1. Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants

2. Introduction
Over the past 50 years the world has engaged in an uncontrolled, worldwide chemistry experiment involving the oceans, air, soils, plants, animals, and human beings.
In particular, Persistent organic pollutants (POPs,) has aroused concern because of the significant threats it poses to health and the environment.
The Stockholm Convention is international treaty aimed at restricting and ultimately eliminating their production, use, release and storage.

3. Unit Objectives At the end of the unit participants will be able to:
Explain the scope and purpose of the Stockholm Convention
Identify Persistent Organic Pollutants covered by the Stockholm convention
Discuss control measures used in the regulation of Trade in POPs
Determine the role of Customs and border control
Contribute to the Information exchange & clearing house mechanism

4. Unit Outline Introduction Scope of the Stockholm Convention
Identifying POPs
Measures to Regulate Trade in POPs
Role of Customs and Border Control
Information Exchange & Clearing House Mechanism
Conclusion

5. Scope of the Convention
The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants is a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from chemicals that remain intact in the environment for long periods, become widely distributed geographically and accumulate in the fatty tissue of humans and wildlife.

6. Status of the Convention
The Stockholm Convention, was adopted in and entered into force in 2004
There are 157 Parties to the Convention including
all CARIFORUM Countries except Grenada and Haiti.
Parties must take measures to eliminate or reduce the release of POPs into the environment.

7. 2 Categories of POPs
The intentionally produced POPs include: - pesticides and industrial chemicals that may be traded between countries.
The unintentionally produced POPs which are by-products of industrial or other processes involving combustion which are not products in commerce.

8. Harmful Effects of POPs
POPs are semi-volatile and take a long time to degrade in the environment, they are carried globally by wind and water currents and accumulate through the global food chain. POPs cause harm in areas far away from their production sites, irrespective of national boundaries.

9. Harmful Effects of POPs
Exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) can lead serious health effects, including certain cancers, birth defects, dysfunctional immune and reproductive systems, greater susceptibility to disease and even diminished intelligence.

10. Initial list of 12 POPs Chemical Pesticides Industrial chemicals
By-products
Aldrin
Chlordane
DDT
Dieldrin
Endrin
Heptachlor
Mirex
Toxaphene +
Hexachlorobenzene
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)
Chlorinated Dioxins
Chlorinated Furans
Stockholm Convention uses a reference system similar to that under the Basel Convention – the chemicals are listed in Annexes to the Convention and can be amended accordingly. The list will be discussed in a minute (see slide 6)

11. List of 9 new POPs Chemical Alpha Hexachlorocyclohexane
Pesticides
Industrial chemicals
By-products
Alpha Hexachlorocyclohexane +
Beta Hexachlorocyclohexane
Chlordecone
Commercial pentabromodiphenyl ether
Commercial octabromodiphenyl ether
Hexabromobiphenyl
Lindane
Pentachlorobenzene
Perfluoroctane sulfonic acid, its salts and perflurooctane sulfonyl fluiride (PFOs)

12. Control Measures
Eliminating the production and use of chemicals listed in Annex A, which currently are aldrin, chlordane, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, HCB, mirex, toxaphene and PCBs.
Restricting the production and use of chemicals listed in Annex B, which currently is DDT (the only allowable purpose of which is for disease vector control).
Reducing or eliminating the production of unintentionally produced POPs listed in Annex C, which currently are furans and dioxins, and HCB and PCBs as by-products.
Reducing or eliminating releases of POPs from wastes of all chemicals listed in Annexes A, B or C.

13. Control Measures Elimination (POPs listed in annex A) *
Restriction (POPs listed in annex B)
Continued reduction (POPS listed in annex C)
Management of stockpiles and wastes*
Promotion and research
National Implementation Plan
Exchange of information*
Reporting*
Effectiveness evaluation
Technical assistance and Financial mechanism
*Steps with particular relevance to customs and enforcement officers / agents

