How the Stockholm Convention reviews POPs proposed for elimination or restriction

The Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee evaluates whether the chemical is likely to lead to significant adverse human health and/or environmental effects, such that global action is warranted.

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 (Elimination), B (Restriction), and/or C (Unintentional production). The POPRC consists of 31 government-designated experts from Parties appointed by the Conference of the Parties.

Under the Convention, the POPRC considers persistence, bio-accumulation, potential for long-range environmental transport; and adverse effects of chemicals brought to the attention of the Committee.

The POPRC then evaluates 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. It examines evidence of adverse effects to human health or to the environment that justifies consideration of the chemical within the scope of this Convention; or toxicity or ecotoxicity data that indicate the potential for damage to human health or to the environment.

To support its review of a chemical, the POPRC develops a risk profile that elaborates on, and evaluates as far as possible, the following types of information:

Sources;
Hazard assessment for the endpoint or endpoints of concern;
Environmental fate;
Monitoring data;
Exposure in local areas and, in particular, as a result of long-range environmental transport, and including information regarding bio-availability;
National and international risk evaluations, assessments or profiles and labelling information and hazard classifications; and
Status of the chemical under international convention.

The Conference of the Parties, taking due account of the committee´s recommendation, may decide to list the chemical, and specify its related control measures, in Annexes A, B and/or C.