1. Ratification of the UNECE Protocol on Pollutant Release
and Transfer Registers
to the Aarhus Convention
Mr. Jeremy Wates
Secretary to the UNECE Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters
UNECE Protocol on PRTRs: Ready for Take-off, Side event to Sixth Ministerial Conference “Environment for Europe”, Belgrade, 10 October 2007

2. Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters
25 June Adoption of the Convention at the 4th Ministerial “Environment for Europe” Conference, Aarhus, Denmark. Signed by 39 countries and the European Community
30 Oct Entry into force of the Convention
21 May Adoption of the Protocol on PRTRs at extra-ordinary meeting of the Parties, within the framework of the 5th Ministerial Conference “Environment for Europe” (Kiev, Ukraine)
Working Group on PRTRs established in Kiev to prepare for entry into force

3. Legal basis in Convention
Article 5, paragraph 9 and article 10, para. 2 (i)
Legal basis: article 5, para. 9 and article 10, para. 2 (e) and (i) of the Aarhus Convention, requiring each Party
“to take steps to establish progressively ... a coherent, nationwide system of pollution inventories or registers on a structured, computerized and publicly accessible database compiled through standardized reporting.” (art. 5, para. 9)
“… taking into account international processes and developments, including the elaboration of an appropriate instrument concerning pollution release and transfer registers or inventories ….” (art. 10, para. 2(i) )

4. Objective of Protocol: “… to enhance public access to information through the establishment of coherent, integrated, nationwide PRTRs”
PRTRs under the Protocol are required to:
be publicly accessible and user-friendly
present standardized, timely data on a structured, computerised database
cover releases and transfers from certain major point sources
begin to include some diffuse sources (e.g. transport, agriculture, small- and medium-sized enterprises)
allow public participation in their development and modification

5. Facilities covered (annex I) include:
Thermal power stations and refineries
Mining and metallurgical industries
Chemical plants
Waste and waste-water management plants
Paper and timber industries
Intensive livestock production and aquaculture
Food and beverage production
Pollutants covered (annex II) include:
Greenhouse gases
Acid rain pollutants
Ozone-depleting substances
Heavy metals
Certain carcinogens, such as dioxins
TOTAL: 86 pollutants

6. Status of Protocol Ratifications:
Estonia
Germany
Luxembourg Switzerland
European Community
16 Member State ratifications are needed for the Protocol to enter into force

7. Steps for Protocol’s future implementation: institutional architecture
Rules of procedure and compliance review mechanism
Financial arrangements
Capacity-building
International cooperation and reporting
International PRTR Coordinating Group
SAICM / ICCM etc

8. Steps for Protocol’s future implementation: capacity-building
Completion of technical guidance on implementation
Further guidance planned on : - PRTR reporting by enterprises - dissemination of PRTR information data users’ guide
European Community guidance
on PRTR
UNECE Guidelines on monitoring and reporting by enterprises

9. Providing technical guidance on approaches to reporting releases and transfers

10. Main messages:
Now is the time to ratify! Countries should speedily ratify
the PRTR Protocol, if possible so that PRTR MOP-1
can be held back-to-back with Aarhus MoP-3
Establish PRTRs: set up registers in line with the
requirements of the Protocol, availing as necessary of
guidance and capacity building support
To donors: support countries in transition in
establishing PRTRs: EECCA countries, esp. those
outside the orbit of future EU accession, need special
assistance to develop national PRTRs

11. For more information, see
Thank you.