14. Elimination
Each Party shall prohibit and/or take the legal and administrative measures necessary to eliminate its production and use of chemicals in Annex A subject to the provisions of that Annex.
The practice in the region is to include such goods in a schedule (s) of Prohibited Imports or Exports
POPs listed in Annex A are:
Aldrin, Chlordane, Dieldrin, Endrin, Heptachlor, Hexachlorobenzene, Mirex, Toxaphene, PCBs. And the new ones:
Commercial pentabromodiphenyl ether (listed as Tetrabromodiphenyl ether and pentabromodiphenyl ether)
Commercial octabromodiphenyl ether (listed in as Hexabromodiphenyl ether and heptabromodiphenyl ether)
Parties shall: Cease production of new PCBs immediately.; Eliminate use of in-place PCB equipment by ; Achieve environmentally sound disposal of PCB wastes as soon as possible and not later than 2028.; Report every five years on progress of PCB elimination to the COP
Elimination of production and use of chemicals in Annex A: chemicals in Annex A are listed for elimination; Parties have to take legal and administrative measures to eliminate its production and use
All pesticides except DDT: listed are Aldrin, Chlordane, Dieldrin, Endrin, Heptachlor, Hexachlorobenzene, Mirex, Toxaphene and PCB, Alpha hexachlorocyclohexane, Beta hexachlorocyclohexane, Chordecone,
Specific exemptions  register: chemicals listed in Annex A can still be used and produced for certain specific exemptions, that are mentioned in Annex A, e.g. Aldrin is still allowed for use as an insecticide or heptachlor is still allowed for use as an termiticide; Lindane is still allowed for use as human pharmaceutical against head lice and scabies. Parties have to notify the Secretariat that they make use of the exemptions, Secretariat keeps register;
General exemptions: Some general exemptions apply, unintentional trace contaminants, quantities in articles before entry-into-force of the Convention and closed-system site-limited intermediate; need to notify Secretariat for articles in use and closed-system site-limited intermediate;
Specific part II on PCBs: 3 main goals are to be achieved for PCBs, namely to cease production of PCBs immediately, to take all equipment and liquids containing PCBs out of use by 2025 and to achieve environmentally sound management of PCBs wastes as soon as possible but no later than by 2028;
Restriction of production and use of chemicals in Annex B: chemicals in Annex B (at the moment only DDT) are subject to restrictions concerning their use and production
Acceptable purpose and specific exemption  register: For DDT, there are acceptable purposes (production and use for disease vector control) and specific exemptions (production and use as intermediate and for dicofoil production). Parties need to notify the Secretariat and the World Health Organization to make use of these exemptions and comply with additional regulations (see part II of Annex B):
General exemptions: unintentional trace contaminants, quantities in articles before entry-into-force of the Convention and closed-system site-limited intermediate; need to notify Secretariat for articles in use and closed-system site-limited intermediate;
Use WHO recommendations and guidelines: Use DDT in accordance with World Health Organization recommendations and guidelines and when locally safe, effective and affordable alternatives are not available to the Party.
Action Plans and research on alternatives: Some additional obligations like the drafting of action plans on restriction of DDT use, implementation of alternative products and strategies, measures to strengthen health care and reduce incidence of disease 14

15. Restriction
Each Party shall restrict its production and use of chemicals in Annex B in accordance with the provisions of that Annex.
Currently listed: DDT,
Production and use of chemicals in Annex B is eliminated, except for “acceptable purposes”
The practice in the region is to include those items in a Schedule of Restricted Imports or Exports
Restriction of production and use of chemicals in Annex B: chemicals in Annex B (at the moment only DDT) are subject to restrictions concerning their use and production
Acceptable purpose and specific exemption  register: For DDT, there are acceptable purposes (production and use for disease vector control) and specific exemptions (production and use as intermediate and for dicofoil production). Parties need to notify the Secretariat and the World Health Organization to make use of these exemptions and comply with additional regulations (see part II of Annex B):
General exemptions: unintentional trace contaminants, quantities in articles before entry-into-force of the Convention and closed-system site-limited intermediate; need to notify Secretariat for articles in use and closed-system site-limited intermediate;
Use WHO recommendations and guidelines: Use DDT in accordance with World Health Organization recommendations and guidelines and when locally safe, effective and affordable alternatives are not available to the Party.
Action Plans and research on alternatives: Some additional obligations like the drafting of action plans on restriction of DDT use, implementation of alternative products and strategies, measures to strengthen health care and reduce incidence of disease 15

