1. Opening of the meeting.

2. Adoption of the agenda.

2. Organizational matters:

Item 1

Opening of the meeting

1. The sixth ordinary meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants will be held at the Geneva International Conference Centre, 17 rue de Varembé, Geneva, from 28 April to 10 May 2013, in conjunction with the eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade and the second simultaneous extraordinary meetings of the conferences of the parties to the three conventions. The meetings will be opened at 10 a.m. on Sunday, 28 April 2013 by the three presidents of the conferences of the parties.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. The present note contains information pertaining to the election of officers by the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants at its sixth meeting. In addition to the election of the officers of the Conference of the Parties, the meeting is also expected to elect the Chair of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee (see UNEP/POPS/COP.6/16).

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. At its first meeting, by decision SC-1/1, the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants adopted its rules of procedure, as contained in the annex to that decision, with the exception of the second sentence of paragraph 1 of rule 45, which it agreed to maintain in square brackets to indicate that it had not been agreed and was of no effect.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. Paragraph 6 of part II of Annex B to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants states that, commencing at its first meeting and at least every three years thereafter, the Conference of the Parties shall, in consultation with the World Health Organization (WHO), evaluate the continued need for DDT for disease vector control on the basis of available scientific, technical, environmental and economic information.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. In accordance with the provisions of the Stockholm Convention, the Secretariat maintains the following on the Convention website:

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. Pursuant to paragraph 2 of Parts IV and V of Annex A to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, at its sixth ordinary meeting and at every second meeting thereafter the Conference of the Parties shall evaluate the progress that parties have made towards achieving their ultimate objective of eliminating hexabromodiphenyl ether and heptabromodiphenyl ether and tetrabromodiphenyl ether and pentabromodiphenyl ether contained in articles and review the continued need for the specific exemption for those chemicals.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. Paragraph 5 of part III of Annex B to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants provides that the Conference of the Parties is to evaluate the continued need for perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), its salts and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride (PFOSF) for the various acceptable purposes and specific exemptions on the basis of available scientific, technical, environmental and economic information, including:

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. Paragraph 7 of Article 19 of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants states that the Conference of the Parties is to, at its third meeting, evaluate the continued need for the procedure contained in paragraph 2 (b) of Article 3, including consideration of its effectiveness.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

A. Polychlorinated biphenyls elimination network

1. By paragraph 5 of decision SC-5/7, the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants requested the Secretariat to facilitate a transition of the leadership of the polychlorinated biphenyls elimination network, in a sustainable manner, from the Secretariat to one or more United Nations agencies whose mandate was better suited to implement the network, and to report to the Conference of the Parties at its sixth meeting on the progress of the transition.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. Having amended the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants by decisions SC 4/10 to SC-4/18 to list nine new chemicals in Annexes A, B and C to the Convention, the Conference of the Parties decided, by its decision SC-4/19, to undertake a work programme to provide guidance to parties on how best to restrict and eliminate brominated diphenyl ethers, perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), its salts, and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride (PFOSF) and the other newly listed chemicals. In the same decision, the Conference of the Parties requested the Persistent Organic Pollutants Committee to develop recommendations on the elimination of brominated diphenyl ethers from the waste stream and on risk reduction for PFOS, its salts and PFOSF.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. Having amended the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants by decision SC 5/3 to list technical endosulfan and its related isomers in Annex A to the Convention, the Conference of the Parties decided, by its decision SC-5/4, to undertake a work programme to support the development and deployment of alternatives to endosulfan, as set out in the annex to that decision.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. In its decision SC-5/12 on guidelines on best available techniques and provisional guidance on best environmental practices, the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, among other things:

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. At its second, third, fourth and fifth meetings, the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants adopted decisions SC-2/5, SC-3/6, SC-4/7 and SC-5/13, respectively, enabling the implementation of a process for the review and updating of the Standardized Toolkit for Identification and Quantification of Dioxin and Furan Releases.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. In paragraph 2 of its decision SC-5/9 on measures to reduce or eliminate releases from wastes, the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants invited the appropriate bodies of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal to work on specific issues to reduce or eliminate releases from wastes of chemicals newly listed in Annexes A, B and C to the Stockholm Convention. In particular, they were invited:

