The Register of Specific Exemptions

Article 4 of the Convention provides for the establishment of a Register for the purpose of identifying the Parties that have specific exemptions listed in Annex A or Annex B.

Register of specific exemptions for the chemicals listed in the Annex A


Hexabromodiphenyl ether and heptabromodiphenyl ether
Party
Purpose(s) of use
Estimated quantity of annual use
Reason(s) for exemption
Duration of the exemption(s), if less than five years
Remarks
Canada In accordance with Part IV of Annex A (Decision SC-4/14) Not known at this time While manufacture, import and use of C-OctaBDE commercial mixtures are prohibited, some articles containing this commercial mixture could still be in use in Canada and some may be recycled. Not provided

 Paragraph 1(b) of Part IV does not apply to Canada as Canada has not set levels/concentrations on articles for permitted use, import or manufacture at this time.

Czech Republic

In accordance with Part IV of Annex A

        
European Union  In accordance with Part IV of Annex A  Unknown While the production, placing on the market and use of hexabromodiphenyl ethers and heptabromodiphenyl ethers are prohibited, some recycling articles containing these substances and produced before introduction of the ban cannot be excluded.    None
Iran Use Not known as yet Country data not yet established 5 years as of 26 August 2010 Country data not yet established
Japan Recycling Automobile Shredder Residues (ASR) to Refuse Paper and plastic Fuel (RPF).



Recycling ASR to Recycled Sound-Proofing Products (RSPP).

 

Recycling plastics from used specific home appliances (air conditioner, television sets, refrigerator, freezer, washing machine and clothes dryer) and personal computers to constriction material and daily necessities such as hangers and bookends.		 N/A Recycling of ASR is an obligation for automobile manufacturers and importers under the Law for the Recycling of End-of-Life Vehicles. It is necessary to enable recycling of ASR to maintain appropriate management system of End-of-Life Vehicles. Recycling of ASR is operated in environmentally sound manner under the law.

Recycling used specific home appliances is an obligation for home appliance manufacturers and importers under the Home Appliance Recycle law. It is necessary to enable recycling of plastics from used specific home appliances to maintain appropriate management system of the used specific home appliances and establish a sound material recycle society. Recycling of such plastics is operated in environmentally sound manner under the law.

Recycling used personal computers is an obligation for personal computer manufacturers and importers under the law for the Promotion of Effective Utilization of Resources. It is necessary to enable recycling of plastics from used computers to maintain appropriate management system of the used personal computers and establish a sound material recycle society. Recycling of such plastics is operated in environmentally sound manner under the law.
   It is difficult to estimate the quantity of annual use of the chemicals listed above, because of uncertainties and lack of information of their use to automobile parts and the specific home appliances in the past.

 

Approximately 500,000 tons of ASR which might contain the chemical listed above is recycled annually.



Approximately 128,000 tons of plastics from used specific hove appliances which might contain the chemicals listed above are recycled annually.



Approximately 5,892 tons of used personal computers are collected annually. On average, the weight of plastics which might contain the chemicals listed above is approximately 15% of total weight of personal computers.


Lindane (CAS No: 58-89-9)
Party
Purpose(s) of use
Estimated quantity of annual use
Reason(s) for exemption
Duration of the exemption(s), if less than five years
Remarks
Canada Human health pharmaceutical for control of heal lice and scabies as second line treatment   Minimal import and use in production of human health pharmaceuticals is occurring in Canada, however this use will be phased out by the end of the five-year exemption period. Not provided

 An administrative measure is in place that ensures that activity taking place during the exemption period complies with the Convention.  A Notice of Intent was also published in Canada Gazette, Part I, on September 11, 2010, in respect of export controls.
Sri Lanka Human health pharmaceutical (for Pediculosis and Scabies) 137 Kg     No alternative Specific exemptions are sought for the purposes given until suitable alternatives are made Use of lindane on head lice is restricted in Sri Lanka due to the possibility of developing resistance


Technical endosulfan (CAS No: 115-29-7) and its related isomers
(CAS No: 959-98-8 and CAS No: 33213-65-9)
Party
Purpose(s) of use
Estimated quantity of annual use
Reason(s) for exemption
Duration of the exemption(s), if less than five years
Remarks
Costa Rica Coffee - Berry borer 66 000 Kg A period of time is  required by this production sector to effect the change and register new substitutes. 2 years The estimated quantity of annual use refers to the national level, not per sector. 


