Time zones
Minimize

Equipment

  • Computer:
    • PC-based attendees Required: Windows(r) 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server 
    • Macintosh(r)-based attendees Required: Mac OS(r) X 10.4.11 (Tiger(r)) or newer 
  • Internet connection (avoid Wifi connection) 
  • Telephone 

Note - When you register for the webinar you will be given additional information regarding the system requirements and instructions on how to log in to participate the day of the webinar.

Webinar on alternatives to long chain PFCs

OECD

Co-organized with the OECD

Monday 18 April 2011
1 pm Geneva & Paris time
7 am Washington DC | 7 pm Beijing | 8 pm Tokyo time

Background

At the fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties of the Stockholm Convention, in May 2009, perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), its salts and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride (PFOS-F) were added to Annex B of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, resulting in the obligation for Parties to the Convention to restrict the production and use of these substances. This amendment to the Convention entered into force in August 2010.

Resolution II/5 of the International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM2) for the management of perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) and transition to safer alternatives invites governments, international organizations, and other stakeholders to consider the development, facilitation and promotion in an open, transparent and inclusive manner of national and international stewardship programmes and regulatory approaches to reduce emissions and the content of relevant perfluorinated chemicals of concern in products and to work toward global elimination, where appropriate and technically feasible. 

PFOS and its derivatives have been and continue to be used for a wide range of industrial applications. Replacing PFOS with other less hazardous chemicals in some of these applications is considered to be technically difficult but is essential for eventually eliminating the use of PFOS. To assist Parties and other stakeholders with the convention obligations regarding PFOS, the POPs Review Committee, a scientific subsidiary body of the Stockholm Convention, has developed a guidance document on alternatives to PFOS and its derivatives. 

 The OECD’s PFC Steering Group and the Secretariat of the Stockholm Convention organise the webinar on alternatives to long chain PFCs to support efforts in eliminating these chemicals of concern.

Objectives

  • To provide updates on activities related to alternatives to long chain PFCs, 
  • To introduce the guidance on alternatives to PFOS and its derivatives developed by the Stockholm Convention’s POPs Review Committee, 
  • To share country experience in managing PFCs, and 
  • To discuss the ideas to address the challenges in sharing information and experience.

Agenda

  • Opening (Stockholm Secretariat/OECD) – 2 minutes 
  • Presentations 
    • Introduction to PFC related work at OECD (Mr. Peter Börkey/OECD) – 5 min 
    • Introduction on PFOS under the Stockholm Convention (Ms. Melisa Lim/Stockholm Convention Secretariat) – 8 min 
    • Guidance on alternatives to PFOS related substances developed by the POPs Review Committee (Prof. Samuel Banda/Committee member) – 8 min 
    • Input from industry on alternatives to PFCs (Mr. Richard Holt/FluoroCouncil) – 8 min 
    • USA’s efforts on alternatives to PFCs (Mr. Toni Krasnic/US EPA) – 8 min 
    • Japan’s efforts on management of PFCs (Mr. Tadahiro Ikemoto/MOE Japan) – 8 min 
  • Questions/Answer – 10 min

Date and time

Monday 18 April 2011 

7 am Washington DC time | 1 pm Geneva and Paris time | 7 pm Beijing time | 8 pm Tokyo time

Participants are requested to log in about 15 to 20 minutes before the webinar starts in order to download the presentations and any other software requirements, such as JavaScript. Access to the webinar is possible once the software is installed.

Registering for the webinar

To register for the PFCs Webinar you will need a computer with internet access and a phone. 

Please use the following link to register: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/349155232

For international participants, the access numbers are listed on page 3 of the information note (PDF document). 

Participants with limited access to international numbers or in need of assistance, should register for the webinar and send an e-mail to Ana Corado (corado.ana@epa.gov) to request assistance with the conference call.

Information note

Information note     

See also the OECD PFC Web Portal