On 18 January 2022, the OECD organised a webinar to present recent risk reduction initiatives for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs). The webinar featured presentations from the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the European Commission and the Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Convention. Access the video replay at: https://oe.cd/pfas-videos

1. Updates on the PFAS risk reduction initiatives
under the Stockholm Convention on POPs
OECD Webinar on recent risk reduction initiatives for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl
Substances (PFASs)
18 January 2022
Kei Ohno Woodall, Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions

2. Effectiveness evaluation
POPs Global Monitoring
Science-based decision making!
12+18=30 POPs listed. POPs Review Committee
and other expert groups. From Science to Action.
185 Parties to the Convention
National Implementation Plans, national reports
Stakeholders support
Industry, civil society, academia
Donors, technical assistance, regional centers
Synergies with the Basel and
Rotterdam Conventions
Triple COPs since 2013.
20th anniversary of the adoption of the
Stockholm Convention

3. Restriction
Under review
Unintentional releases
Elimination
Article 8, Annex D, E, F,
POPs Review Committee (POPRC)
1 Pesticide: DDT
1 Industrial POP: PFOS, its salts and
PFOSF
*Annex B chemicals have “Acceptable purposes”
for which Parties can continue production/use if
registered.
14 Pesticides:
Aldrin, Chlordane, Chlordecone, Dicofol,
Dieldrin, Endosulfan, Endrin, Heptachlor,
Alpha/beta/gamma HCH, Mirex, PCP,
Toxaphene
12 Industrical POPs:
C-DecaBDE, C-OctaBDE, C-PentaBDE, HBB,
HBCDD, HCBD, PCB, PCN, PFOA, its salts
and PFOA-related compounds, SCCPs,
HCB*, PeCB*
*Also used as pesticides
7 U-POPs:
HCB, HCBD, PeCB, PCB, PCDD/PCDF, PCN
Year 1: Proposal / Annex D
screening
↓
Year 2: Annex E risk profile
↓
Year 3: Annex F risk management
evaluation / recommendation
↓
Year 4: COP decision
Annex A
Annex C
Annex B
• PFHxS, its salts and related compounds;
• Long-chain carboxylic acids, their salts and
related compounds
POPs listed under the Stockholm Convention

4. 1. Hard metal plating in closed-loop systems
2. Fire-fighting foam for liquid fuel vapour
suppression and Class B fires in installed
systems, including both mobile and fixed
systems
1. Photo masks in semiconductor/LCD
2. Decorative metal plating
3. Parts for color printers/color copy
machines
4. Insecticides for red imported fire
ants/termites
5. Chemically driven oil production
6. Carpets; Leather/apparel;
Textile/upholstery; Paper/packaging;
Coatings/coating addtives; Rubber/plastics
1. Insect baits with sulfluramid (CAS
No. 4151-50-2) as an active
ingredient for control of leaf-cutting
ants from Atta spp. and Acromyrmex
spp. for agricultural use only
1. Photo-imaging
2. Photo-resist/anti-refletive coatings
for semiconductors
3. Etching agent for compound
semiconductors and ceramic filters
4. Hard metal plating in closed-loop
5. Aviation hydraulic fluids
6. Certain medical devices
7. Fire-fighting foam
Every 4 years (2015, 2019, 2023…)
Evaluation of the continued need for PFOS

5. PFOA, its salts and PFOA-related compounds
Entered into force: 3 December 2020
Specific exemptions: 9 applications
Definition:

6. Approx. 355 substances matching the definition included in
the indicative list (UNEP/POPS/POPRC.17/INF/14)
Indicative list of PFOA, its salts and PFOA-related
compounds covered under the Stockholm Convention
Review of the specific exemptions for the use of
PFOI for the production of PFOB
Information collection in 2025; Review at POPRC-22 in 2026;
consideration at COP-13 in 2027
Listing of PFOA, its salts and PFOA-related compounds
in Annex III to the Rotterdam Convention
To be considered at the face-to-face segment of RC COP-10
from 6 to 17 June 2022 (UNEP/FAO/RC/COP.10/12)

7. To be considered at the face-to-face segment of SC COP-10
from 6 to 17 June 2022 (UNEP/POPS/COP.10/12)
• Listing PFHxS, its salts and PFHxS-related compounds in
Annex A to the Convention without specific
exemptions
• Establishing a process for the identification of
substances covered by the listing of PFHxS, its salts and
PFHxS-related compounds
(Currently available as: UNEP/POPS/POPRC.15/INF/9)
Recommendation by the POPRC

