Recommends to the Conference of the Parties that it amend the terms of reference of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee by inserting a new paragraph after paragraph 15, with the following paragraphs being renumbered accordingly, with the text to read:
“The Committee shall meet in closed session before the start of each meeting of the Committee to discuss any issues related to conflicts of interest of Committee members. Should any conflict of interest of a Committee member arise, the Chair of the Committee shall consult the President of the Conference of the Parties and the Executive Secretary with a view to making a decision on the member’s participation in the Committee’s work in respect of a particular chemical.”

Taking note of decisions SC-4/10–SC-4/18, by which the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants amended Annexes A, B and C to the Convention to list nine new chemicals therein,

Recalling decision SC-4/19, by which the Conference of the Parties established indicative elements of a work programme to provide guidance to the parties on how best to eliminate listed brominated diphenyl ethers, and to restrict or eliminate perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and its salts, perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride (PFOSF) and other chemicals listed in Annex A or B to the Convention at the fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties,

1. Recommends that, with regard to the chemicals newly listed in Annexes A, B and C to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants by amendments to the Convention, the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention invite the appropriate bodies of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal:
(a) To establish the levels of destruction and irreversible transformation of these chemicals necessary to ensure that the characteristics of persistent organic pollutants as specified in paragraph 1 of Annex D to the Stockholm Convention are not exhibited;

Noting decision SC-4/16, by which the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants amended Annexes A and C to the Convention to list pentachlorobenzene therein,
Taking note of the new information on unintentional releases of pentachlorobenzene provided to it,

1. Endorses the revised guidance document on alternatives to perfluorooctane sulfonate and its derivatives and invites parties and observers to disseminate and make use of that document;

2. Agrees that the guidance document should be revised regularly as necessary to take into account available information on alternatives to perfluorooctane sulfonate and its derivatives;

Recalling that, in its evaluation of whether a chemical is likely, as a result of its long-range environmental transport, to lead to significant adverse effects on human health and/or the environment such that global action is warranted, the Committee may include in an Annex E risk profile a hazard assessment for the endpoint or endpoints of concern, including a consideration of toxicological interactions involving multiple chemicals,

Recalling that, at its fourth meeting, the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants requested the Secretariat of the Convention to continue work to support and strengthen the capacity of developing-country parties or parties with economies in transition to participate fully in the Committee’s work,

The Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee,

Having completed the risk management evaluation for endosulfan in accordance with paragraph 7 (a) of Article 8 of the Convention,

1. Adopts the risk management evaluation for endosulfan

The Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee,

Having completed an evaluation of the proposal by Norway to list hexabromocyclododecane in the annexes to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, and having decided at its fifth meeting, by decision POPRC-5/6, that the proposal meets the criteria set out in Annex D to the Convention,

Having also completed the risk profile for hexabromocyclododecane in accordance with paragraph 6 of Article 8 of the Convention,

1. Adopts the risk profile for hexabromocyclododecane;

Noting that paragraph 3 of Article 3 of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants requires those parties that have regulatory and assessment schemes for new pesticides or new industrial chemicals to take measures to regulate with the aim of preventing the production and use of new pesticides or new industrial chemicals which, taking into consideration the criteria contained in paragraph 1 of Annex D, exhibit the characteristics of persistent organic pollutants,

Noting also that paragraph 4 of Article 3 requires those parties that have regulatory and assessment schemes for pesticides or industrial chemicals, to take into consideration within these schemes, where appropriate, the criteria contained in paragraph 1 of Annex D to the Convention when assessing pesticides or industrial chemicals currently in use,

Noting that, pursuant to note (i) of part I of Annexes A and B to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, quantities of a chemical occurring as unintentional trace contaminants in products and articles shall not be considered for listing in Annexes A and B to the Convention,

Recognizing that the compilation of information related to national regulations on unintentional trace contaminants in products and articles could be further updated and complemented with additional information,

Taking into account the information provided on the initiative by the Secretariat of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants to review the interlinkages between climate change and persistent organic pollutants in support of the work of the coordination group of the global monitoring plan on persistent organic pollutants,

Noting the outcome of the study by the expert group on climate change and persistent organic pollutants convened by the Secretariat,

Invites the Conference of the Parties to forward the outcome of the study by the expert group to the Committee for further consideration of the study’s possible implications for the Committee’s work.

