Frequently Asked Questions on Legal Matters

Becoming a Party

Q. What is the process to become a Party to the Stockholm Convention?

Q. Can reservations be made to the Convention?

Amendments to the Stockholm Convention

Q. How many Parties are bound by the amendment adopted by the Conference of the Parties at its fifth meeting, and listing endosulfan and its related isomers in Annex A to the Convention (the ‘COP5 amendment’)? When does this amendment enter into force?

Q. How many Parties are bound by the amendments adopted by the Conference of the Parties at its fourth meeting, and listing 9 (nine) new POPs (the ‘COP4 amendments’)? When do these amendments enter into force?

Q. Has any Party notified that it is unable to accept the amendments?

Q. When do the amendments to Annexes A, B and C of the Convention introducing the 9 new POPs, as contained in decisions SC-4/10 to SC-4/18 and adopted by the Conference of the Parties at its fourth meeting in 2009, enter into force?

Q. What is the legal status of the 9 new POPs prior to the entry into force of the amendments?

Exemptions

Q. How and when do Parties have to submit notifications for specific exemptions for the newly listed POPs?

Q. As a result of the amendments to Annex A, B and C of the Convention, when do the new corresponding specific exemptions enter into force?

National Legislation / Regulation

Q. Should a Party work on legislating/regulating a POP chemical even if it is not producing/using it?

Secretariat of the Stockholm Convention - UNEP
11-13, Chemin des Anémones - 1219 Châtelaine, Switzerland
Tel.: +41 (0)22 917 8729 - Fax: +41 (0)22 917 8098

Secretariat of the Stockholm Convention
11-13, Chemin des Anémones - 1219 Châtelaine, Switzerland
Tel.: +41 (0)22 917 8218 - Fax: +41 (0)22 797 3454

Secretariat of the Stockholm Convention - FAO
Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00153 Rome, Italy
Tel.: +39 06 5705 2188 - Fax: +39 06 5705 3057

Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions
11-13, Chemin des Anémones - 1219 Châtelaine, Switzerland
Tel.: +41 (0)22 917 8729 - Fax: +41 (0)22 917 8098

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