1. Opening of the meeting.

2. Organizational matters:

Item 1

Opening of the meeting

1. The twenty-first meeting of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee will be held at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in Rome from 29 September to 3 October 2025. The meeting will be opened by the Chair of the Committee, Peter Dawson (New Zealand), at 2.30 p.m. on Monday, 29 September 2025. In accordance with the terms of reference of the Committee, prior to the meeting and using a correspondence procedure, the Committee members will meet in closed session to review issues pertaining to conflicts of interest.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. At its twentieth meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee adopted decision POPRC 20/4 on polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans and mixed polybrominated/chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans, in which the Committee decided to establish an intersessional working group to further review the proposal to list the chemicals in Annex C to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants and to prepare a draft risk profile in accordance with Annex E to the Convention.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. According to paragraph 5 of part III of Annex B to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, the Conference of the Parties to the Convention 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 listed in Annex B, on the basis of available scientific, technical, environmental and economic information. According to paragraph 6 of part III of Annex B, the evaluation is to take place no later than in 2015 and every four years thereafter, in conjunction with a regular meeting of the Conference of the Parties.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. Pursuant to paragraph 3 of part X of Annex A to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, the Conference of the Parties to the Convention is to review the continued need for the specific exemption for the use of perfluorooctyl iodide for the production of perfluorooctyl bromide for the purpose of producing pharmaceutical products at its thirteenth ordinary meeting and at every second ordinary meeting thereafter. The specific exemption is to expire, in any case, at the latest in 2036.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. At its twelfth meeting, by decision SC-12/10, the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants listed medium-chain chlorinated paraffins in Annex A to the Convention, with specific exemptions.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts and PFOA-related compounds, perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), its salts and PFHxS-related compounds, and long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids, their salts and related compounds are listed in Annex A to the Stockholm Convention by decisions SC-9/12, SC-10/13, and SC-12/12, adopted by the Conference of the Parties at its ninth, tenth and twelfth meetings, respectively.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. At its eleventh meeting, the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants adopted decision SC-11/12 on persistent organic pollutants in stockpiles, products and articles in use and in wastes. In the decision, the Conference of the Parties acknowledged challenges encountered by Parties in developing appropriate strategies for identifying persistent organic pollutants as referred to in paragraph 1 (a) and (b) of Article 6 of the Convention and urged Parties to effectively implement those provisions.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. In accordance with Article 16 of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, the Conference of the Parties is to periodically evaluate the effectiveness of the Convention on the basis of available scientific, environmental, technical and economic information. This information includes comparable monitoring data on persistent organic pollutants, as well as information on their regional and global environmental transport.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. In accordance with paragraph 28 of its terms of reference, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee prepares, for each of its meetings, risk profiles and risk management evaluations as required under Article 8 of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. To perform this task, the Committee establishes an intersessional working group for each chemical and agrees on a corresponding workplan.

Note by the Secretariat

A scenario note developed by the Chair of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, Peter Dawson (New Zealand), to assist participants in preparing for the twenty-first meeting of the Committee is set out in the annex to the present note. The present note, including its annex, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

A tentative schedule for the work of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee at its twenty first meeting is set out in the annex to the present note. The schedule will be adapted as necessary as work progresses. The present note, including its annex, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

1. In its decision SC-12/8, on the operation of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee, the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants appointed 15 designated experts to serve as members of the Committee, with terms of office beginning from 5 May 2026 and ending on 4 May 2030. The curricula vitae of those members are set out in document UNEP/POPS/COP.12/INF/6/Rev.2.

Note by the Secretariat

1. The twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants was held from 28 April to 9 May 2025 in Geneva, back to back with the seventeenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal and the twelfth 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.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on the draft risk profile: polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans and mixed polybrominated/chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (UNEP/POPS/POPRC.21/2), the annex to the present note sets out additional information relating to the draft risk profile: polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans and mixed polybrominated/chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans, prepared by the intersessional working group on these chemicals. The present note, including its annex, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on the draft risk profile: polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans and mixed polybrominated/chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (UNEP/POPS/POPRC.21/2), the annex to the present note sets out a compilation of comments and responses relating to the draft risk profile for polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans and mixed polybrominated/chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans, prepared by the chair of the intersessional working group on these chemicals. The present note, including its annex, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on the process for the evaluation of the continued need for perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, its salts and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride for the various acceptable purposes and specific exemptions pursuant to paragraphs 5 and 6 of part III of Annex B to the Convention (UNEP/POPS/POPRC.21/3), the annex to the present note sets out draft terms of reference for conducting this evaluation that have been prepared by the Secretariat. The present note, including its annex, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

