1st meeting of the Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) small intersessional working group | Stockholm Convention

 Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) is listed in Annex A to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants with specific exemptions for all Parties for PCB in articles in use in accordance with the provisions in Part II of Annex A. Part II of Annex A provides that each Party shall, among other things, by 2025, take action to identify and remove from use equipment containing PCB with the priorities specified therein, and by 2028, make determined efforts designed to lead to environmentally sound waste management of liquids containing PCB and equipment contaminated with PCB content above 0.005 %, in accordance with paragraph 1 of Article 6 of the Convention. With regard to PCB in open applications (e.g. cable-sheaths, cured caulk and painted objects), each Party shall endeavour to identify and manage them in accordance with paragraph 1 of Article 6.

In decision SC-9/3, the Conference of the Parties decided to undertake, at its eleventh meeting in 2023, a review of progress towards the elimination of PCB and decided to re-establish a small intersessional working group, working by electronic means and, subject to the availability of resources, through a face-to-face meeting, to assist the Secretariat in preparing, for consideration by the Conference of the Parties at its eleventh meeting:

1. A report on progress towards the elimination of PCB;
2. Guidance on a standardized approach to developing inventories of PCB and to analysis for the identification and quantification of PCB, as recommended by the small intersessional working group;
3. A draft strategy for Parties to meet the 2025 and 2028 goals of the Stockholm Convention.

Pursuant to paragraph 7 of the same decision, the Government of Colombia expressed its interest in serving as lead country in the preparation of the report. The experts to participate in the small intersessional working group nominated by Parties and observers are listed in document UNEP/POPS/PCBSIWG/2020/1/3. At its first meeting, the small intersessional working group will consider its draft workplan for the intersessional period between the ninth and tenth meetings of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention.

CONTINUE READING ON: chm.pops.int