1. Decides, in accordance with paragraph 4 (a) of Article 8 of the Convention, that it is satisfied that the screening criteria have been fulfilled for short-chain chlorinated paraffins, as set out in the evaluation contained in the annex to the present decision;
2. Decides also that the variability of the environmental fate properties of the shortchained chlorinated paraffins congeners covered by the proposal should be addressed in developing the draft risk profile;
3. Decides furthermore, in accordance with paragraph 6 of Article 8 of the Convention and paragraph 29 of decision SC-1/7 of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention, to establish an ad hoc working group to review the proposal further and to prepare a draft risk profile in accordance with Annex E to the Convention;
4. Invites, in accordance with paragraph 4 (a) of Article 8 of the Convention, Parties and observers to submit to the Secretariat the information specified in Annex E before 2 February 2007.

Opening of the meeting

The second meeting of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee was held at the Varembé Conference Centre in Geneva, from 6 to 10 November 2006. Mr. Reiner Arndt (Germany), Chair of the Committee, declared the meeting open at 10.05 a.m. on Monday, 6 November 2006.

Mr. Maged Younes, Head of the Chemicals Branch of the Division of Technology, Industry and Economics of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), welcomed participants and paid tribute to the considerable achievements of the Committee since its establishment, which, he said, owed much to the leadership of its Chair, the dedicated and transparent efforts of its members and observers and the effective work of the Secretariat. Noting the heavy workload of the Committee at its second meeting, he emphasized the important role played by the Committee in terms of implementing the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants and protecting the environment from persistent organic pollutants.

Addendum

At its second meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee adopted the risk profile on commercial pentabromodiphenyl ether, on the basis of the draft contained in document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.2/7. The text of the risk profile, as amended, is provided below. It has not been formally edited.

Addendum

At its second meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee adopted the risk profile on Chlordecone, on the basis of the draft contained in document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.2/8. The text of the risk profile, as amended, is provided below. It has not been formally edited.

Addendum

At its second meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee adopted the risk profile on hexabromobiphenyl, on the basis of the draft contained in document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.2/9. The text of the risk profile, as amended, is provided below. It has not been formally edited.

Addendum

At its second meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee adopted the risk profile on lindane, on the basis of the draft contained in document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.2/10. The text of the risk profile, as amended, is provided below. It has not been formally edited.

Addendum

At its second meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee adopted the risk profile on perfluorooctane sulfonate, on the basis of the draft contained in document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.2/11. The text of the risk profile, as amended, is provided below. It has not been formally edited.

Addendum

At its second meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee adopted the risk profile on commercial pentabromodiphenyl ether, on the basis of the draft contained in document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.2/7. The text of the risk profile, as amended, is provided below. It has not been formally edited.

Addendum

At its second meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee adopted the risk profile on Chlordecone, on the basis of the draft contained in document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.2/8. The text of the risk profile, as amended, is provided below. It has not been formally edited.

Addendum

At its second meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee adopted the risk profile on hexabromobiphenyl, on the basis of the draft contained in document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.2/9. The text of the risk profile, as amended, is provided below. It has not been formally edited.

Addendum

At its second meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee adopted the risk profile on lindane, on the basis of the draft contained in document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.2/10. The text of the risk profile, as amended, is provided below. It has not been formally edited.

Addendum

At its second meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee adopted the risk profile on perfluorooctane sulfonate, on the basis of the draft contained in document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.2/11. The text of the risk profile, as amended, is provided below. It has not been formally edited.

Opening of the meeting

Organizational matters

Item 1. Opening of the meeting

The second meeting of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee will be held from 6 to 10 November 2006 in the Geneva International Conference Centre, 9–11 Rue de Varembé, Geneva, Switzerland. The meeting will be opened at 10 a.m. on Monday, 6 November 2006.

Opening and welcoming statements will be delivered.

Note by the Secretariat

Paragraph 19, “Confidentiality of data,” of the terms of reference of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee, adopted by the Conference of the Parties in its decision SC-1/7, reads as follows

“The Committee shall establish confidentiality arrangements as a matter of priority. In handling confidential information and in establishing such arrangements, the Committee shall ensure that paragraph 5 of Article 9 of the Convention is respected.

