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Third meeting of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee (POPRC-3)
19-23 November 2007 | Geneva, Switzerland
Summary Report
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English
November 2007
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Daily highlights:
Monday, 19 Nov - Tuesday, 20 Nov - Wednesday, 21 Nov - Thursday, 22 Nov - Friday, 23 Nov

Highlights for Monday, 19 November 2007

The third meeting of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee (POPRC-3) to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) opened on Monday 19 November in Geneva, Switzerland. Chair Reiner Arndt (Germany) welcomed participants and thanked the Secretariat, POPRC members and the intersessional working groups for their work, which enabled POPRC-3 to table eleven chemicals.

After adopting the agenda and agreeing on the organization of work, participants discussed two operational issues: the listing of precursors to perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and the naming of commercial products and mixtures.

At midday, participants heard presentations on the socioeconomic impacts of potential control measures for lindane in South Africa and for PFOS in China. During the afternoon, the Committee discussed the draft outline of draft risk management evaluations for perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and pentabromodiphenyl ether (pentaBDE). Contact groups were established to discuss each of these draft risk management evaluations and met Monday evening.

POPRC members and observers met in plenary throughout the day. 

Donald Cooper, Executive Secretary of the Stockholm Convention, welcomed participants, and extended a special welcome to those observers who will be becoming members of the POPRC in May 2008. He also announced the launch of a new version of the electronic system for national reports.

On Monday afternoon, Ian Rae, Australia, Chair of the Ad Hoc Working Group on pentaBDE, presented the draft risk management evaluation for pentaBDE. He outlined possible control measures including voluntary reduction by manufacturers, eco-labeling, ban or restriction, or emission controls at waste handling facilities and highlighted the need to consider the efficacy and effectiveness of control measures.

Robert Chenier, Canada, Chair of the Ad Hoc Working Group on PFOS, gave a brief presentation on the draft risk management evaluation for PFOS and outlined key unresolved issues, including: the definition of PFOS and its precursors, uses with no reported technically feasible alternatives, uses for which alternative substances or technologies may be available, and listing options and whether they should include details on use exemptions.

Daily highlights:
Monday, 19 Nov - Tuesday, 20 Nov - Wednesday, 21 Nov - Thursday, 22 Nov - Friday, 23 Nov
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