Expiration of specific exemptions

The specific exemptions under the Stockholm Convention, which are effective for a specific period of time, may expire or be withdrawn.

The specific exemptions listed in Annex A and B expire five (5) years after the date of entry into force of the Convention with respect to a particular chemical, unless an earlier date is indicated in the Register by the Party or an extension is granted pursuant to paragraph 7 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

Expired Specific Exemptions

Specific exemptions, listed in Annex A of the Convention at the time of its adoption which are no longer available to the Parties with effect from 17 May 2009.

No new registrations may be made with regard to specific exemptions for the production and use of PFOS, its salts and PFOSF for carpets, leather and apparel, textiles and upholstery, paper and packaging, coating additives and rubber and plastics (decision SC-7/1).

Specific exemptions that have expired are listed below:

1. Chemicals listed in Annex A

Aldrin (CAS # 309-00-2)

Activity / Specific exemption	Party	Expiry date	Estimated quantity of production / use	Purpose(s) of production / use	Reason for exemption	Remarks [1]
Use: Local ectoparasiticide	-	17/05/09	-	-	-	-
Use: Insecticide	-	17/05/09	-	-	-	-

Chlordane (CAS # 57-74-9)

Activity / Specific exemption	Party	Expiry date	Estimated quantity of production / use	Purpose(s) of production / use	Reason for exemption	Remarks [1]
Production: As allowed for the Parties listed in the Register	China (People's Republic of)	17/05/2009	The annual output of chlordane oil is about 500 tons.	For termiticide use	-	There are 9 enterprises having the capability to produce chlordane, among which 6 enterprises produce it at present.
Use: Local ectoparasiticide	-	17/05/2009	-	-	-	-
Use: Insecticide	-	17/05/2009	-	-	-	-
Use: Termiticide	China (People's Republic of)	17/05/2009	The annual consumption of chlordane oil is in the range of 400-500 tons.	95% of chlordane is used in structures of houses, 4% of chlordane is used in dams, and the rest 1% of chlordane is used in underground cable boxes to control termites.	-	-
Use: Termiticide in buildings and dams	Botswana	17/05/2009	-	Chlordane is used in the construction industry.	The purpose of this exemption is to allow time to follow the necessary measures to ban it, e.g. educating the public, research on alternatives and consulting the relevant authorities on this requirement. These actions will be undertaken under the NIP.	-
Use: Termiticide in buildings and dams	Zambia	17/05/2009	The annual consumption of chlordane 5,000 litters(60% EC Chlordane)	For termicide use	Non availability of cost effective Termiticide as an alternative to chlordane (Notification)	-
Use: Termiticide in roads	Zambia	17/05/2009	The annual consumption of chlordane 5,000 litters(60% EC Chlordane)	For termicide use	Non availability of cost effective Termiticide as an alternative to chlordane (Notification)	-
Use: Additive in plywood adhesives	-	-	-	-	-	-

Dieldrin (CAS # 60-57-1)

Activity / Specific exemption	Party	Expiry date	Estimated quantity of production / use	Purpose(s) of production / use	Reason for exemption	Remarks [1]
Use: In agricultural operations	-	17/05/09	-	-	-	-

Heptachlor (CAS # 76-44-8)

Activity / Specific exemption	Party	Expiry date	Estimated quantity of production / use	Purpose(s) of production / use	Reason for exemption	Remarks [1]
Use: Termiticide	-	17/05/09	-	-	-	-
Use: Termiticide in structures of houses	-	17/05/09	-	-	-	-
Use: Termiticide (subterranean)	-	17/05/09	-	-	-	-
Use: Wood treatment	-	17/05/09	-	-	-	-
Use: In use in underground cable boxes	-	17/05/09	-	-	-	-

Hexabromodiphenyl ether and heptabromodiphenyl ether

Activity / Specific exemption	Party	Expiry date	Estimated quantity of production / use	Purpose(s) of production / use	Reason for exemption	Remarks [1]
Use: Articles in accordance with the provisions of Part IV of Annex A	Czech Republic	26/08/2015	Not provided	In accordance with Part IV of Annex A	Not provided	None
Use: Articles in accordance with the provisions of Part IV of Annex A	Iran (Islamic Republic of)	26/08/2015	Not known as yet	Use	Country data not yet established	Country data not yet established

Hexachlorobenzene (CAS # 118-74-1)

Activity / Specific exemption	Party	Expiry date	Estimated quantity of production / use	Purpose(s) of production / use	Reason for exemption	Remarks [1]
Production: As allowed for the Parties listed in the Register	-	17/05/09	-	-	-	-
Use: Intermediate	-	-	-	-	-	-
Use: Solvent in pesticide	-	-	-	-	-	-
Use: Closed system site limited intermediate [2]	-	-	-	-	-	-