Note by the Secretariat

I. Transmission of national implementation plans

1. At its fourth meeting, held from 4 to 8 May 2009, the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants adopted amendments to Annexes A, B and C to the Stockholm Convention to list nine new persistent organic pollutants. The above-mentioned amendments entered into force on 26 August 2010 for all parties, except those that had submitted a notification of non acceptance in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 3 (b) of Article 22, or that had made a declaration in accordance with paragraph 4 of Article 25, in which case such amendments enter into force on the ninetieth day after the date of deposit of those parties’ instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession with regard to such amendments.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. The Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee held its seventh and eighth meetings in Geneva from 10 to 14 October 2011 and from 15 to 19 October 2012, respectively. The reports on those meetings are available as documents UNEP/POPS/POPRC.7/19 and UNEP/POPS/POPRC.8/16, respectively.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. At its sixth meeting, in its decision POPRC-6/9, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee adopted a risk profile for hexabromocyclododecane and concluded that hexabromocyclododecane was likely, as a result of its long-range environmental transport, to lead to significant adverse human health and environmental effects such that global action was warranted.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Guidance on technical assistance

1. Paragraph 3 of Article 12 of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants states: “Technical assistance to be provided by developed country Parties, and other Parties in accordance with their capabilities, shall include, as appropriate and as mutually agreed, technical assistance for capacity-building relating to implementation of the obligations under this Convention. Further guidance in this regard shall be provided by the Conference of the Parties.”

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. At its fourth meeting, the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, by its decision SC-4/23, among other things, endorsed the eight nominated Stockholm Convention centres listed in annex I to that decision as Stockholm Convention regional or subregional centres for capacity-building and transfer of technology for a period of four years. It also decided to evaluate, in accordance with the criteria set out in annex II to decision SC 2/9, their performance and sustainability and to reconsider pursuant to decision SC-3/12 their status as regional or subregional centres under the Stockholm Convention at the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. As referred to in document UNEP/POPS/COP.6/19 on Stockholm Convention regional and subregional centres for capacity-building and the transfer of technology, the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, in decision SC-5/21, requested the Secretariat to develop a methodology for evaluating the regional centres based on the criteria set out in annex II to decision SC-2/9, which should include a quantitative analysis to be used in the evaluation of the performance and sustainability of each centre to be undertaken every four years.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. In decision SC-1/9, the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants adopted the guidance to the financial mechanism. The annex to the decision provides that, in accordance with paragraphs 6 and 7 (d) of Article 13 of the Stockholm Convention, the Conference of the Parties will regularly provide the entity or entities entrusted with the operations of the financial mechanism assessments of the funding needed to ensure effective implementation of the Convention.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. Paragraph 6 of Article 13 of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants defines a mechanism for the provision of adequate and sustainable financial resources to developing country parties and parties with economies in transition on a grant or concessional basis to assist in their implementation of the Convention. The financial mechanism is to function under the authority, as appropriate, and guidance of, and be accountable to, the Conference of the Parties for the purposes of the Convention.

Note by the Secretariat

1. As referred to in document UNEP/POPS/COP.6/21, the executive summary of the report of the Global Environment Facility to the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants at its sixth meeting is set out in the annex to the present note. The executive summary has been reproduced without formal editing.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. Pursuant to paragraph 8 of Article 13 of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, the Conference of the Parties shall review the effectiveness of the mechanism established under Article 13 in supporting the implementation of the Convention, with a view to taking appropriate action, if necessary, to improve the effectiveness of the mechanism, including by means of recommendations and guidance to ensure adequate and sustainable funding to meet the needs of the parties.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. Paragraph 7 of Article 13 of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants states that the Conference of the Parties shall at its first meeting adopt appropriate guidance to be provided to the mechanism and shall agree with the entity or entities participating in the financial mechanism upon arrangements to give effect thereto.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. Paragraph 6 of Article 13 of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants defines a mechanism for the provision of adequate and sustainable financial resources to developing country parties and parties with economies in transition, on a grant or concessional basis, to assist in their implementation of the Convention. The financial mechanism functions under the authority, as appropriate, and guidance of the Conference of the Parties and is accountable to the Conference for the purposes of the Convention.

Note by the Secretariat

Note by the Secretariat

As discussed in document UNEP/POPS/COP.6/26, in accordance with decision SC-5/16 the Secretariat has updated the format used by parties in reporting pursuant to Article 15 of the Stockholm Convention to take into account the 10 chemicals newly listed in Annexes A, B and C to the Convention in 2009 and 2011. The updated reporting format is set out in the annex to the present note.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. By its decision SC-5/17, on effectiveness evaluation, the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention took note of the proposed framework for effectiveness evaluation prepared by the ad hoc working group on effectiveness evaluation in accordance with decision SC-4/32. It also invited parties and others to submit comments on the proposed framework and requested the Secretariat to compile the comments received in the form of an information document and to integrate them into the proposed framework for consideration by the Conference of the Parties at its sixth meeting.

