Having concluded that the hexa- and heptabromodiphenyl ether components of commercial octabromodiphenyl ether are likely, as a result of their long-range environmental transport, to lead to significant adverse human health and/or environmental effects such that global action is warranted,

Having concluded that pentachlorobenzene 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,

Having concluded that alpha hexachlorocyclohexane 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

Adopts the risk management evaluation for beta hexachlorocyclohexane found in document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.4/15/Add.4;

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 endosulfan, as set out in the evaluation contained in the annex to the present decision

3. Agrees to the text of the draft revised form for the declaration of conflicts of interest of members of the Committee set out in the annex to the current decision;

Recommends to the Conference of the Parties that it amend the Committee’s terms of reference as follows:

(a) Paragraph 27 should be amended to read:

“Proposals for listing chemicals in Annex A, B or C shall be distributed at least three months in advance of meetings. Other documents shall be distributed at least six weeks in advance of meetings.”

Recalling that, pursuant to requests from members of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee designated by developing country Parties, at its third meeting the Conference of the Parties requested the Secretariat to undertake work to support and strengthen the capacity of Parties which are developing countries or countries with economies in transition to participate fully in the work of the Committee,

Opening of the meeting

The fourth meeting of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee was held at the Varembé Conference Centre in Geneva from 13 to 17 October 2008. Mr. Reiner Arndt (Germany), Chair of the Committee, declared the meeting open at 10 a.m. on Monday, 13 October.

Mr. Donald Cooper, Executive Secretary of the Stockholm Convention, welcomed the members of the Committee and observers. He explained that he had been holding discussions with Mr. Achim Steiner, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and that it had become clear that the environmental community was benefiting from what he termed “the right Committee and the right Chair at the right time”. He noted that the Stockholm Convention operated a two-tier system, according to which the Review Committee would make recommendations at the scientific level and the Conference of the Parties would take action at the political level, on whether to include a chemical under the Convention. He urged experts to bear that distinction in mind

Addendum

Risk management evaluation for commercial octabromodiphenyl ether

At its fourth meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee adopted the risk management evaluation for commercial octabromodiphenyl ether, on the basis of the draft contained in document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.4/6, as amended. The text of the risk management evaluation is set out below. It has not been formally edited

Addendum

At its fourth meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee adopted the risk management evaluation for pentachlorobenzene, on the basis of the draft contained in document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.4/7, as amended. The text of the risk management evaluation is set out below. It has not been formally edited

Addendum

    At its fourth meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee adopted the risk management evaluation for alpha hexachlorocyclohexane, on the basis of the draft contained in document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.4/8, as amended. The text of the risk management evaluation is set out below. It has not been formally edited.

Addendum

    At its fourth meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee adopted the risk management evaluation for beta hexachlorocyclohexane, on the basis of the draft contained in document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.4/9, as amended. The text of the risk management evaluation is set out below. It has not been formally edited

    Addendum

At its third meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee, by decision POPRC-3/7, adopted the risk profile for pentachlorobenzene (UNEP/POPS/POPRC.3/20/Add.7). An addendum to that risk profile was adopted at its fourth meeting. The text of the addendum is set out below. It has not been formally edited.

Addendum to the risk profile for pentachlorobenzen

    Addendum

Addendum to the risk management evaluation for perfluorooctane sulfonate

At its third meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee, by decision POPRC-3/5, adopted the risk management evaluation for perfluorooctane sulfonate (UNEP/POPS/POPRC.3/20/Add.5). An addendum to that evaluation was adopted at its fourth meeting. The text of the addendum is set out below. It has not been formally edited

Addendum

Risk management evaluation for commercial octabromodiphenyl ether

At its fourth meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee adopted the risk management evaluation for commercial octabromodiphenyl ether, on the basis of the draft contained in document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.4/6, as amended. The text of the risk management evaluation is set out below. It has not been formally edited

Addendum

At its fourth meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee adopted the risk management evaluation for pentachlorobenzene, on the basis of the draft contained in document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.4/7, as amended. The text of the risk management evaluation is set out below. It has not been formally edited

Addendum

    At its fourth meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee adopted the risk management evaluation for alpha hexachlorocyclohexane, on the basis of the draft contained in document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.4/8, as amended. The text of the risk management evaluation is set out below. It has not been formally edited.

Addendum

    At its fourth meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee adopted the risk management evaluation for beta hexachlorocyclohexane, on the basis of the draft contained in document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.4/9, as amended. The text of the risk management evaluation is set out below. It has not been formally edited

    Addendum

At its third meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee, by decision POPRC-3/7, adopted the risk profile for pentachlorobenzene (UNEP/POPS/POPRC.3/20/Add.7). An addendum to that risk profile was adopted at its fourth meeting. The text of the addendum is set out below. It has not been formally edited.

