit of the fiftieth instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, the Convention shall enter into force on the ninetieth day after the date of deposit by such State or regional economic integration organization of its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession”
Compilation of submissions received by the Secretariat on relevant information required to undertake the assessment of funding needs called for in decision SC-3/15
As referred to in document UNEP/POPS/COP.4/28, set out in the annex to the present note is the draft report on the second review of the financial mechanism prepared by an independent evaluator, Dalberg Development Advisors. The draft report has been reproduced without formal editing
* UNEP/POPS/COP.4/1
The terms of reference for the second review of the financial mechanism set out in the annex to decision SC-3/17 state that the review shall draw on, among other things, the sources listed in paragraph 4 of the annex to that decision.
Paragraph 6 of the terms of reference encourages Parties to submit to the Secretariat relevant information on their experiences gained in undertaking activities funded by the financial mechanism, which may include their assessment of the mechanism using the performance criteria set out in the terms of reference, as soon as possible but not later than 30 September 2008.
By decision SC-3/19, the Conference of the Parties, among other things, established regional organization groups for each of the United Nations regions. In accordance with that decision, the groups prepared regional monitoring reports that served as a basis for the development of the global monitoring report set out in document UNEP/POPS/COP.4/33
Summaries of the regional reports were included in that document and the full reports, given their length (approximately 200 pages each), are also available on CD-ROM from the Secretariat upon request and at the Stockholm Convention website at: http://chm.pops.int/Programmes/GlobalMonitoringPlan/MonitoringReports/tabid/525/Default.asp
By decision SC-3/19 on effectiveness evaluation, the Conference of the Parties, among other things, adopted on a provisional basis the amended global monitoring plan for persistent organic pollutants1 and the amended implementation plan for the global monitoring plan for persistent organic pollutants for the first effectiveness evaluation.2 It also established regional organization groups and a coordination group with the mandates and terms of reference specified in the annex to that decision
The coordination group met in November 2008 in Geneva. The report of the meeting is set out in the annex to the present note. It has not been formally edited
The recommendation of the Ad Hoc Joint Working Group on Enhancing Cooperation and Coordination among the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Convention (“the Working Group”), invites the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme, in consultation with the Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization, in providing the secretariat functions of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, to establish, on an interim basis, through the Executive Secretaries of the three conventions, within the secretariats in Geneva
(a) A joint financial and administrative support service, taking into account relevant support services provided by the United Nations Environment Programme and the Food and Agriculture Organization (see paragraph jj)
1. The Ad Hoc Joint Working Group on Enhancing Cooperation and Coordination among the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, at its third meeting, requested the Executive Director of UNEP, in consultation with the Director-General of FAO, in providing the secretariat for the conventions, to prepare a proposal on financing coordinated extraordinary meetings of the Conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions.
2. In response to that request, it is proposed that the coordinated extraordinary meetings of the Conferences of the Parties
As referred to in paragraph 6 of document UNEP/POPS/COP.4/36, the list of non-governmental organizations that are currently seeking accreditation to meetings of the Conference of the Parties of the Stockholm Convention and that have pre-registered to participate as observers in the fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties are listed in the annex to the present note. The list has not been formally edited
The annex to the present note contains a guidance document on flame-retardant alternatives to commercial pentabromodiphenyl ether. The guidance document was developed between the third and fourth meetings of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee. At its fourth meeting, the Committee decided to establish an intersessional working group to develop the document further. The document has been revised by the working group and published on the Stockholm Convention website
A table indicating the deadline by which each Party to the Convention is to transmit its implementation plan pursuant to Article 7 of the Convention and the dates on which plans were received by the Secretariat is set out in the annex to the present note.
The Conference of the Parties of the Stockholm Convention, by its decision SC-3/8, took note of the guidance on social and economic assessment for the development of national implementation plans set out in document UNEP/POPS/COP.3/INF/8.
By the same decision the Conference of the Parties invited Parties and others to provide comments to the Secretariat, based on their experience in using it, on how to improve the usefulness of the guidance.
As referred to in document UNEP/POPS/COP.4/29, information contained in the 44 reports submitted by Parties pursuant to Article 15 of the Stockholm Convention is presented in the annex to the present note. The annex reproduces the questions that are set out in parts B and C of the reporting format adopted by the Conference of the Parties for use by Parties in reporting information in accordance with Article 15 on the steps that they have taken to implement the Convention and on their production, import and export of the substances in Annexes A and B of the Convention. Following each question a table provides, by region, information on the Parties’ responses to the question. The annex is presented without formal editing
Annex
As referred to in paragraph 13 of document UNEP/POPS/COP.4/4, set out in the annex to the present note is a report on the global status of DDT and its alternatives for use in vector control to prevent disease prepared for the Secretariat by Mr. Henk van den Berg (Wageningen University, Netherlands). The report is presented as received and has not been formally edited
The high-level segment, scheduled for Thursday, 7 May and Friday, 8 May, will focus on the theme: “Meeting the challenges of a POPs-free future”. A series of related panel discussions are planned for Thursday afternoon.