Note by the Secretariat

1. As discussed in document UNEP/POPS/COP.6/27, the annex to the present note sets out, for the consideration of the Conference of the Parties, the proposed framework for effectiveness evaluation revised by the Secretariat to take into account the comments submitted by parties in accordance with decision SC-5/17.

Note by the Secretariat

The annex to the present note contains the framework for effectiveness evaluation pursuant to Article 16 adopted by the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention at its sixth meeting in decision SC-6/22. It is presented as adopted, without formal editing.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. By its decision SC-5/18, the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, among other things:

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. Article 17 of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants provides for the development and approval of procedures and institutional mechanisms for determining non compliance with the provisions of the Convention and for the treatment of parties found to be in non-compliance.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. Communication with and between the parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants on matters relating to the Convention is accomplished through:

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. Paragraph 8 of Article 19 of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants provides the following:

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. At its meeting held on 10 and 11 May 2012, the Bureau of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants agreed that it would initiate the development of a memorandum of understanding between the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention to better formalize their relationship. The Bureau decided to send a letter to the Executive Director of UNEP to request the development of a memorandum of understanding between the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention and UNEP concerning secretariat functions for the Stockholm Convention. The Executive Director of UNEP agreed to initiate the preparation of such a memorandum of understanding and suggested that the memorandum of understanding between the Standing Committee of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and the Executive Director of UNEP concerning secretariat services for and support to the Convention could be used as a starting point.

Introduction

1. The sixth ordinary meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants was held at the Geneva International Conference Centre from 28 April to 10 May 2013.

Note by the Secretariat

Annexes I and II to the present note set out provisional lists of meeting documents for the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention. The documents listed in annex I are grouped according to the items on the provisional agenda for the meeting to which they pertain. Those listed in annex II are organized by document symbol.

Note by the Secretariat

1. As referred to in document UNEP/POPS/COP.6/4 on the evaluation of the continued need for DDT for disease vector control and promotion of alternatives to DDT, the DDT expert group assessed the information on production and use of DDT and prepared a report for the consideration of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants at its sixth meeting.

Note by the Secretariat

As referred to in document UNEP/POPS/COP.6/4 on the evaluation of the continued need for DDT for disease vector control and promotion of alternatives to DDT, annex I to the present note contains a report by the United Nations Environment Programme on progress in the implementation of the Global Alliance for Alternatives to DDT. The report of the first meeting of the Steering Committee of the Global Alliance for Alternatives to DDT, which took place in Nairobi, on 27 and 28 August 2012, is set out in annex II to the present note. The annexes have not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

As referred to in document UNEP/POPS/COP.6/5 on the register of specific exemptions and the register of acceptable purposes, the annex to the present note sets out the report of a study, undertaken by the Secretariat, in cooperation with the World Health Organization, of health sector information sources on the availability of lindane as a pharmaceutical and its alternatives as a treatment for head lice and scabies. The annex has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

As referred to in document UNEP/POPS/COP.6/9 on polychlorinated biphenyls, annex I to the present note contains a report by the United Nations Environment Programme on progress in the implementation of the Polychlorinated Biphenyls Elimination Network (PEN). The report of the fourth meeting of the PEN Advisory Committee, held in Beijing, on 7 and 8 September 2012, is set out in annex II to the present note. The annexes have not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

1. At its fifth meeting, the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants adopted decision SC-5/28 on financing and budget for the biennium 2012–2013, in which, among other things, it:

Note by the Secretariat

1. As referred to in document UNEP/POPS/COP.6/10, the Secretariat invited parties to submit information on their experiences in implementing the recommendations set out in the annex to decision POPRC-6/2 on the elimination of brominated diphenyl ethers from the waste stream and on risk reduction for perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, its salts and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride, using a format developed for that purpose. As referred to in UNEP/POPS/COP.6/6, and as requested by the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee in its decision POPRC-7/7, this format was also used for collecting information for the evaluation and review of brominated diphenyl ethers pursuant to paragraph 2 of parts IV and V of Annex A to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.

