Overview and Mandate

The Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee (POPRC) is a subsidiary body to the Stockholm Convention established for reviewing chemicals proposed for listing in Annex A, Annex B, and/or Annex C. Article 8 of the Stockholm Convention entails the reviewing process of new chemicals and Annex D, Annex E and Annex F specify the information requires for the review.

How does the POPRC review chemicals?

The POPRC reviews proposals submitted by Parties for listing new chemicals in accordance with Article 8 of the Convention. Please read the "Handbook for effective participation in the work of the Committee" for a detailed explanation on the review process. Below is an outline of the process:

1. Submission of proposal for listing a chemical

Any Party may submit a proposal to the Secretariat for listing a chemical in Annex A, Annex B, and/or Annex C of the Convention. The Secretariat verifies that the proposal contains information specified in Annex D and forwards it to the POPRC for consideration.

2. Screening phase

The POPRC examines the proposal and applies the screening criteria specified in Annex D.

3. Risk profile

If the POPRC is satisfied that the screening criteria have been fulfilled, it invites Parties and observers to submit information specified in Annex E and develops a risk profile.

Based on the risk profile, the POPRC makes decision on whether the chemical is likely, as a result of its long-range environmental transport, to lead to significant adverse human health and/or environmental effects such that global action is warranted.

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Annex E of the Stockholm Convention 

Risk profile outline
(UNEP/POPS/POPRC.1/10/Annex IV)

Additional explanatory notes for Annex E information submission form
(UNEP/POPS/POPRC.5/10/Annex VI)

4. Risk management evaluation

If the POPRC decides that the proposal shall proceed, it invites Parties and observers to submit information related to the socio-economic considerations specified in Annex F and develops a risk management evaluation.

On the basis of the risk profile and risk management evaluation, the POPRC recommends whether the chemical should be considered by the Conference of the Parties for listing in Annexes A, B and/or C.

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Annex F of the Stockholm Convention 

Revised risk management evaluation outline
(UNEP/POPS/POPRC.3/20/Annex II)

Additional explanatory notes for the Annex F information submission form
(UNEP/POPS/POPRC.5/10/AnnexVII)

5. Decision on listing of the chemical in Annex A, B, and/or C

The Conference of the Parties, taking due account of the recommendations of the POPRC, including any scientific uncertainty, shall decide, in a precautionary manner, whether to list the chemical, and specify its related control measures, in Annex A, Annex B and/or Annex C.

COP Decisions on the POPRC

The table below contains COP decisions on establishment of the POPRC, adopting POPRC rules of procedures and other decisions establishing operational aspects of the process.

 

DecisionTitleDownload
Items: 12 Files: 24
SC-1/7 Establishment of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee109 K94.17 K
SC-1/8 Rules of procedure for preventing and dealing with conflicts of interest relating to activities of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee75.5 K38.48 K
SC-2/8 Listing of chemicals in Annexes A, B and/or C of the Convention63 K12.54 K
SC-3/9Listing chemicals in Annexes A, B or C of the Convention68.5 K15.72 K
SC-4/20Operating procedures of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee92 K29.71 K
SC-5/11Operation of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee137 K15.23 K
SC-6/14Operation of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee52.5 K12.98 K
SC-7/15Operation of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee16.2 K17.95 K
SC-8/9Operation of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee16.73 K19.05 K
SC-9/10Operation of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee21.79 K100.48 K
SC-10/12Operation of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee31.18 K119.67 K
SC-11/8Operation of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee22.06 K18.72 K