Addendum to the risk profile for pentachlorobenzen

    Addendum

Addendum to the risk management evaluation for perfluorooctane sulfonate

At its third meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee, by decision POPRC-3/5, adopted the risk management evaluation for perfluorooctane sulfonate (UNEP/POPS/POPRC.3/20/Add.5). An addendum to that evaluation was adopted at its fourth meeting. The text of the addendum is set out below. It has not been formally edited

I. Commercial pentabromodiphenyl ether

A. Recommendation pertaining to commercial pentabromodiphenyl ether following on the proposal by Norway

1. The Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee received a proposal from Norway to list commercial pentabromodiphenyl ether in Annex A of the Stockholm Convention.

Scheduled date

17 October 2008

Working group on endosulfan

Committee members

Ms. Anahit Aleksandryan (Armenia)

The contact group on hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) met during the evening of Wednesday, 15 October 2008, to discuss the proposal for listing HBCDD in Annex A of the Convention and to exchange views on the proposal submitted by Norway.

Opening of the meeting

Organizational matters

Item 1. Opening of the meeting

The fourth meeting of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee will be held from 13 to 17 October 2008 at the Geneva International Conference Centre, 9–11 Rue de Varembé, Geneva, Switzerland. The meeting will be opened at 10 a.m. on Monday, 13 October 2008.

Opening and welcoming statements will be delivered.

Note by the Secretariat

The terms of reference of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee, contained in decision SC-1/7, set the number of members at a total of 31 members drawn from Parties of the regions identified in appendix I to the terms of reference, with appropriate regional balance in the number of Parties that should designate an expert

In order to ensure an orderly rotation of the members of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee, half of its members were appointed for a term of office of two years in conformity with the terms of reference.

Note by the Secretariat

By its decision SC-1/7, the Conference of the Parties adopted terms of reference for the Persistent Organic Pollutant Review Committee, which include provisions relating to conflicts of interest. Paragraph 15 of the decision states that “each member of the Committee as well as each invited expert shall sign a declaration of interests as set out in decision SC-1/8 prior to participating in the work of the Committee”

Decision SC-1/8 sets out the rules of procedure for preventing and dealing with conflicts of interest on the part of members of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee. The information to be provided in the declaration of interests is set out in section 4 of the annex to the decision, which is reproduced in annex I to the present note for ease of reference

Note by the Secretariat

Paragraph 1 of Article12 of the Stockholm Convention states: “The Parties recognize that rendering of timely and appropriate technical assistance in response to requests from developing country Parties and Parties with economies in transition is essential to the successful implementation of this Convention”.

Some developing country Parties have expressed to the Secretariat the need for support and capacity to participate fully in the work of the Committee and, in particular, for identifying and compiling information pertinent to the requests of the Committee on the chemicals being assessed for listing in the Convention.

Note by the Secretariat

At its second and third meetings, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee established ad hoc intersessional working groups to prepare draft risk profiles or draft risk management evaluations for chemicals under review.

In view of the number of chemicals still under review by the Committee, it is likely that the Committee at the current meeting will establish further ad hoc intersessional working groups for drafting relevant risk profiles and risk management evaluations

Note by the Secretariat

At its third meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee adopted decision POPRC3/6 on commercial octabromodiphenyl ether. By paragraph 5 of the decision, the Committee decided to establish an ad hoc working group to prepare a risk management evaluation that included an analysis of possible control measures for commercial octabromodiphenyl ether in accordance with Annex F to the Convention.

The members of the ad hoc working group on commercial octabromodiphenyl ether and its observers are listed in annex V of document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.3/20

Note by the Secretariat

At its third meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee adopted decision POPRC3/7 on pentachlorobenzene. By paragraph 3 of the decision, the Committee decided to establish an ad hoc working group to prepare a risk management evaluation that included an analysis of possible control measures for pentachlorobenzene in accordance with Annex F to the Convention.

The members of the ad hoc working group on pentachlorobenzene and its observers are listed in annex V to document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.3/20

Note by the Secretariat

At its third meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee adopted decision POPRC3/9 on alpha hexachlorocyclohexane. By paragraph 3 of the decision, the Committee decided to establish an ad hoc working group to prepare a risk management evaluation that included an analysis of possible control measures for alpha hexachlorocyclohexane in accordance with Annex F to the Convention.

The members of the ad hoc working group on alpha and beta hexachlorocyclohexane and its observers are listed in annex V to document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.3/20

Note by the Secretariat

At its third meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee adopted decision POPRC3/10 on beta hexachlorocyclohexane. By paragraph 3 of that decision, the Committee decided to establish an ad hoc working group to prepare a risk management evaluation that included an analysis of possible control measures for beta hexachlorocyclohexane in accordance with Annex F to the Convention.

