Specific Exemptions

To enable Parties to the Convention to take measures to reduce or eliminate releases of POPs from intentional production and use, for which alternatives do not exist yet or are not readily available, the Convention allows Parties to register specific exemptions for a specific period of time. Annexes A and B to the Convention describe specific exemptions, as well as acceptable purposes, that are available with respect to the relevant POPs. 

Parties may register for specific exemptions listed in Annex A or B pursuant to paragraph 3 of Article 4. These specific exemptions have a limited timeframe and shall expire five (5) years after the date of entry into force of the Convention with respect to that particular chemical (paragraph 4 of Article 4), unless an earlier date is indicated in the Register by the Party or an extension is granted by the Conference of the Parties under paragraph 7 of Article 4.

Register of Specific Exemptions

The Register of specific exemptions was established in conformity with Article 4 of the Stockholm Convention, for the purpose of identifying the Parties that have specific exemptions listed in Annex A or Annex B;

The Register is regularly updated after decisions adopted by the Conference of the Parties so as to include specific exemptions available following adoption of amendments to annexes to the Convention, as well as to take into account expired specific exemptions. Following decisions of the Conference of the Parties, no new registrations may be made with respect to certain specific exemptions. For further information, please see the Expired Specific Exemptions.

Dates of entry into force of the amendments to Annexes to the Convention

An indicative table on the status and entry into force of the amendments to the Annexes is available in the Amendments to Annexes to the Stockholm Convention page.


Specific exemptions for chemicals listed in Annexes A and B

Various specific exemptions and acceptable purposes have been made available to Parties within the Convention text and subsequently by decisions adopted by the Conference of the Parties to amend the Annexes to the Convention.

The lists below do not include those specific exemptions that have expired. Further information on these is available here.

Specific exemptions for chemicals listed in Annex A

Chemical
Activity
Specific exemptions
Hexabromocyclododecane [1]

Production

As allowed for the parties listed in the Register of Specific Exemptions in accordance with the provisions of Part VII of Annex A of the Convention
Use  Expanded polystyrene and extruded polystyrene in buildings in accordance with the provisions of Part VII of Annex A
Hexabromodiphenyl ether and
heptabromodiphenyl ether [1] 		Use Articles in accordance with provisions of Part IV of Annex A
Lindane
CAS No: 58-89-9		 Use Human health pharmaceutical for control of head lice and scabies as second line treatment
Pentachlorophenol and its salts and esters

Production

As allowed for the Parties listed in the Register of Specific Exemptions in accordance with the provisions of Part VIII of Annex A
Use  Pentachlorophenol for utility poles and cross-arms in accordance with the provisions of Part VIII of Annex A
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB)  Use  Articles in use in accordance with the provisions of Part II of Annex A.
Polychlorinated naphthalenes, including dichlorinated naphthalenes, trichlorinated naphthalenes, tetrachlorinated naphthalenes, pentachlorinated naphthalenes, hexachlorinated naphthalenes, heptachlorinated naphthalenes, octachlorinated naphthalene

Production

Intermediates in production of polyfluorinated naphthalenes, including octafluoronaphthalene
Use  Production of polyfluorinated naphthalenes, including octafluoronaphthalene
Tetrabromodiphenyl ether and
pentabromodiphenyl ether [1]		 Use Articles in accordance with the provisions of Part V of Annex A
Technical endosulfan and its related isomers

Production

As allowed for the parties listed in the Register of Specific Exemptions
Use  Crop-pest complexes as listed in accordance with the provisions of Part VI of Annex A

[1] Please refer to the definitions as provided in Part III of Annex A of the Convention, for more information

Specific exemptions for chemicals listed in Annex B

Chemical
Activity
Specific exemptions
Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (CAS No: 1763-23-1), its saltsa and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride
(CAS No: 307-35-7)

  a For example:

potassium perfluorooctane sulfonate
(CAS no. 2795-39-3);

lithium perfluorooctane sulfonate
(CAS no. 29457-72-5);

ammonium perfluorooctane sulfonate
(CAS no. 29081-56-9);

diethanolammonium perfluorooctane sulfonate (CAS no. 70225-14-8);

tetraethylammonium perfluorooctane sulfonate (CAS no. 56773-42-3);

didecyldimethylammonium perfluorooctane sulfonate (CAS no. 251099-16-8).

 Production

As allowed for Parties listed in the Register

 

Use

For the following specific uses, or as an intermediate in the production of chemicals with the following specific uses:

  • 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