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Stockholm Convention
Earth Negotiations Bulletin
 
Summary and Analysis
  
Monday, 20 October 2008
 
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Fourth meeting of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee (POPRC-4) to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

13-17 October 2008 | Geneva, Switzerland

Highlights for Tuesday, 14 October 2008
L-R: Michael Wittman, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management of Austria, and Shuji Tamura, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) of Japan, presented on substitution and alternatives during a lunch-time side event.
On Tuesday, POPRC-4 heard reports from the contact groups on short-chained chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) and on endosulfan. The Committee then considered additional information on the risk profile for pentachlorobenzene (PeCB) relating to unintentional releases and discussed reductive debromination of bromo-aromatics. The Committee considered draft risk management evaluations (RMEs) for commercial-octabromodiphenyl ether (c-octaBDE), alpha- and beta-hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH), and pentachlorobenzene (PeCB). The Committee agreed to establish drafting groups to finalize the RMEs for c-octaBDE and alpha- and beta-HCH. On PeCB, discussions focused on the implications of listing the chemical under Annex C (Unintentional Production) of the Convention.

The Committee then considered the report on the outcomes of activities undertaken for effective participation of parties in the work of the Committee. Many members congratulated Mario Yarto (Mexico) and Bo Wahlström (Sweden) on their intersessional work, including the preparation of a Handbook for Effective Participation in the Work of the POPRC and the convening of three regional workshops.

Drafting groups on c-octaBDE and alpha- and beta-HCH and a contact group on PeCB were scheduled to meet on Tuesday evening, while the contact group on SCCPs will be meeting on Wednesday morning.
In the morning, Mohammad Aslam Yadallee (Mauritius), Chair of the contact group on SCCPs, presented a progress report to the Committee, noting that while amendments had been made on issues such as chemical identity and toxicity data, the group required another working session.
Ricardo Barra (Chile), Chair of the contact group on endosulfan, reported that the group has produced a draft proposal to be presented to the Committee.
Jarupong Boon-Long (Thailand) presented on unintentional releases of PeCB.
POPRC Chair Reiner Arndt (Germany)
Members of the Stockholm Convention Secretariat. L-R: Kei Isobe, Fatoumata Ouane, and David Ogden.
Related Links
Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants resources
POPRC-4 Meeting’s website
Meeting’s documents
POPRC-4 Annotated provisional agenda
Scenario note for the fourth meeting of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee
Tentative schedule for the fourth meeting of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee

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