New Zealand | New chemicals under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants: Consultation document (22 page(s), in English)

Title of document
New chemicals under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants: Consultation document (22 page(s), in English)

Description
See discussion document (page 12 relating to Dicofol and pages 13-16 of PFOA) at  https://www.epa.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/Documents/Hazardous-Substances/Consultation-on-Rotterdam-and-Stockholm-Conventions/Consultation-on-updating-new-POPs-Feb-2020.pdf Proposed changes to the current regulatory requirements to: 1. Provide for the prohibition of use and production of two persistent organic pollutants (POPs) newly listed in Annex of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants to meet obligations under the Stockholm Convention. The listing decisions are SC-9/11 and SC-9/12. The two POPs are: SC-9/11: Dicofol CAS No: 115-32-2 and CAS No: 10606-46-9 SC-9/12: Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts and PFOA-related compounds  “Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts and PFOA-related compounds” means the following: (i)     Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA; CAS No: 335-67-1), including any of its branched isomers; (ii)    Its salts; (iii)   PFOA-related compounds which, for the purposes of the Convention, are any substances that degrade to PFOA, including any substances (including salts and polymers) having a linear or branched perfluoroheptyl group with the moiety (C7F15)C as one of the structural elements; The following compounds are not included as PFOA-related compounds: (i)     C8F17-X, where X= F, Cl, Br; (ii)    Fluoropolymers that are covered by CF3[CF2]n-R' where R'=any group, n>16; (iii)   Perfluoroalkyl carboxylic and phosphonic acids (including their salts, esters, halides and anhydrides) with =8 perfluorinated carbons; (iv)   Perfluoroalkane sulfonic acids (including their salts, esters, halides and anhydrides) with =9 perfluorinated carbons;  (v)    Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), its salts and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride (PFOSF), as listed in Annex B to the Convention. The proposal is that New Zealand would make use of one of the short-term exemptions available under the Decision-9/12 which would enable short term continued us of PFOA, its salts and PFOA-related compounds in Fire-fighting foam for liquid fuel vapour suppression and liquid fuel fires (Class B fires) in installed systems, including both mobile and fixed systems, in accordance with paragraph 2 of part X of this Annex. 2. Provide for the continued use of manufactured articles containing PFOA, its salts and PFOA related compounds that are already in use in New Zealand.

Notifying member: New Zealand

Notification: G/TBT/N/NZL/98

Objective tag
Protection of human health or safety; Protection of the environment

Objective
1. To comply with New Zealand’s obligations under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. The obligation to prohibit production and use of the POPs becomes binding in December 2020. 2. To protect the environment and human health by reducing exposure to POPs.

Documents

• Consultation-on-updating-new-POPs-Feb-2020.pdf

Agency responsible
Phone: +64 4 916 2426 Fax: +64 4 914 0433 Email: info@epa.govt.nz or POPsConsultation@epa.govt.nz Website: https://www.epa.govt.nz Level 10 Grant Thornton House 215 Lambton Quay Wellington 6011 New Zealand Private Bag 63002 Wellington 6140 New Zealand

Timing:

• Submission: 05/03/2020
• Reception: 05/03/2020
• Distribution: 05/03/2020
• Final date for comments: 06/05/2020
• Proposed date of adoption: N/A