The members of the ad hoc working group on alpha and beta hexachlorocyclohexane and its observers are listed in annex V to document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.3/20

Note by the Secretariat

At its third meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee adopted decision POPRC3/8 on short-chained chlorinated paraffins. By paragraph 3 of that decision, the Committee decided to establish an ad hoc working group to review and update the draft risk profile in accordance with Annex E to the Convention.

The members of the ad hoc working group on short-chained chlorinated paraffins and its observers are listed in annex V to document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.3/20

Note by the Secretariat

The annex to the present note contains a summary of the proposal submitted by Norway for listing hexabromocyclododecane in Annex A of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants pursuant to paragraph 1 of Article 8 of the Convention. The summary is being circulated as prepared by Norway and has not been formally edited. The complete proposal may be found in document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.4/INF/15

Possible action by the Committe

Note by the Secretariat

The annex to the present note contains a proposed format for a recommendation by the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee to the Conference of the Parties to list one or more chemicals under Annexes A, B or C of the Convention and an outline of an explanatory note to accompany the recommendation.

Possible action by the Committe

Note by the Secretariat

1.  At its third meeting, the Committee noted information gaps in the risk profile regarding the relative environmental burden caused by intentional use and unintentional releases of pentachlorobenzene.

2.  The Committee invited Parties and observers to submit information on unintentional sources and releases of pentachlorobenzene. The annex to the present note contains a summary of relevant information submitted to the Secretariat during the intersessional period between the third and fourth meetings of the Committee, while the full compilation of submitted information is contained in document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.4/INF/19

Note by the Secretariat

The annex to the present note contains a proposal submitted by the European Community and its member States that are Parties to the Stockholm Convention for listing endosulfan in Annexes A, B or C of the Convention pursuant to paragraph 1 of Article 8 of the Convention. The proposal has not been formally edited

At the third meeting of the Committee the European Community and its member States that are Parties to the Convention submitted a proposal to list endosulfan in Annexes A, B or C of the Convention (UNEP/POPS/POPRC.3/5). The Committee agreed to defer consideration of the proposal to its fourth meeting pending receipt of additional information

Opening of the meeting

The fourth meeting of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee was held at the Varembé Conference Centre in Geneva from 13 to 17 October 2008. Mr. Reiner Arndt (Germany), Chair of the Committee, declared the meeting open at 10 a.m. on Monday, 13 October.

Mr. Donald Cooper, Executive Secretary of the Stockholm Convention, welcomed the members of the Committee and observers. He explained that he had been holding discussions with Mr. Achim Steiner, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and that it had become clear that the environmental community was benefiting from what he termed “the right Committee and the right Chair at the right time”. He noted that the Stockholm Convention operated a two-tier system, according to which the Review Committee would make recommendations at the scientific level and the Conference of the Parties would take action at the political level, on whether to include a chemical under the Convention. He urged experts to bear that distinction in mind

Addendum

Risk management evaluation for commercial octabromodiphenyl ether

At its fourth meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee adopted the risk management evaluation for commercial octabromodiphenyl ether, on the basis of the draft contained in document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.4/6, as amended. The text of the risk management evaluation is set out below. It has not been formally edited

Addendum

At its fourth meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee adopted the risk management evaluation for pentachlorobenzene, on the basis of the draft contained in document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.4/7, as amended. The text of the risk management evaluation is set out below. It has not been formally edited

Addendum

    At its fourth meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee adopted the risk management evaluation for alpha hexachlorocyclohexane, on the basis of the draft contained in document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.4/8, as amended. The text of the risk management evaluation is set out below. It has not been formally edited.

Addendum

    At its fourth meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee adopted the risk management evaluation for beta hexachlorocyclohexane, on the basis of the draft contained in document UNEP/POPS/POPRC.4/9, as amended. The text of the risk management evaluation is set out below. It has not been formally edited

    Addendum

At its third meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee, by decision POPRC-3/7, adopted the risk profile for pentachlorobenzene (UNEP/POPS/POPRC.3/20/Add.7). An addendum to that risk profile was adopted at its fourth meeting. The text of the addendum is set out below. It has not been formally edited.

Addendum to the risk profile for pentachlorobenzen

    Addendum

Addendum to the risk management evaluation for perfluorooctane sulfonate

At its third meeting, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee, by decision POPRC-3/5, adopted the risk management evaluation for perfluorooctane sulfonate (UNEP/POPS/POPRC.3/20/Add.5). An addendum to that evaluation was adopted at its fourth meeting. The text of the addendum is set out below. It has not been formally edited