Note by the Secretariat

At its first meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee considered a proposal by Mexico to list lindane in Annexes A, B or C of the Convention (UNEP/POPS/POPRC.1/8 and UNEP/POPS/POPRC.1/INF/8). Lindane is the trade name for 99% pure gammahexachlorocyclohexane, one of three major isomers of hexachlorocyclohexane (“HCH”)

In its proposal, Mexico presented data on the gamma isomer but mentioned as well that other isomers of HCH should also be considered for listing in the annexes. In the proposal’s summary statement of the reasons for concern, Mexico stated

Note by the Secretariat

The issue of chemicals that have transformation products which are being considered for listing in Annexes A, B or C of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) was addressed by the Criteria Expert Group, established under the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee that developed the Convention, at its second session. Paragraph 50 of the report of the session states

“It was also agreed that the assessment process undertaken by any subsidiary body or bodies under the future convention should include the consideration of transformation products of that substance that possessed POPs characteristics as defined in the future convention. In that regard, Parties should be able to nominate organic substances that were not in themselves POPs, but whose transformation products satisfied the criteria established under the future convention.

Note by the Secretariat

At its first meeting, the Conference of the Parties of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants adopted decision SC-1/7 by which it established the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee and adopted the terms of reference of the Committee contained in the annex to that decision.

Paragraph 10 of the terms of reference provides for the establishment of a roster of experts who are not members of the Committee and who the Committee may invite to support it in its work. It further provides that Parties may designate experts for inclusion in the roster, noting their areas of expertise or specific substance knowledge

Note by the Secretariat

At its first meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee established an ad hoc intersessional working group on confidentiality and Annex F on information on socioeconomic considerations to discuss the issue of confidentiality and give further consideration to the format for submission of information specified in Annex F.

The members and observers of the ad hoc working group on confidentiality and Annex F are listed in annex VI of document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.1/10

Note by the Secretariat

At its first meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee adopted decision POPRC-1/3 on pentabromodiphenyl ether. In paragraph 2 of the decision, the Committee decided to establish an ad hoc working group to review further the proposal to list pentabromodiphenyl ether in Annex A to the Convention (UNEP/POPS/POPRC.1/5 and UNEP/POPS/POPRC.1/INF/5) and to develop a draft risk profile in accordance with Annex E

The members of the ad hoc working group on pentabromodiphenyl ether and its observers are listed in annex VI to document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.1/10

Note by the Secretariat

At its first meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee adopted decision POPRC1/4 on chlordecone. In paragraph 2 of the decision, the Committee decided to establish an ad hoc working group to review further the proposal to list chlordecone in Annex A to the Convention (UNEP/POPS/POPRC.1/6 and UNEP/POPS/POPRC.1/INF/6) and to develop a draft risk profile in accordance with Annex E

The members of the ad hoc working group on chlordecone and its observers are listed in annex VI of document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.1/10

Note by the Secretariat

At its first meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee adopted decision POPRC-1/5 on hexabromobiphenyl. In paragraph 2 of the decision, the Committee decided to establish an ad hoc working group to review further the proposal to list hexabromobiphenyl in Annex A to the Convention (UNEP/POPS/POPRC.1/7 and UNEP/POPS/POPRC.1/INF/7) and to develop a draft risk profile in accordance with Annex E

The members of the ad hoc working group on hexabromobiphenyl and its observers are listed in annex VI of document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.1/10

Note by the Secretariat

At its first meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee adopted decision POPRC-1/6 on lindane. In paragraph 2 of the decision, the Committee decided to establish an ad hoc working group to review further the proposal to list lindane in Annex A to the Convention (UNEP/POPS/POPRC.1/8 and UNEP/POPS/POPRC.1/INF/8) and to develop a draft risk profile in accordance with Annex E

The members of the ad hoc working group on lindane and its observers are listed in annex VI to document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.1/10