A description and further information on the theme of the high-level segment is set out in annex I to the present note, while a provisional programme of events for the high-level segment is set out in annex II.
The annex to the present note contains a memorandum from the Executive Secretary of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, Ms. Katharina Kummer Peiry, submitting decision IX/16 of the ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to that Convention on persistent organic pollutants. The memorandum has been reproduced without formal editing for consideration and possible action by the Conference of the Parties of the Stockholm Convention
By paragraphs 9 and 10 of decision SC-3/19, the Conference of the Parties requested the Secretariat, within available resources, to support training and capacity-building activities to assist countries in implementing the global monitoring plan for the effectiveness evaluation and to work with partners and other relevant organizations to undertake the implementation activities
As part of an agreement between the Secretariat of the Stockholm Convention and the World Health Organization that began on 17 December 2007, a human milk survey is being conducted jointly by the two organizations.
Item 2: Organizational matters
(a) Election of officers
UNEP/POPS/COP.4/2 Election of officers of the Conference of the Parties at its fourth meeting
(b)Adoption of the agenda
The annex to the present note contains information on assistance provided by the Chemicals Branch of the United Nations Environment Programme Division of Technology, Industry and Economics with regard to the Global Monitoring Plan in developing countries, setting out activities to support the implementation of Article 16 of the Stockholm Convention, on effectiveness evaluation. The text is being circulated as submitted without formal editing
Parties
Recalling the financial rules of the Conference of the Parties, its subsidiary bodies and the Convention Secretariat adopted in decision SC-1/3,
Recalling also decision SC-1/4 on financing and budget for the biennium 2006–2007, in particular paragraphs 20 and 23, decision SC-2/1 on amending the financing and budget for the biennium 2006–2007 and decision SC-3/1 on financing and budget for the biennium 2008–2009,
1. Takes note of the report of the expert group on the assessment of the production and use of DDT and its alternatives for disease vector control;
2. Concludes that countries that are currently using DDT for disease vector control may need to continue such use until locally appropriate and cost-effective alternatives are available for sustainable transition away from DDT;
1. Notes the cancellation of all specific exemptions that were recorded in the Register of Specific Exemptions for the persistent organic pollutant chemicals listed in Annexes A or B of the Convention at the time of its adoption;
2. Also notes that, with the exception of polychlorinated biphenyls, all current exemptions listed in Annex A and Annex B of the Convention will be unavailable to Parties after 17 May 2009;
1. Takes note of the report by the Secretariat on information to be taken into account in the evaluation of the continued need for the procedure under paragraph 2 (b) of Article 3 of the Convention;
Concludes that the information currently available on the experience of using the procedure under paragraph 2 (b) of Article 3 is insufficient as a basis for evaluating the continued need for the procedure;
1. Endorses the proposal by the Secretariat for the establishment of a polychlorinated biphenyls elimination network, as described in the annex to the note by the secretariat on the initiation of a cooperative framework to support Parties in their efforts to eliminate polychlorinated biphenyls through environmentally sound management and disposal, and urges Parties to become members of the partnership;
1. Takes note of the comments submitted by Parties and others on the guidelines on best available techniques and provisional guidance on best environmental practices;
1. Takes note of the progress report set out in the annex to the note by the Secretariat on the ongoing review and updating of the Standardized Toolkit for the Identification and Quantification of Dioxin and Furan Releases and of the reports of the Toolkit expert meetings contained in annexes I and II to the note by the Secretariat on those meetings;
1. Notes the development of an interactive electronic training tool by the Secretariat and the work being undertaken regionally to support Parties in implementing environmentally sound management of persistent organic pollutant wastes and polychlorinated biphenyls;
1. Welcomes the implementation plans transmitted by Parties pursuant to Article 7 of the Stockholm Convention;
2. Takes note of the deadline for transmission of each Party’s implementation plan;
Having considered the risk profile and risk management evaluation for alpha hexachlorocyclohexane as transmitted by the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee,
Taking note of the recommendation by the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee to list alpha hexachlorocyclohexane in Annex A of the Convention,
Having considered the risk profile and risk management evaluation for beta hexachlorocyclohexane transmitted by the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee,
Taking note of the recommendation by the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee to list beta hexachlorocyclohexane in Annex A of the Convention,
Having considered the risk profile and risk management evaluation for chlordecone transmitted by the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee,
Taking note of the recommendation by the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee to list chlordecone in Annex A of the Convention without specific exemptions,
Having considered the risk profile and risk management evaluation for hexabromobiphenyl transmitted by the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee,
Taking note of the recommendation by the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee to list hexabromobiphenyl in Annex A of the Convention without specific exemptions,
Having considered the risk profile and risk management evaluation for commercial octabromodiphenyl ether transmitted by the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee,
Taking note of the recommendation by the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee to list hexabromodiphenyl ether and heptabromodiphenyl ether in Annex A of the Convention,
Having considered the risk profile and risk management evaluation for lindane transmitted by the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee,
Taking note of the recommendation by the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee to list lindane in Annex A of the Convention,