The annex to the present note sets out the terms of reference for the evaluation of the continued need for perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, its salts and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride for the various acceptable purposes and specific exemptions pursuant to paragraphs 5 and 6 of part III of Annex B to the Convention, as agreed by the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee at its twenty-first meeting. The present note, including its annex, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on the process for the review of the specific exemption for the use of perfluorooctyl iodide for the production of perfluorooctyl bromide for the purpose of producing pharmaceutical products pursuant to paragraph 3 of part X of Annex A to the Convention (UNEP/POPS/POPRC.21/4), the annex to the present note sets out draft terms of reference for conducting this review, prepared by the Secretariat. The present note, including its annex, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

The annex to the present note sets out the terms of reference for the review of the specific exemption for the use of perfluorooctyl iodide for the production of perfluorooctyl bromide for the purpose of producing pharmaceutical products pursuant to paragraph 3 of part X of Annex A to the Convention, as agreed by the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee at its twenty-first meeting. The present note, including its annex, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on the process for the review of medium-chain chlorinated paraffins pursuant to paragraph 2 of part XIII of Annex A to the Convention, and of the specific exemptions for medium-chain chlorinated paraffins pursuant to paragraph 12 of part XIII of Annex A (UNEP/POPS/POPRC.21/5), annexes I and II to the present note set out draft terms of reference for conducting the review of medium-chain chlorinated paraffins pursuant to paragraph 2 of part XIII of Annex A to the Convention, and the review of the specific exemptions for medium-chain chlorinated paraffins pursuant to paragraph 12 of part XIII of Annex A to the Convention, respectively. The present note, including its annexes, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in decision POPRC-21/4, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee, at its twenty-first meeting, took note of the draft terms of reference for conducting the review of the concentration limit for medium-chain chlorinated paraffins pursuant to paragraph 2 of part XIII of Annex A to the Convention, and of the specific exemptions for medium-chain chlorinated paraffins pursuant to paragraph 12 of part XIII of Annex A to the Convention, as set out in annexes I and II to the present note, respectively. The Committee decided to further consider the draft terms of reference at its twenty-third meeting. The present note, including its annexes, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

1. As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on the indicative lists of substances covered by the listings of long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids, their salts and related compounds; perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts and PFOA-related compounds; and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), its salts and PFHxS-related compounds (UNEP/POPS/POPRC.21/6), the present note provides information on how to access an indicative list of substances covered by the listing of long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids, their salts and related compounds, as prepared by the intersessional working group on these chemicals.

Note by the Secretariat

1. As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on the indicative lists of substances covered by the listings of long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids, their salts and related compounds; perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts and PFOA-related compounds; and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), its salts and PFHxS-related compounds (UNEP/POPS/POPRC.21/6), the present note provides information on how to access an indicative list of substances covered by the listing of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts and PFOA-related compounds in Annex A to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, as prepared by the Secretariat pursuant to decision SC-9/13.

Note by the Secretariat

1. As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on the indicative lists of substances covered by the listings of long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids, their salts and related compounds; perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts and PFOA-related compounds; and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), its salts and PFHxS-related compounds (UNEP/POPS/POPRC.21/6), the present note provides information on how to access an indicative list of substances covered by the listing of perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), its salts and PFHxS-related compounds, as prepared by the Secretariat pursuant to decision SC-10/14.

Note by the Secretariat

1. As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on the indicative lists of substances covered by the listings of long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids, their salts and related compounds; perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts and PFOA-related compounds; and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), its salts and PFHxS-related compounds (UNEP/POPS/POPRC.21/6), the present note provides information on how to access an indicative list of substances covered by the listing of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), its salts and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride (PFOSF) in Annex B to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, as prepared by the Secretariat.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on follow-up to the report on persistent organic pollutants in stockpiles, products and articles in use and in wastes, and consideration of ways of enhancing the submission of information specified in Annex F to the Convention (UNEP/POPS/POPRC.21/7), the annex to the present note sets out additional information on the follow-up to the report and on enhancing Annex F submissions, prepared by the Secretariat, in consultation with the Chair of the Committee. The current form for submission of information specified in Annex F is set out in Annex II to the present document. The present note, including its annexes, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on the global monitoring plan for newly listed persistent organic pollutants (UNEP/POPS/POPRC.21/8), the annex to the present note sets out further information on the global monitoring plan, including implementation challenges for newly listed persistent organic pollutants, available monitoring data, and opportunities for enhanced information exchange relevant to the Committee’s work, prepared by the Secretariat, in consultation with the co-chairs of the global coordination group for the global monitoring plan under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. The present note, including its annex, has not been formally edited.