Note by the Secretariat

The annex to the present note contains a scenario note developed by the Chair of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee, Mr. Reiner Arndt (Germany), to assist participants in preparing for the fourth meeting of the Committee.

Anne

Note by the secretariat

A tentative schedule for the work of the fourth meeting of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee is contained in the annex to the present note. The schedule will be adapted as work progresses.

*  UNEP/POPS/POPRC.4/1

Note by the Secretariat

Paragraph (b) of Annex E of the Stockholm Convention lists a “hazard assessment for the endpoint or endpoints of concern, including a consideration of toxicological interactions involving multiple chemicals” as an element of the risk profiles to be prepared by the Committee.

At its third meeting, the Committee took note of the considerable discussion on risk profiles and toxic effects and requested the Secretariat to make arrangements to further the discussion on the subject of toxicant interactions, and in particular, to arrange for a presentation to be made during its fourth meeting.

Note by the Secretariat

1.  The annex to the present note contains a draft version of a handbook for effective participation in the work of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee. The draft was prepared by Mr. Mario Yarto (Mexico) and Mr. Bo Wahlström (Sweden) and reviewed during the intersessional period by the ad hoc intersessional working group on effective participation established by the Committee at its third meeting. 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.

2.  After development of the draft handbook, three regional workshops were held to test its usefulness, to collect feedback and to provide for face-to-face sharing of experiences between past and present members of the Committee, focal points and key stakeholders.

Note by the Secretariat

As part of the activities to support effective participation of Parties in the work of the Committee (UNEP/POPS/POPRC.3/20, para.109), the Secretariat convened regional workshops during the intersessional period between the third and the fourth meetings of the Committee in Uruguay for the Latin American and Caribbean region, in Thailand for the Asia-Pacific region and in Burundi for the African region. The objectives of the workshop were to present and test the handbook prepared by the intersessional working group (UNEP/POPS/POPRC.3/20, para.112) and to assess the problems encountered by countries in relation to the work of the Committee. Annex I to the present note contains a combined report on the outcomes of the workshops for effective participation of Parties in the work of the Committee. The agenda of the workshops, lists of their participants, and detailed reports on their work are contained respectively in annexes II, III and IV to the present note. All the annexes are submitted for the information of the Review Committee without formal editin

Annex

Note by the Secretariat

The draft risk management evaluation on octabromodiphenyl ether prepared during the intersessional period by the working group established by the Committee for this purpose is set out in document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.4/6. The annex to the present note contains a table listing the comments received in accordance with the standard workplan for the preparation of a draft risk management evaluation and responses to those comments by the working group. The table is being reproduced as submitted by the working group and has not been formally edited

Anne

Note by the Secretariat

The draft risk management evaluation on pentachlorobenzene prepared during the intersessional period by the working group established by the Committee for this purpose is set out in document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.4/7. The annex to the present note contains a table listing the comments received in accordance with the standard workplan for the preparation of a draft risk management evaluation and responses to those comments by the working group. The annex is reproduced as submitted by the working group and has not been formally edited

Anne

Note by the Secretariat

The draft risk management evaluations on alpha and beta hexachlorocyclohexane prepared during the intersessional period by the working group established by the Committee for this purpose are set out in documents UNEP/POPS/POPRC.4/8 and UNEP/POPS/POPRC.4/9, respectively. The annex to the present note contains a table listing the comments received in accordance with the standard workplan for the preparation of a draft risk management evaluation and responses to those comments by the working group. The annex has been reproduced as submitted by the working group and has not been formally edited

Anne

Note by the Secretariat

The draft risk profile on short-chained chlorinated paraffins prepared during the intersessional period by the working group established by the Committee for that purpose is set out in document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.4/10. The annex to the present note contains a table listing the comments received in accordance with the standard workplan for the preparation of a draft risk profile and responses thereto by the working group. The annex is reproduced as submitted and has not been formally edited

Anne

Note by the Secretariat

A draft risk management evaluation on commercial octabromodiphenyl ether (UNEP/POPS/POPRC.4/6) was prepared during the intersessional period by the working group established by the Committee for that purpose. Annex I to the present note contains additional information related to that risk management evaluation, while annex II contains additional information submitted by the International POPs Elimination Network on debromination and alternatives to commercial decabromodiphenyl ether. The annexes are presented as received and have not been formally edited by the Secretariat

Note by the Secretariat

The annex to the present note contains a discussion paper prepared by a consultant with funding from Germany. The paper provides a detailed analysis of the basis for conclusions of the first 10 risk profiles prepared by the Committee and makes recommendations for consideration by the Committee. The paper is being circulated as submitted and has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

1.  At its second and third meetings, the Committee reviewed the risk profile and risk management evaluation respectively for commercial pentabromodiphenyl ether. It decided to recommend that the Conference of the Parties consider listing in Annex A of the Stockholm Convention 2,2',4,4'tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47, CAS No. 40088-47-9) and 2,2',4,4',5-pentabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-99, CAS No. 32534-81-9) and other tetra- and pentabromodiphenyl ethers present in commercial pentabromodiphenyl ether, using BDE-47 and BDE-99 as markers for enforcement purposes.