Note by the Secretariat

1. As referred to in document UNEP/POPS/COP.6/12, the Secretariat invited parties and others to nominate experts with specific expertise in best available techniques and best environmental practices to the joint Toolkit and best available techniques and best environmental practices expert roster.

Note by the Secretariat

As referred to in document UNEP/POPS/COP.6/19, on the Stockholm Convention regional and subregional centres for capacity-building and the transfer of technology, a compilation of relevant information related to the evaluation of the eight Stockholm Convention regional and subregional centres for capacity-building and the transfer of technology endorsed by the Conference of the Parties at its fourth meeting in 2009 is set out in the annexes to the present note. Annex I contains a summary of the draft assessment of the regional centres to be evaluated by the Conference of the Parties at its sixth meeting. Annex II contains draft assessments for each of the eight centres based on the draft methodology for the evaluation of the performance and sustainability of the Stockholm Convention regional and subregional centres set out in document UNEP/POPS/COP.6/19/Add.1. The annexes to the present note have not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

1. Document UNEP/POPS/COP.6/4 on the evaluation of the continued need for DDT for disease vector control and promotion of alternatives to DDT contains information for the consideration of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants at its sixth meeting.

Note by the Secretariat

1. As stated in the notes by the Secretariat on the review and updating of the Standardized Toolkit for Identification and Quantification of Dioxin and Furan Releases (UNEP/POPS/COP.6/13) and on the guidelines on best available techniques and provisional guidance on best environmental practices (UNEP/POPS/COP.6/12), the reports of the sixth and seventh Toolkit expert meetings and of the first meeting of the expert group on best available techniques and best environmental practices, established by decision SC-5/12, are annexed to the present note.

Note by the Secretariat

As referred to in document UNEP/POPS/COP.6/15 on implementation plans under Article 7 of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, the annex to the present note contains a table indicating the deadlines by which each party to the Convention is to transmit to the Conference of the Parties its implementation plan pursuant to Article 7 and its revised and updated implementation plan, as well as the dates on which the plans were received by the Secretariat.

Note by the Secretariat

1. As referred to in document UNEP/POPS/COP.6/15, on implementation plans under Article 7 of the Stockholm Convention, the Conference of the Parties, in decision SC-5/14, took note of the progress made in developing guidance for the review and updating of national implementation plans with information relating to the persistent organic pollutants listed in 2009 and 2011 and requested the Secretariat to identify any additional guidance that might be required to assist parties in their implementation of the Convention. In response to the request, the Secretariat, in collaboration with UNIDO and UNITAR and with the financial support of GEF, developed new guidance documents to assist parties in developing, updating, and reviewing their implementation plans under the Stockholm Convention with information relating to the newly listed persistent organic pollutants. The Secretariat subsequently invited parties to provide comments on the updated existing guidance and the new guidance.

Note by the Secretariat

As referred to in document UNEP/POPS/COP.6/15, on implementation plans under Article 7 of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, the report on the feasibility of parties, particularly developing-country parties, parties with economies in transition and small island developing States, revising and updating their implementation plans with information relating to the newly listed persistent organic pollutants is set out in the annex to the present note. The report is presented without formal editing.

Note by the Secretariat

1. In its decision SC-5/14 on implementation plans, the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention requested the Secretariat to prepare, within available resources, a report to the Conference of the Parties for consideration at its sixth meeting and subsequent action on the legal opinion on Article 7 of the Convention, taking into account decisions SC-1/12 and SC-2/7, in particular when new chemicals are listed in Annexes A, B or C to the Convention.

Note by the Secretariat

1. As referred to in document UNEP/POPS/COP.6/17 on the recommendation by the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee to list hexabromocyclododecane in Annex A to the Stockholm Convention, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants decided, in decision POPRC-8/3, and in accordance with paragraph 9 of Article 8 of the Convention, to recommend to the Conference of the Parties that it consider listing hexabromocyclododecane in Annex A to the Convention with specific exemptions for production and use in expanded polystyrene and extruded polystyrene in buildings.

Note by the Secretariat

1. As referred to in document UNEP/POPS/COP.6/18 on technical assistance and capacity-building, the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, by paragraph 2 of decision SC-5/20, invited developing-country parties and parties with economies in transition to provide information to the Secretariat on their technical assistance and technology transfer needs and the barriers and obstacles in that regard. Furthermore, paragraph 3 of the same decision invited developed-country parties to provide information to the Secretariat on the technical assistance and technologies that they had available to be transferred to developing-country parties and parties with economies in transition, together with the barriers and obstacles to responding to those needs referred to in paragraph 2 of the decision.

