Stockholm Convention (2001) on Persistent Organic Pollutants

PURPOSE: to conclude, on behalf of the EU, the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.

LEGISLTIVE ACT: Council Decision.

CONTENT: in approving this Act, the Community approves its participation on the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.

To recall, the Convention was approved in May 2001 and provides a framework, based on the precautionary principle, for eliminating the production, use, import and export of 12 priority Persistent Organic Pollutants. It also makes provision for their safe handling, disposal and the elimination or reduction of their unintentional release. Further, the Convention lays down the rules for the listing of new chemicals in the Convention.

In view of the fact that the Convention is fully in line with the Community’s policy on promoting measures, at an international level, to deal with regional and worldwide environmental problems, the Community has approved this Council Decision.