I. Opening of the meeting

1. The sixth meeting of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee was held at the Varembé Conference Centre in Geneva from 11 to 15 October 2010. Mr. Reiner Arndt (Germany), Chair of the Committee, declared the meeting open at 10 a.m. on Monday, 11 October 2010.

Report of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee on the work of its sixth meeting

Addendum

At its sixth meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee adopted a risk management evaluation on endosulfan on the basis of the draft contained in document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.6/9, as amended. The text of the risk management evaluation is set out in the annex to the present addendum. It has not been formally edited.

Report of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee on the work of its sixth meeting

Addendum

At its sixth meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee adopted a risk profile on hexabromocyclododecane, on the basis of the draft risk profile contained in document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.6/10. The text of the risk profile, as amended, is set out in the annex to the present addendum. It has not been formally edited.

Report of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee on the work of its sixth meeting

Addendum

Guidance on alternatives to perfluorooctane sulfonate and its derivatives

At its sixth meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee endorsed guidance on alternatives to perfluorooctane sulfonate and its derivatives, on the basis of the draft guidance contained in document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.6/INF/8 as amended during the meeting. The text of the guidance as endorsed is set out below.

Addendum

Guidance on alternatives to perfluorooctane sulfonic acid and its derivatives

1. At its sixth meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee endorsed guidance on alternatives to perfluorooctane sulfonate and its derivatives, on the basis of the draft guidance contained in document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.6/INF/8 as amended during the meeting.
2. At its seventh meeting, the Committee considered the comments on the guidance received from parties and observers in accordance with decision POPRC-6/15 and revised the guidance based on those comments. The text of the guidance as revised during the meeting is set out below. It has been reproduced without formal editing.

The present annex has been prepared by the Secretariat based on the information compiled in accordance with the annex to decision SC-4/19. It summarizes key findings and potential gaps identified in the information submitted and in other relevant sources, including scientific literature. Detailed information on brominated diphenyl ethers found in such sources has been integrated in the technical review on brominated diphenyl ethers and its associated appendices.

1. The concluding statement of the draft risk profile for short-chained chlorinated paraffins gives two options for the final conclusion:

1) Based on the available evidence, it is concluded that short-chained chlorinated paraffins are likely, as a result of their long-range environmental transport, to lead to significant adverse environmental and human health effects, such that global action is warranted; or

2) Based on available information, there is inadequate evidence to support the conclusion that short-chained chlorinated paraffins are likely, as a result of their long-range environmental transport, to lead to significant adverse environmental and human health effects, such that global action is warranted.

I. Information that may assist the Committee in considering toxicological interactions

1. Opening of the meeting.
2. Organizational matters:

Item 1. Opening of the meeting
Item 2. Organizational matters

Note by the Secretariat

1. Having amended the Stockholm Convention by decisions SC-4/10–SC-4/18 to list nine new chemicals in Annexes A, B and C to the Convention, the Conference of the Parties decided to undertake a work programme to provide guidance to parties on how best to restrict and eliminate brominated diphenyl ethers, perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and its salts, perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride (PFOSF) and the other newly listed chemicals.

Note by the Secretariat

1. Having amended the Stockholm Convention by decisions SC-4/10–SC-4/18 to list nine new chemicals in Annexes A, B and C to the Convention, the Conference of the Parties decided to undertake a work programme to provide guidance to parties on how best to restrict and eliminate brominated diphenyl ethers, perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and its salts, perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride (PFOSF) and the other newly listed chemicals.

Note by the Secretariat

1. Article 6 of the Stockholm Convention provides that the Conference of the Parties shall cooperate closely with the appropriate bodies of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, among other things:

Note by the Secretariat

1. The Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee has published guidance on flame retardant alternatives to pentabromodiphenyl ether (UNEP/POPS/COP.4/INF/24) and on considerations related to alternatives and substitutes for listed persistent organic pollutants and candidate chemicals (UNEP/POPS/POPRC.5/10/Add.1).

Note by the Secretariat

1. Paragraph (b) of Annex E to 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 Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee.