Note by the Secretariat

As referred to in document UNEP/POPS/COP.6/18 on technical assistance and capacity-building for the implementation of the Stockholm Convention, the annex to the present note sets out the technical assistance programme for the implementation of the Stockholm Convention. Section I contains the Secretariat’s programme for the delivery of technical assistance for the implementation of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions. Section II sets out a programmatic approach for the delivery of technical assistance relevant to the mandates under the Stockholm Convention, the decisions adopted by the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention and the needs assessment carried out in 2012. The annex to the present note has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

1. As referred to in document UNEP/POPS/COP.6/19 on Stockholm Convention regional and subregional centres for capacity-building and the transfer of technology, the activity reports submitted by the regional and subregional centres for capacity-building and the transfer of technology for the period from January 2011 to December 2012 can be found on the Convention webpage at http://chm.pops.int/Implementation/RegionalCentres/Workplansandactivitiesreport/tabid/482/Default.aspx.

Note by the Secretariat

As referred to in document UNEP/POPS/COP.6/20 on needs assessment, the report on the assessment of funding needs of parties that are developing countries or countries with economies in transition to implement the provisions of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants over the period 2015–2019, prepared by a team of independent experts, is set out in the annex to the present note. The report is presented without formal editing.

Note by the Secretariat

1. In its decision SC-5/22, the Conference of the Parties invited parties and others to provide information required to undertake the assessment of funding needed by developing country parties and parties with economies in transition to implement the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants over the period 2015–2019 for consideration by the Conference of the Parties at its sixth meeting.

Note by the Secretariat

1. As referred to in document UNEP/POPS/COP.6/20 on needs assessment, the Secretariat invited parties and observers to submit information, by completing a questionnaire, on ways in which they could support the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.

Note by the Secretariat

1. As referred to in document UNEP/POPS/COP.6/20 on needs assessment, the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, in decision SC-5/22, invited parties and others to provide the relevant information required to undertake the assessment of funding needed by developing-country parties and parties with economies in transition to implement the Convention over the period 2015–2019 for consideration by the Conference of the Parties at its sixth meeting.

Note by the Secretariat

1. As referred to in document UNEP/POPS/COP.6/21, the report of the Global Environment Facility to the Conference of the Parties at its sixth meeting is set out in the annex to the present note. The report has been reproduced without formal editing.

Note by the Secretariat

As referred to in document UNEP/POPS/COP.6/23, the draft report on the third review of the financial mechanism of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants is set out in the annex to the present note. The draft report has been prepared by an independent consultant, ICF International. It is reproduced as submitted, without formal editing.

Note by the Secretariat

1. Pursuant to decision SC-5/23, on additional guidance to the financial mechanism, as referred to in document UNEP/POPS/COP.6/24, the Secretariat, in consultation with the secretariat of the Global Environment Facility, prepared the consolidated guidance to the financial mechanism of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, which is set out in the annex to the present note. It has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

1. As referred to in document UNEP/POPS/COP.6/25, the Secretariat invited parties to submit information, by completing a questionnaire, on the key objectives and functions to be achieved to improve the efficiency of the work on financial resources and mechanisms and on the organizational structures best suited to delivering those objectives and functions.

Note by the Secretariat

1. In decision SC-5/16, the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants requested the Secretariat to develop a strategy to increase the rate of submission of national reports by parties pursuant to Article 15, taking into account the feedback received from parties on obstacles to reporting.

Note by the Secretariat

1. As referred to in document UNEP/POPS/COP.6/27, the Secretariat of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants invited parties and others to submit comments on the proposed framework.

Note by the Secretariat

1. As referred to in document UNEP/POPS/COP.6/27 on effectiveness evaluation, the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, in decision SC-5/17 on effectiveness evaluation, invited parties and others to submit comments on the proposed framework for effectiveness evaluation, and requested the Secretariat to integrate the comments received from parties into the proposed framework for consideration by the Conference of the Parties at its sixth meeting.

Note by the Secretariat

1. As referred to in document UNEP/POPS/COP.6/28 on the global monitoring plan for effectiveness evaluation, the Secretariat has continued to support the process of revising and updating the guidance on the global monitoring plan for the evaluation of the effectiveness of the Convention and the work of the regional organization groups and the global coordination group for the global monitoring plan.