16. Managing stockpiles & wastes
Parties shall:
Develop strategies for identifying POPs stockpiles
Manage POPs stockpiles & wastes in a safe, efficient and environmentally sound manner
Dispose of POPs wastes, consistent with international rules, standards and guidelines ( Basel Convention)
Not dispose in a way that leads to reuse or alternative use of POPs
Not transport POPs wastes unless comply with international rules, standards and guidelines*
Customs Authorities must play a vital role in ensuring that stockpiles of POPs and wastes are dealt with in an environmentally sound manner 16

17. Import/Export Parties shall:
Prohibit or take measures to eliminate import and export of Annex A chemicals;
Parties shall take measures to ensure that:
Import of Annex A / Annex B listed Chemicals only for environmentally sound disposal or for a use/purpose permitted for that Party
Export of Annex A / Annex B listed Chemicals with production or use specific exemption in effect only for environmentally sound disposal or to Party permitted to use that chemical or non-Party provided an annual certification.
Customs enforce provisions of Import / Export Schedules
Restriction of production and use of chemicals in Annex B: chemicals in Annex B (at the moment only DDT and PFOs) are subject to restrictions concerning their use and production
Acceptable purpose and specific exemption  register: For DDT, there are acceptable purposes (production and use for disease vector control) and specific exemptions (production and use as intermediate and for dicofoil production). Parties need to notify the Secretariat and the World Health Organization to make use of these exemptions and comply with additional regulations (see part II of Annex B):
General exemptions: unintentional trace contaminants, quantities in articles before entry-into-force of the Convention and closed-system site-limited intermediate; need to notify Secretariat for articles in use and closed-system site-limited intermediate;
Use WHO recommendations and guidelines: Use DDT in accordance with World Health Organization recommendations and guidelines and when locally safe, effective and affordable alternatives are not available to the Party.
Action Plans and research on alternatives: Some additional obligations like the drafting of action plans on restriction of DDT use, implementation of alternative products and strategies, measures to strengthen health care and reduce incidence of disease 17

18. International Trade in POPs
Obligations relevant to import/export activities cover intentionally produced POPs only The import / export of POPs is allowed only for the purpose of environmentally sound disposal or for a use permitted under the Convention for the importing Party. All other imports / exports are prohibited provided that they are covered by the appropriate legislation or administrative measure

19. Role of Customs
The role of Customs is to ensure that imports and exports of intentionally produced POPs listed in Annexes A and B are done in compliance with the Convention and supported by national legislative measures ( Import /Export Schedules)
Customs can be tasked to produce trade statistics in respect of the following:
the imports and exports of each chemical
a list of States from which chemicals are imported
a list of States to which chemicals are exported.

20. Role of Customs
Customs agencies may be required to share information or co-operate with their counterparts in other Parties in order to ensure that all Parties share responsibility for the export and import of POPs under the Convention.
Customs agencies must also co-operate closely with national implementing agencies

21. Information exchange & Clearing House Mechanism
Parties shall:
facilitate/undertake exchange of POPs information
designate national Stockholm Convention Official Contact Points and/or Focal Points
Clearing house mechanism:
Secretariat to promote exchange of information between Parties and stakeholders;
Promotion of technical and scientific exchanges
Direct linkage between Parties and Secretariat
Clearing House mechanism
Parties are invited to exchange information concerning the reduction of elimination of the production, use and release of POPs, alternatives on POPs and their risks, economic and social costs
Promote technical and scientific cooperation between Parties
National focal points nominated: by each Party to exchange information
Clearing House Mechanism was launched on May 19, 2008; maintained by the Secretariat
– new website and CHM 21

22. Reporting
Each Party reports on measures taken to implement the Convention
Information considered:
quantities of POPs listed in Annex A and B produced, imported, exported, and where possible the States from which POPs are exported
Online reporting is available in the Convention web page
Second reports were due by 31st October 2010, then every 4 years thereafter, next deadline: October

23. Review lesson objectives
Conclusion
Any Questions
Review lesson objectives
Clarify Main Points