The Register is established in conformity with Article 4 of the Stockholm Convention for the purpose of identifying the Parties that have specific exemptions listed in Annex A or Annex B.
See the Register of Specific Exemptions
The Conference of the Parties, pursuant to Article 4 of the Convention and by decision SC-4/3 as adopted at its fourth meeting, noted the cancellation of all specific exemptions, with the exception of polychlorinated biphenyls, that were recorded in the Register of Specific Exemptions for the persistent organic pollutants listed in Annex A or B of the Convention at the time of its adoption. As at 17 May 2009, there were no Parties registered for the specific exemptions listed in Annex A pertaining to aldrin, chlordane, dieldrin, heptachlor, hexachlorobenzene, and mirex, nor for the specific exemption listed in Annex B pertaining to DDT. Therefore, in accordance with paragraph 9 of Article 4 of the Convention, no new registrations may be made with respect to such exemptions. See the Expired Specific Exemptions.
The Register of Specific Exemptions for the persistent organic pollutants was amended pursuant to the decisions SC -4/14, 4/15, 4/17 and 4/18 of the fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties and decision SC-5/3 of the fifth meeting of the Conference of the Parties, so as to include, in Annexes A and B of the Convention, new specific exemptions.
In principle, the amendments to Annexes A, B and C to include the listing of hexabromodiphenyl ether, heptabromodiphenyl ether, lindane, perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, its salts, perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride, tetrabromodiphenyl ether and pentabromodiphenyl ether have entered into force on 26 August 2010. The amendment to Annex A to include the listing of technical endosulfan and its related isomers will enter into force on the expiry date of one year from the date of communication by the Depositary of the adoption of the additional annex. However, these amendments may not enter into force with respect to those Parties that: i) have submitted a notification pursuant to the provisions of paragraph 3(b) of Article 22 of the Convention or ii) have made declarations regarding the amendments to the Annexes in accordance with paragraph 4 of article 25 of the Convention.