The objective of the Convention is to commit the international community to protecting human health and the environment from persistent organic pollutants (POPs). [1]

The chemical nature of POPs allows them to circulate around the world and cause damage far from the sites of their release.

The Convention essentially has five aims[2]:

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Convention initially focuses action on twelve POPs of greatest concern to the global community. These chemicals are more commonly known as “The Dirty Dozen.”

However, the Convention includes a strict scientific review process for the future addition of new POPs to the current list.

[1] The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants Homepage. www.pops.int/

[2] UNEP Publication. Ridding the World of POPs: A Guide to the Stockholm Convetion on Persistent Organic Pollutants. United Nations Environment Programme. August 2002.

[3] The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. http://www.pops.int/documents/convtext/convtext_en.pdf

 

The convention requires the participating parties to adhere to the following restrictions regarding each chemical [3]:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It restricts imports and exports of the 10 intentionally produced POPs, only permitting their transport for environmentally sound disposal or for some extenuating circumstance specific to the country

It requires participating countries to develop national plans for implementing Convention with in two years

 

 

Some of the targeted POPs are all ready virtually obsolete due to their known hazardous effects. Most countries have banned or severely restricted these chemicals for many years and replacement chemicals and techniques are in place. The next challenge is finding the leftovers and appropriately disposing of them. The convention suggests ways to do this, as well as measures that can be taken if countries requires financial support.

However for some of the other chemicals, economical and realistic alternatives still need to be identified before they can be implemented. The Convention supports an active search for the discovery and execution of these alternatives.

 

 

There are many other POPs in the world and most of them have hazardous effects after direct exposure. However, scientifically supporting the connection between some of these chemicals and their exact effects on humans and the environment is difficult. The Convention commits to actively pursuing the identification of the effects of additional POPs on the environment

 

 

Not much can be down with the traces of chemicals that are everywhere. Eventually, after years, decades, or in some cases centuries, the POPs will degrade into less dangerous substance. If not more are produced then eventually these chemicals will disappear completely. In the meantime, the Convention encourages the international search for ways to limit the damage caused by these chemicals

The Conventions also suggests ways to dispose of the stockpiles, storage facilities and dumps of POPs still remaining.

 

 

The Convention calls for participating governments to continue communications with each other to maintain information exchange about new discoveries regarding the chemicals and effective approaches for their removal. This includes continual reports of progress as well as attendance at international meetings.

The Stockholm Convention requires participating parties to cease production and avoid new uses of intentionally produced POPs. [1] POP byproducts will ideally also be controlled by individual party action. There will also be baseline requirements for save handling and disposal for POPs. [1]

The trade of POPs is now restricted and is moving toward total banning of exports. Financial and technical support for developing countries and countires in economic tradition to meet treaty obligation.