Having considered the risk profile, addendum to the risk profile and risk management evaluation for pentachlorobenzene transmitted by the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee,
Taking note of the recommendation by the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee to list pentachlorobenzene in Annex A of the Convention without specific exemptions and in Annex C of the Convention,
Having considered the risk profile, risk management evaluation and addendum to the risk management evaluation for perfluorooctane sulfonate transmitted by the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee,
Taking note of the recommendation by the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee to list perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, its salts and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride in Annex A or Annex B of the Convention,
Having considered the risk profile and risk management evaluation for commercial pentabromodiphenyl ether transmitted by the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee,
Taking note of the recommendation by the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee to list tetrabromodiphenyl ether and pentabromodiphenyl ether in Annex A of the Convention,
Having amended the Stockholm Convention to list new chemicals in Annexes A or B of the Convention,
Taking note of the obligations of Parties, including among others the measures listed in Article 6 of the Convention to reduce or eliminate releases from stockpiles and wastes,
Welcomes the report of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee on its third and fourth meetings and the report of the Chair of the Committee;
1. Takes note of the information in those reports on developments in the Committee, including in respect of its procedures;
Takes note of the progress made in the implementation of the clearing-house mechanism and invites Parties and other stakeholders to continue their support for the Secretariat in its development;
2. Invites Parties and other stakeholders that are undertaking information exchange activities and projects pursuant to Article 9 of the Convention to use the strategic plan developed by the Secretariat and endorsed by the Conference of the Parties at its third meeting with the aim of guaranteeing compatibility between various activities and initiatives;
1. Takes note of the information contained in the note by the Secretariat on guidance on technical assistance;
2. Requests the Secretariat to continue to implement its technical assistance programme upon request while making full use of regional centres as an integral part of its work to facilitate technical assistance and the promotion of transfer of technology
1. Takes note of the report prepared by the Secretariat on how the nominated Stockholm Convention centres meet the criteria contained in decisions SC-1/15 and SC-2/9;
2. Welcomes the workplans and reports submitted by the nominated Stockholm Convention centres in accordance with decision SC-2/9;
Takes note of the report by the Secretariat on the assessment of funding needs of Parties that are developing countries or countries with economies in transition to implement the provisions of the Convention over the period 2010–2014;
2. Requests the Secretariat to transmit that report to the Global Environment Facility for consideration during the fifth replenishment process of the Global Environment Facility and action as appropriate;
Welcomes the report of the Global Environment Facility to the Conference of the Parties of the Stockholm Convention at its fourth meeting;
1. Welcomes the positive report on the second review of the financial mechanism, noting in particular the significant contribution of the Global Environment Facility of 360 million dollars for persistent organic pollutant projects since the Convention was adopted in 2001;
Reaffirms its decisions SC-1/9, SC-2/11 and SC-3/16;
2. Calls on developed countries, in the context of the fifth replenishment of the Global Environment Facility, being aware of the funding needs assessment and in the light of the current and possible future listing of new persistent organic pollutants, to make all efforts to make adequate financial resources available in accordance with their obligations under Article 13 of the Convention to enable developing country Parties and Parties with economies in transition to fulfil their obligations under the Convention;
Requests the Global Environment Facility to provide the necessary financial and technical assistance to developing country Parties and Parties with economies in transition in accordance with Articles 13 and 14 of the Convention, especially least developed countries and small island developing States, to help them to prepare or update their national implementation plans and to comply with the requirements of the Stockholm Convention;
Requests the Secretariat to seek the views of Parties and explore options for facilitating the work of the Conference of the Parties with regard to financial resources and mechanisms, including the option of a financial mechanism committee, and to prepare a report for consideration by the Conference of the Parties at its fifth meeting.
1. Welcomes the report based on information received pursuant to Article 15 of the Convention prepared by the Secretariat;
2. Decides that, in accordance with Article 15, each Party shall submit its second report pursuant to Article 15 to the Secretariat by 31 October 2010 for consideration by the Conference of the Parties at its fifth meeting;
1. Takes note of the report of the meeting of the coordination group and encourages Parties when implementing activities under the global monitoring plan to consider the recommendations put forward in the report of the co-chairs of the coordination group;
Having considered the note by the Secretariat on effectiveness evaluation,
Recognizing that the work required for each effectiveness evaluation is conducted in two stages,
Recalling Article 17 of the Stockholm Convention,
Mindful that the procedures and mechanisms called for under Article 17 will help address issues of non compliance, including by facilitating assistance and providing advice to Parties facing compliance issues,
Recalling decision SC-2/15 adopted by the Conference of the Parties of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants at its second meeting, decision RC-3/8 adopted by the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade at its third meeting and decision VIII/8 adopted by the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention
Urges Parties that have not already done so to nominate official contact points to perform administrative functions and handle all formal communication under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants for Parties;
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