2.  The Committee also agreed that an information document would be prepared to assist the Conference of the Parties in its deliberations on how best to list commercial pentabromodiphenyl ether in the annexes of the Convention

Note by the Secretariat

At its third meeting, the Committee suggested that the risk management evaluation of pentabromodiphenyl ether should include guidance on alternatives and Ms. Liselott Säll (Norway) and Mr. Bo Wahlström (Sweden) offered to make an initial effort to prepare guidance for commercial pentabromodiphenyl ether.

Accordingly, the Secretariat entrusted Ms. Säll and Mr. Wahlström with the preparation of the document providing guidance on flameretardant alternatives to pentabromodiphenyl ether (PentaBDE). The document is contained in the annex to the present note as submitted and has not been formally edited by the Secretariat

Note by the Secretariat

1.  The annex to the present note contains a detailed dossier prepared by the European Community and its member States that are Parties to the Stockholm Convention in support of a proposal from the same source for listing endosulfan in Annexes A, B or C of the Convention pursuant to paragraph 1 of Article 8 of the Convention (UNEP/POPS/POPRC.4/14). The annex is being circulated as submitted and has not been formally edited

2.  At the third meeting of the Committee, the European Community and its member States that are Parties to the Convention submitted a proposal to list endosulfan in Annexes A, B or C of the Convention (UNEP/POPS/POPRC.3/5). The Committee agreed to defer consideration of the proposal to its fourth meeting pending receipt of additional information

Note by the Secretariat

The annex to the present note contains the information specified in Annex D prepared by the Nordic countries in support of a proposal submitted by Norway for listing hexabromocyclododecane in Annex A to the Convention pursuant to paragraph 1 of Article 8 of the Convention (UNEP/POPS/POPRC.4/11). The annex is being circulated as submitted and has not been formally edited

Anne

Note by the Secretariat

The Secretariat shall verify whether the proposal contains the information specified in Annex D. If the Secretariat is satisfied that the proposal contains the information so specified, it shall forward the proposal to the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee

The process by which the Secretariat verifies whether a proposal contains the information specified in Annex D of the Convention is described in document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.1/INF/4. It is important to keep in mind that the verification process is not an evaluation of the rigour or strength of the scientific information provided

Note by the Secretariat

At its third meeting, the Committee proposed elements of a risk reduction strategy for perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in its risk management evaluation as set out in annex I to the present note. The Committee invited Parties and observers to provide additional information on production and use which the Committee will consider for inclusion as an annex to the PFOS risk management evaluation, which has already been adopted. Annex II to the present note contains the information submitted in response to that invitation. The information is being circulated as received and has not been formally edited

Annex

Note by the Secretariat

By its decision SC-1/7, the Conference of the Parties decided to establish the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee and adopted its terms of reference. Those terms of reference provide that the members of the Committee shall be appointed by the Conference of the Parties and shall consist of 31 governmentdesignated experts in chemicals assessment and management from Parties

In accordance with the terms of reference of the Committee, the Conference of the Parties by decision SC-3/9 invited 14 Parties to designate new members of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee to replace the outgoing members. The names of the experts designated by the 14 Parties are listed in the note by the Secretariat on designated members of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee (UNEP/POPS/POPRC.3/INF/4). In addition, new members have been nominated by the Governments of Brazil, Fiji and Jordan to replace the previous members from those countries. If confirmed, their terms of office will commence on 5 May 2008.

Note by the Secretariat

At its third meeting, the Committee noted information gaps in the risk profile regarding the environmental burden caused by intentional use and unintentional releases of pentachlorobenzene. The Committee invited Parties and observers to submit information to fill the gaps in relation to the assessment of unintentional sources and releases. The annex to the present note contains a compilation of information submitted by Parties and observers in response to this invitation during the intersessional period between the third and fourth meetings of the Committee. A summary of information on unintentional releases of pentachlorobenzene can be found in document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.4/12. All submissions may be downloaded from the Convention’s website (http://www.pops.int)

Note by the Secretariat

An updated draft risk profile on short-chained chlorinated paraffins (UNEP/POPS/POPRC.4/10) was prepared during the intersessional period by the working group established by the Committee for that purpose. Annex I to the present note contains information on considerations on substance identity and annex II contains an updated supporting document for short-chained chlorinated paraffins. These annexes are presented as prepared by the working group and have not been formally edited by the Secretariat.

Note by the Secretariat

The draft handbook for effective participation in the work of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee prepared during the intersessional period by the working group established by the Committee for this purpose is set out in document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.4/INF/4. The annex to the present note contains a table listing the comments received during the intersessional period between the third and fourth meetings of the Committee and the regional workshops held in Uruguay (3–5 August 2008), Thailand (3–5 September 2008) and Burundi (22–26 September 2008). The annex is submitted as prepared by the working group and has not been formally edited

Document title

Designated members of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee

LIST OF PARTICIPANTS