Note by the Secretariat

1. A programme for effective participation in the work of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee was established in accordance with decision SC-3/9 of the Conference of the Parties.

Note by the Secretariat

1. Paragraph 3 of Article 3 of the Stockholm Convention states that “each party that has one or more regulatory and assessment schemes for new pesticides or new industrial chemicals shall take measures to regulate with the aim of preventing the production and use of new pesticides or new industrial chemicals which, taking into consideration the criteria in paragraph 1 of Annex D, exhibit the characteristics of persistent organic pollutants”.

Note by the Secretariat

1. In accordance with paragraph 28 of its terms of reference, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee prepares for its meetings the draft risk profiles and risk management evaluations required by Article 8 of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.

Note by the Secretariat

1. At its fifth meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee adopted decision POPRC 5/5 on endosulfan. By paragraph 5 of that decision, the Committee decided to establish an ad hoc working group to prepare a risk management evaluation that included an analysis of possible control measures for endosulfan in accordance with Annex F to the Stockholm Convention.

Note by the Secretariat

1. At its fifth meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee adopted decision POPRC 5/6 on hexabromocyclododecane. By paragraph 2 of that decision, the Committee decided to establish an ad hoc working group to review further the proposal to list hexabromocyclododecane in Annexes A, B, and/or C to the Convention and to develop a draft risk profile in accordance with Annex E to the Convention.

Note by the Secretariat

1. At its fifth meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee considered a draft risk profile on short-chained chlorinated paraffins that it had revised at its fourth meeting. The Committee agreed that it would continue its consideration of the draft risk profile at its sixth meeting and that in the meantime it would seek additional information in accordance with the proposal set out in annex IV to the report of the meeting.

Note by the Secretariat

1. At its fifth meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee considered a draft risk profile on short-chained chlorinated paraffins that it had revised at its fourth meeting. The Committee agreed that it would continue its consideration of the draft risk profile at its sixth meeting and that in the meantime it would seek additional information in accordance with the proposal set out in annex IV to the report of the meeting.

Note by the Secretariat

1. By its decision POPRC 5/5, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee adopted a risk profile on endosulfan (UNEP/POPS/POPRC.5/10/Add.2). By paragraph 2 of that decision, the Committee decided to invite the ad hoc working group on endosulfan that prepared the risk profile to explore any further information on adverse human health effects and, if appropriate, to revise the risk profile for consideration by the Committee at its sixth meeting.

I. Opening of the meeting

1. The sixth meeting of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee was held at the Varembé Conference Centre in Geneva from 11 to 15 October 2010. Mr. Reiner Arndt (Germany), Chair of the Committee, declared the meeting open at 10 a.m. on Monday, 11 October 2010.

Report of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee on the work of its sixth meeting

Addendum

At its sixth meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee adopted a risk management evaluation on endosulfan on the basis of the draft contained in document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.6/9, as amended. The text of the risk management evaluation is set out in the annex to the present addendum. It has not been formally edited.

Report of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee on the work of its sixth meeting

Addendum

At its sixth meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee adopted a risk profile on hexabromocyclododecane, on the basis of the draft risk profile contained in document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.6/10. The text of the risk profile, as amended, is set out in the annex to the present addendum. It has not been formally edited.

Report of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee on the work of its sixth meeting

Addendum

Guidance on alternatives to perfluorooctane sulfonate and its derivatives

At its sixth meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee endorsed guidance on alternatives to perfluorooctane sulfonate and its derivatives, on the basis of the draft guidance contained in document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.6/INF/8 as amended during the meeting. The text of the guidance as endorsed is set out below.

Addendum

Guidance on alternatives to perfluorooctane sulfonic acid and its derivatives

1. At its sixth meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee endorsed guidance on alternatives to perfluorooctane sulfonate and its derivatives, on the basis of the draft guidance contained in document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.6/INF/8 as amended during the meeting.
2. At its seventh meeting, the Committee considered the comments on the guidance received from parties and observers in accordance with decision POPRC-6/15 and revised the guidance based on those comments. The text of the guidance as revised during the meeting is set out below. It has been reproduced without formal editing.