Lindane (CAS # 58-89-9)

Activity / Specific exemption	Party	Expiry date	Estimated quantity of production / use	Purpose(s) of production / use	Reason for exemption	Remarks [1]
Use: Human health pharmaceutical for control of head lice and scabies as second line treatment	Sri Lanka	Specific exemptions are sought for the purposes given until suitable alternatives are made	137 Kg	Human health pharmaceutical (for Pediculosis and Scabies)	No alternatives	Use of lindane on head lice is restricted in Sri Lanka due to the possibility of developing resistance

Mirex (CAS # 2385-85-5)

Activity / Specific exemption	Party	Expiry date	Estimated quantity of production / use	Purpose(s) of production / use	Reason for exemption	Remarks [1]
Production: As allowed for the Parties listed in the Register	China (People's Republic of)	17/05/2009	The annual output of mirex powder is in the range of 10-30 tons.	-	-	There are 5 enterprises having the capability to produce mirex and 3 enterprises produce it at present.
Use: Termiticide	China (People's Republic of)	17/05/2009	The annual consumption of mirex powder is in the range of 10-30 tons.	20-30% of mirex is used to control termites in structures of houses, dams and underground cable boxes.	-	-
Use: Termiticide	Australia	17/05/2009	-	Mirex is used under licence in northern Australia as a bait control for the giant termite (Mastotermes darwiniensis).	-	Research is underway to find a suitable alternative with the aim of phasing out the use of mirex.

Technical endosulfan (CAS # 115-29-7) and its related isomers (CAS # 959-98-8 and CAS # 33213-65-9)

Activity / Specific exemption	Party	Expiry date	Estimated quantity of production / use	Purpose(s) of production / use	Reason for exemption	Remarks [1]
Use: Crop-pest complexes as listed in accordance with the provisions of part VI of Annex A	Costa Rica	Two years from the notification date: 31/10/2012.	Estimated annual use: 66 000 kg. The estimated quantity of annual use refers to the national level, not per sector.	Use of endosulfan for the following crop-pest complexes: coffee (Berry borer, stem borers).	To allow the necessary time for the productive sector to make changes and to register new alternative products.	-

Tetrabromodiphenyl ether and pentabromodiphenyl ether

Activity / Specific exemption	Party	Expiry date	Estimated quantity of production / use	Purpose(s) of production / use	Reason for exemption	Remarks [1]
Use: Articles in accordance with the provisions of Part V of Annex A	Czech Republic	26/08/2015	Not provided	Articles in accordance with the provisions of Part V of Annex A	-	None
Use: Articles in accordance with the provisions of Part V of Annex A	Iran (Islamic Republic of)	5 years as allowed by the Convention as of 26 August 2010	Not known at the time	-	Country data not yet established	Country data not yet established
Use: Articles in accordance with the provisions of Part V of Annex A	Viet Nam	5 years	To be updated	Recycling	Recycling of articles that contain or may contain tetrabromodiphenyl ether and pentabromodiphenyl ether, and the use and final disposal of articles manufactured from recycled materials that contain or may contain tetrabromodiphenyl ether and pentabromodiphenyl ether still exist.	Vietnam is in the process of PBDE inventory and development of methodology to control the recycling activities of PBDE materials.

[1] The remarks column may be used to specify further limitations on the scope of the specific exemptions to be applied by the Party (e.g., area, timing and techniques of applications as well as target organisms in the case of pesticides); expected emissions from production; whether intermediates are to be further processed on- or off-site; degree of purity of the chemical with type of impurities; and the number of extensions to the specific exemption that have been granted to a particular party.

[2] Please note that, although the specific exemption for the use of hexachlorobenzene as closed-system site-limited intermediate is no longer available, this use is still possible in accordance with note (iii) of Part I of Annex A of the Convention.

2. Chemicals listed in Annex B

DDT (CAS # 50-29-3) ^[2]

Activity / Specific exemption	Party	Expiry date	Estimated quantity of production / use	Purpose(s) of production / use	Reason for exemption	Remarks [1]
Production: Intermediate in production of dicofol intermediate	China (People's Republic of)	17/05/2009	About 80% of DDT is used as the intermediate in the production of dicofol. There are 6 enterprises having the capability to produce dicofol among which 4 enterprises keep on producing till now.	DDT used as the intermediate in the production of dicofol, an organochlorine used as miticide for a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, and crops.	About 60% of DDT used as the intermediate in the production of dicofol is in non-closed-systems and needs to be applied for the specific exemption.	-
Production: Intermediate in production of dicofol intermediate	India	17/05/2009	150 000 Kg of DDT	Manufacture of dicofol	Dicofol is a cost effective and most useful acaricide in tropical and sub tropical agriculture in India. Dicofol does not possess any characteristic of parent POP.	Only one public sector unit manufactures dicofol.
Use: Production of dicofol intermediate	-	17/05/2009	-	-	-	-
Use: Production of dicofol intermediate	India	17/05/2009	150 000 Kg of DDT	Manufacture of dicofol	Dicofol is a cost effective and most useful acaricide in tropical and sub tropical agriculture in India. Dicofol does not possess any characteristic of parent POP.	-

Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (CAS # 1763-23-1), its salts and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride (CAS # 307-35-7)

Activity / Specific exemption	Party	Expiry date	Estimated quantity of production / use	Purpose(s) of production / use	Reason for exemption	Remarks [1]
Use: Metal plating (hard metal plating) Metal plating (decorative plating)	Canada	Specific exemption for use of PFOS in metal plating only required until 2013.	Not provided	Metal plating (hard metal plating) Metal plating (decorative plating)	Not provided	Not provided
Use: Metal plating (hard metal plating) Metal plating (decorative plating)	Czech Republic	Expired on 26/08/2015	Not provided	Metal plating (hard metal plating) Metal plating (decorative plating)	Not provided	Not provided
Production: As allowed for Parties listed in the Register	European Union	Expired on 26/08/2015	Not provided	Metal plating (hard metal plating) Metal plating (decorative plating)	Not provided	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.
Use: Metal plating (hard metal plating) Metal plating (decorative plating)	European Union	Expired on 26/08/2015	Not provided	Metal plating (hard metal plating) Metal plating (decorative plating)	Not provided	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.
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	Iran	Expired on 26/08/2015	Not provided	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	Not provided
Use: Chemically driven oil production Carpets Leather and apparel Textiles and upholstery Paper and packaging Coatings and coating additives Rubber and plastics	Nigeria	Expired on 26/08/2015	Not provided	Chemically driven oil production Carpets Leather and apparel Textiles and upholstery Paper and packaging Coatings and coating additives Rubber and plastics	No alternative for now	Not provided
Use: Photo masks in the semiconductor and liquid crystal display (LCD) industries	Norway	Expired on 26/08/2015	Not provided	Photo masks in the semiconductor and liquid crystal display (LCD) industries	Not provided	Not provided
Use: Metal plating (hard metal plating) Metal plating (decorative plating)	Switzerland	Expired on 26/08/2015	Not provided	Metal plating (hard metal plating) Metal plating (decorative plating)	Not provided	Not provided
Use: Metal plating (hard metal plating) Metal plating (decorative plating)	Turkey	Expired on 26/08/2015	Not provided	Metal plating (hard metal plating) Metal plating (decorative plating)	-	-
Production: As allowed for Parties listed in the Register	Viet Nam	Expired on 26/08/2015	Not provided	Photo masks in the semiconductor and liquid crystal display (LCD) industries Metal plating (hard metal plating) Metal plating (decorative plating) Electric and electronic parts for some colour printers and colour copy machines Insecticides for control of red imported fire ants and termites Chemically driven oil production Carpets Leather and apparel Textiles and upholstery Paper and packaging Coatings and coating additives Rubber and plastics	Still in use	Vietnam is in the process of PFOS inventory
Use: Photo masks in the semiconductor and liquid crystal display (LCD) industries Metal plating (hard metal plating) Metal plating (decorative plating) Electric and electronic parts for some colour printers and colour copy machines Insecticides for control of red imported fire ants and termites Chemically driven oil production Carpets Leather and apparel Textiles and upholstery Paper and packaging Coatings and coating additives Rubber and plastics	Viet Nam	Expired on 26/08/2015	Not provided	Photo masks in the semiconductor and liquid crystal display (LCD) industries Metal plating (hard metal plating) Metal plating (decorative plating) Electric and electronic parts for some colour printers and colour copy machines Insecticides for control of red imported fire ants and termites Chemically driven oil production Carpets Leather and apparel Textiles and upholstery Paper and packaging Coatings and coating additives Rubber and plastics	Still in use	Vietnam is in the process of PFOS inventory

[1] The remarks column may be used to specify further limitations on the scope of the specific exemptions to be applied by the Party (e.g., area, timing and techniques of applications as well as target organisms in the case of pesticides); expected emissions from production; whether intermediates are to be further processed on- or off-site; degree of purity of the chemical with type of impurities; and the number of extensions to the specific exemption that have been granted to a particular party.

[2] Production and use of DDT for the acceptable purpose of disease vector control in accordance with part II of Annex B are registered in the separate DDT register.