Tetrabromodiphenyl ether and pentabromodiphenyl ether
Party
Purpose(s) of use
Estimated quantity of annual use
Reason(s) for exemption
Duration of the exemption(s), if less than five years
Remarks
Canada In accordance with Part V of Annex A (Decision SC-4/18) Not known at this time While manufacture, import and use of C-PentaBDE commercial mixtures are prohibited, some articles containing this commercial mixture could still be in use in Canada and some may be recycled. Not provided

 Paragraph 1(b) of Part IV does not apply to Canada as Canada has not set levels/concentrations on articles for permitted use, import or manufacture at this time.
Czech Republic In accordance with Part V of Annex A        
European Union  In accordance with Part V of Annex A  Unknown While the production, placing on the market and use of tetrabromodiphenyl ethers and pentabromodiphenyl ethers are prohibited, some recycling articles containing these substances and produced before introduction of the ban cannot be excluded.    None
Iran Use Not known as yet Country data not yet established 5 years as of 26 August 2010 Country data not yet established
Japan Recycling Automobile Shredder Residues (ASR) to Refuse Paper and plastic Fuel(RPF).



Recycling ASR to Recycled Sound-Proofing Products (RSPP).



Recycling plastics from used specific home appliances (air conditioner, television sets, refrigerator, freezer, washing machine and clothes dryer) and personal computers to constriction material and daily necessities such as hangers and bookends 		N/A Recycling of ASR is an obligation for automobile manufacturers and importers under the Law for the Recycling of End-of-Life Vehicles. It is necessary to enable recycling of ASR to maintain appropriate management system of End-of-Life Vehicles. Recycling of ASR is operated in environmentally sound manner under the law.

Recycling used specific home appliances is an obligation for home appliance manufacturers and importers under the Home Appliance Recycle law. It is necessary to enable recycling of plastics from used specific home appliances to maintain appropriate management system of the used specific home appliances and establish a sound material recycle society. Recycling of such plastics is operated in environmentally sound manner under the law.

Recycling used personal computers is an obligation for personal computer manufacturers and importers under the law for the Promotion of Effective Utilization of Resources. It is necessary to enable recycling of plastics from used computers to maintain appropriate management system of the used personal computers and establish a sound material recycle society. Recycling of such plastics is operated in environmentally sound manner under the law.
   It is difficult to estimate the quantity of annual use of the chemicals listed above, because of uncertainties and lack of information of their use to automobile parts and the specific home appliances in the past.



Approximately 500,000 tons of ASR which might contain the chemical listed above is recycled annually.



Approximately 128,000 tons of plastics from used specific hove appliances which might contain the chemicals listed above are recycled annually.



Approximately 5,892 tons of used personal computers are collected annually. On average, the weight of plastics which might contain the chemicals listed above is approximately 15% of total weight of personal computers.

Register of specific exemptions for Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (CAS No: 1763-23-1), its salts and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride (CAS No: 307-35-7) [2] listed in the Annex B

Party
Activity
Purpose(s) of use
Estimated quantity of annual use
Reason(s) for exemption
Duration of the exemption(s), if less than five years
Remarks
Canada Use • Photo masks in the semiconductor and liquid crystal display (LCD) industries
•   Metal plating (hard metal plating)
•   Metal plating (decorative plating) 

     Specific exemptions for use of PFOS in metal plating only required until 2013 Specific exemptions for use of PFOS in metal plating only required until 2013.
Czech Republic Use • Metal plating (hard metal plating);
• Metal plating (decorative plating).		        
European Union Production and use • Metal plating (hard metal plating);
• Metal plating (decorative plating) 		      The EU restriction is not limited to PFOS, its salts and PFOS-F but covers all PFOS derivatives defined as C8F17SO2X

X= OH, metal salt (O-M+), halide, amide, and other derivatives including polymers.
 Iran  Use  • Metal plating (hard metal plating);
• Metal plating (decorative plating);
•Chemically driven oil production;
•Carpets;
•Leather and apparel;
•Textiles and upholstery;
•Paper and packaging;
•Coatings and coating additives;
•Rubber and plastics 		  Country data not yet established 5 years as of 26 August 2010  
Nigeria Use • Chemically driven oil production;
• Carpets;
• Leather and apparel;
• Textiles and upholstery;
• Paper and packaging;
• Coatings and coating additives;
• Rubber and plastics 		  No alternatives available for now    
Norway Use • Photo-masks in the semiconductor and liquid crystal display (LCD) industries.        
Switzerland Use • Metal plating (hard metal plating);
• Metal plating (decorative plating).		        

Expiration and withdrawal of specific exemptions

The specific exemptions under the Convention are effective for a specific period of time. As stated in paragraph 4 of Article 4 of the Convention, the specific exemptions listed in Annex A and B have a limited timeframe of five (5) years after their date of entry into force, unless an earlier date is indicated in the Register by the Party or an extension is granted pursuant to paragraph 7 of Article 4. 

According to paragraph 8 of Article 4, a Party may, at any time, withdraw an entry from the Register for a specific exemption upon written notification to the Secretariat. 

No new registrations may be made with respect to a particular type of specific exemption when there are no longer any Parties registered to it, as stated on paragraph 9 of Article 4.

See the expired Specific Exemptions

See the withdrawal notifications