Note by the Secretariat

1. As referred to in document UNEP/POPS/COP.6/28 on the global monitoring plan for effectiveness evaluation, the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, in decision SC-4/31, adopted the global monitoring plan for persistent organic pollutants and requested the Secretariat to make non-substantive changes as necessary.

Note by the Secretariat

1. As referred to in document UNEP/POPS/COP.6/28 on the global monitoring plan for effectiveness evaluation, the Conference of the Parties, in its decision SC-4/31, requested the Secretariat to make non-substantive changes to the implementation plan for the global monitoring plan for persistent organic pollutants for the first effectiveness evaluation that was adopted by the Conference of the Parties at its third meeting, so that it can serve future effectiveness evaluations.

Note by the Secretariat

1. In its decision SC-5/18, the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants requested the Secretariat to continue to support the work of the regional organization groups and the global coordination group for the global monitoring plan and the process of revising and updating the guidance on the global monitoring plan.

Note by the Secretariat

1. By its decision SC-5/18 on the global monitoring plan for effectiveness evaluation, the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants encouraged parties to engage actively in the implementation of the global monitoring plan and the effectiveness evaluation, in particular to continue to monitor the core media of air and human breast milk or human blood.

Note by the Secretariat

As referred to in document UNEP/POPS/COP.6/31 on admission of observers, the annex to the present note contains a list of bodies and agencies that had not previously been admitted to meetings of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants and that are requesting admission to participate in such meetings as observers in accordance with rule 7 of the Rules of Procedure for meetings of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention, as at 22 April 2013. The annex to the present note has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

1. The annex to the present note sets out a report prepared by the Secretariat on its activities pertaining to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2012, which were undertaken in accordance with its mandate under the Convention and as decided by the Conference of the Parties. The annex to the present note has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

1. By its decision SC-5/2, the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention amended the financial rules governing the administration of the Conference of the Parties, its subsidiary bodies and the Secretariat to read as set out in the annex to that decision. As amended, paragraph 1 of rule 3, which deals with the budget, requires the Executive Secretary to dispatch reports on the actual income and expenditure for each year of the previous biennium and estimates of actual expenditure in the current biennium at least 90 days before the opening of the meeting of the Conference of the Parties at which the budget for a given biennium is adopted.

Note by the Secretariat

The annex to the present note contains a report prepared by the Secretariat, as at 31 December 2012, on the implementation of the programme budget approved by the Conference of the Parties in decision SC-5/28. It describes expenditures incurred under the general and the voluntary trust funds of the Stockholm Convention and provides information on related voluntary contributions made by donors for the implementation of activities. The report has been reproduced without formal editing.

Note by the Secretariat

As referred to in paragraph 4 of document UNEP/POPS/COP.6/INF/36 on information on financial matters, the annexes to the present note set forth updated information on expenditures and on contributions pledged or received. The annexes, which have not been formally edited, are organized as follows:

Note by the Secretariat

As referred to in document UNEP/POPS/COP.6/18 on technical assistance and capacity building for the implementation of the Stockholm Convention, the annex to the present note contains information on Stockholm Convention capacity-building and training activities, planned by the Secretariat to take place between 1 January and 31 December 2013. Table 1 lists capacity-building and training workshops and table 2 lists webinars and online meetings. The annex to the present note has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

As referred to in document UNEP/POPS/COP.6/18 on technical assistance and capacity building for the implementation of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, the annex to the present note sets out tables listing capacity building and training activities organized by the Secretariat of the Stockholm Convention between May 2011 and December 2012. Regional and national-level activities are described in table 1, global-level activities are set out in table 2 and relevant projects are listed in table 3. The annex to the present note has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

1. As referred to in document UNEP/POPS/COP.6/19 on the Stockholm Convention regional and subregional centres for capacity-building and the transfer of technology, the Secretariat received a new nomination from the Basel Convention Regional Centre for Training and Technology Transfer for South-East Asia, located in Jakarta, wishing to become a regional centre for capacity-building and transfer of technology under the Stockholm Convention, in accordance with the terms of reference set out in the annex to decision SC-3/12.

Note by the Secretariat

The annex to the present note sets out a revised version, submitted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), of the draft memorandum of understanding between UNEP and the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants contained in the annex to the note by the Secretariat in document UNEP/POPS/COP.6/32. The revised version of the draft memorandum is being circulated as provided by UNEP and has not been formally edited.