Note by the Secretariat

At its first meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee adopted decision POPRC-1/7 on perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). In paragraph 2 of the decision, the Committee decided to establish an ad hoc working group to review further the proposal to list PFOS in Annex A to the Convention (UNEP/POPS/POPRC.1/9 and UNEP/POPS/POPRC.1/INF/9) and to prepare a draft risk profile in accordance with Annex E. In paragraph 3 of the decision, the Committee decided further that issues related to the inclusion of potential perfluorooctane sulfonate precursors should be dealt with in developing the draft risk profile

The members of the ad hoc working group on PFOS and its observers are listed in annex VI of document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.1/10

Note by the Secretariat

The annex to the present note provides a summary prepared by the Secretariat of the proposal submitted by the European Union and its member States that are Party to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants for listing octabromodiphenyl ether (commercial mixture) in Annexes A, B or C of the Stockholm Convention pursuant to paragraph 1 of Article 8 of the Convention. It has not been formally edited. The complete proposal is contained in document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.2/INF/4

Possible action by the Committe

Note by the Secretariat

The annex to the present note provides a summary prepared by the Secretariat of the proposal submitted by the European Union and its member States that are Party to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants for listing pentachlorobenzene in Annex A, B or C of the Stockholm Convention pursuant to paragraph 1 of Article 8 of the Convention. It has not been formally edited. The complete proposal is contained in document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.2/INF/5

Possible action by the Committe

Note by the Secretariat

The annex to the present note provides a summary prepared by the Secretariat of the proposal submitted by the European Union and its member States that are Party to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants for listing short-chained chlorinated paraffins in Annexes A, B or C of the Stockholm Convention pursuant to paragraph 1 of Article 8 of the Convention. The complete proposal is contained in document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.2/INF/6

Possible action by the Committe

Note by the Secretariat

The annex to the present note provides a summary prepared by the Secretariat of the proposal submitted by Mexico for listing alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane in Annexes A, B or C of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants pursuant to paragraph 1 of Article 8 of the Convention. It has not been formally edited. The complete proposal is contained in document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.2/INF/7

Possible action by the Committe

Note by the Secretariat

The annex to the present note provides a summary prepared by the Secretariat of the proposal submitted by Mexico for listing beta-hexachlorocyclohexane in Annexes A, B or C of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants pursuant to paragraph 1 of Article 8 of the Convention. It has not been formally edited. The complete proposal is contained in document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.2/INF/8

Possible action by the Committe

Opening of the meeting

The second meeting of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee was held at the Varembé Conference Centre in Geneva, from 6 to 10 November 2006. Mr. Reiner Arndt (Germany), Chair of the Committee, declared the meeting open at 10.05 a.m. on Monday, 6 November 2006.

Mr. Maged Younes, Head of the Chemicals Branch of the Division of Technology, Industry and Economics of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), welcomed participants and paid tribute to the considerable achievements of the Committee since its establishment, which, he said, owed much to the leadership of its Chair, the dedicated and transparent efforts of its members and observers and the effective work of the Secretariat. Noting the heavy workload of the Committee at its second meeting, he emphasized the important role played by the Committee in terms of implementing the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants and protecting the environment from persistent organic pollutants.

Addendum

At its second meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee adopted the risk profile on commercial pentabromodiphenyl ether, on the basis of the draft contained in document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.2/7. The text of the risk profile, as amended, is provided below. It has not been formally edited.

Addendum

At its second meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee adopted the risk profile on Chlordecone, on the basis of the draft contained in document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.2/8. The text of the risk profile, as amended, is provided below. It has not been formally edited.

Addendum

At its second meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee adopted the risk profile on hexabromobiphenyl, on the basis of the draft contained in document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.2/9. The text of the risk profile, as amended, is provided below. It has not been formally edited.

Addendum

At its second meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee adopted the risk profile on lindane, on the basis of the draft contained in document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.2/10. The text of the risk profile, as amended, is provided below. It has not been formally edited.

Addendum

At its second meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee adopted the risk profile on perfluorooctane sulfonate, on the basis of the draft contained in document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.2/11. The text of the risk profile, as amended, is provided below. It has not been formally edited.