EU calls for nine new chemicals to be added to Stockholm Convention
At a meeting of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants in Geneva from 4-8 May, the EU will call for nine new chemicals to be added to its list of dangerous substances to be phased out globally. If successful, it will be the first time since the adoption of the Convention that new substances have been added to the list. The EU has nominated the majority of the substances. The nine proposed chemicals are: commercial pentabromodiphenyl ether, commercial octabromodiphenyl ether, Chlordecone, hexabromobiphenyl, alpha hexachlorocyclohexane, beta hexachlorocyclohexane, Lindane, perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, its salts and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride and pentachlorobenzene. Use of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) is heavily restricted within the European Union, because of the risks they pose to human health. POPs can lead to cancer, birth defects and immune and reproductive system dysfunction. Because of their nature, these chemicals can travel long distances and are found even in remote areas of the planet, far away from their use and production. Once emitted into to the environment they remain there for decades, and make their way up the food chain, accumulating in ever increasing concentrations in the fatty tissue of animals and humans. The EU therefore believes they meet the requirements for being phased out at a global level. The nine chemicals will be discussed during the 4th Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Stockholm Convention, which currently targets 12 POPs, known as the 'dirty dozen'. The 12 consist of nine pesticides including DDT, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) previously used in industry, and unintentional by-products of industrial processes including dioxins and furans. Other important subjects for the COP include reaching agreement on rules to determine when a Party is in breach of the Convention and how to respond to such breaches; endorsing a decision to promote synergies between the three chemicals Conventions (Stockholm, Basel and Rotterdam); and examining the effectiveness of the Convention and the tools for assessing this. EU legislation implementing the Stockholm Convention goes further than the international agreement. Its aim is to eliminate the production and use of internationally recognised POPs. The EU adopted an implementation plan in 2007 to complement Member State national plans.
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