About the POPRC     

The Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee (POPRC) is a subsidiary body to the Stockholm Convention established for reviewing chemicals proposed for listing in Annex A, Annex B, and/or Annex C. Article 8 of the Stockholm Convention entails the reviewing process of new chemicals and Annex D, Annex E and Annex F specify the information requires for the review.

The POPRC consists of 31 government-designated experts from Parties appointed by the Conference of the Parties. The members of the Committee are nominated for a term of 4 years that may be extended once. To ensure effective rotation of the membership, one half of the members of each region were nominated for an initial term of two years, and the remaining members of each region were nominated for an initial term of four years (see also Decision SC-1/8: Rules of procedure).

The POPRC reviews proposals submitted by Parties for listing new chemicals in accordance with Article 8 of the Convention. Please read the "Handbook for effective participation in the work of the Committee" for a detailed explanation on the review process. Below is an outline of the process:

1. Submission of proposal for listing a chemical

Any Party may submit a proposal to the Secretariat for listing a chemical in Annex A, Annex B, and/or Annex C of the Convention. The Secretariat verifies that the proposal contains information specified in Annex D and forwards it to the POPRC for consideration.

2. Screening phase

The POPRC examines the proposal and applies the screening criteria specified in Annex D.

3. Risk profile

If the POPRC is satisfied that the screening criteria have been fulfilled, it invites Parties and observers to submit information specified in Annex E and develops a risk profile.

Based on the risk profile, the POPRC makes decision on whether the chemical is likely, as a result of its long-range environmental transport, to lead to significant adverse human health and/or environmental effects such that global action is warranted.

4. Risk management evaluation

If the POPRC decides that the proposal shall proceed, it invites Parties and observers to submit information related to the socio-economic considerations specified in Annex F and develops a risk management evaluation.

On the basis of the risk profile and risk management evaluation, the POPRC recommends whether the chemical should be considered by the Conference of the Parties for listing in Annexes A, B and/or C.

5. Decision on listing of the chemical in Annex A, B, and/or C

The Conference of the Parties, taking due account of the recommendations of the POPRC, including any scientific uncertainty, shall decide, in a precautionary manner, whether to list the chemical, and specify its related control measures, in Annex A, Annex B and/or Annex C.