8. Long-chain PFCAs, their salts and related compounds
• C9-C21 PFCAs: A homologous series of substances with the
molecular formula CnF2n+1CO2H (where 8 ≤ n ≤ 20)
• Related compounds: Precursors to C9-C21 PFCAs, where the
perfluorinated alkyl moiety has the formula
CnF2n+1 (where 8 ≤ n ≤ 20) and is directly bonded
to any chemical moiety other than a fluorine,
chlorine or bromine atom
• Annex D screening: - Persistence
- Bioaccumulation
- Potential for long-range environmental transport
- Adverse effects
• Proposed for listing by Canada in 2021
• Proposal to be considered at POPRC-17 in
Jan 2022
• Applications:
o Surfactant application and production
of fluoropolymer
o Electronic articles and medical devices
o Food contact materials, ski waxes,
building materials, firefighting foams,
personal care products, apparel, home
textiles

9. Other
studies
4
Annex E
Risk profile
2
Annex D
Screening
1
Annex F
Risk Management
Evaluation
3
17th meeting of the POPRC
 Long-chain PFCAs
 Chlorpyrifos
 MCCPs
OTHERS
• Assessment of alternatives to PFOS, its salts and PFOSF, review of their continued need
• Indicative list of substances covered by the listing of PFOA, its salts and PFOA-related
compounds under ths Stockholm Convention
• Review of information on the specific exemptions for decaBDE and SCCPs
• Guidance on log-range environmental transport
SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONSIDERATION
• Alternatives: Technical feasibility, costs, efficiacy, risks, availalability,
accessibility
• Possible control measures: Technical feasibility and costs;
posotive/negative impacts on society
• Waste and disposal implications
• Access to information/public education
• Control/monitoring capacity
• National/regional control actions
 Dechlorane Plus
 UV-328
 Methoxychlor
 PFOS
 PFOA
 DecaBDE, SCCPs
 LRET
24-28 January 2022, Geneva

10. BC-14/12:
Plastic Waste
Amendments
Y48
Annex II
Plastic waste,
including mixtures
A3210
Annex VIII
Hazardous plastic waste
B3011
Annex IX
Clean plastic waste for
recycling
Basel Convention Plastic Waste Amendments
+ Plastic Waste Partnership
+ Technical Guidelines
+ Further action…
Effective 1 Jan 2021
Prior
Informed
Consent
(PIC)

12. © WWF, Vincent
Kneefel
© BRS, Kei Ohno

13. Technical assistance on PFAS reduction
Objectives:
• Improve the understanding of the Stockholm
Convention Parties in the implementaiton of the
Convention with respect to PFOA and PFOS in
particular in fire-fighting foam;
• Support the Stockholm Convention Parties are in the
environmentally sound management of PFAS listed
under the Convention through pilot activities.
Supporting the environmentally sound
management of PFAS listed under the
Stockholm Convention
Specific exemptions for fire-fighting foams:
Fire-fighting foam for liquid fuel vapour suppression and liquid
fuel fires (Class B fires) in installed systems, including both
mobile and fixed systems (Annex A part X and Annex B part III)
a) Ensure that fire-fighting foam that contains those substances
shall not be exported or imported except for the purpose of
environmentally sound disposal
b) Not use fire-fighting foam that contains or may contain those
substances for training
c) Not use fire-fighting foam that contains or may contain those
substances for testing unless all releases are contained
d) By the end of 2022, if it has the capacity to do so, restrict
uses of fire-fighting foam that contains or may contain those
substances to sites where all releases can be contained
e) Make determined efforts designed to lead to the
environmentally sound management of fire-fighting foam
stockpiles and wastes that contain or may contain those
substances

14. • Co-lead by Finnish Environment Institute and US EPA
• AFFF inventory and phase-out support in 8 Arctic Council
States (Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway,
Russian Federation, Sweden, USA)
• Consultant (ENRgConsultants, UK) preparing inventories
of AFFF stockpiles
• Questionnaire developed
• Information on contaminated sites collected
• Supporting stakeholders in transition to alternative
foams without compromising safety
• 10-12 pilot projects (airports, oil terminals, municipal
fire brigades)
• Developing practices for clean-up of contaminated
equipment (including the level e.g. fire-engines or
sprinkler systems should be cleaned)
AFFF (Aqueous Film Forming Foam) and other
PFAS containing Foam Phase Out in The Arctic
https://arctic-council.org/about/working-
groups/acap/home/projects/afff-aqueous-film-forming-foam-
and-other-pfas-containing-foam-phase-out-in-the-arctic/
Technical assistance on PFAS reduction

15. • May 2022 – April 2027
• USD 8.85 million
• Component 1: Information sharing and chemical
management pilots on priority COCs including
POPs in textile facilities
• Component 2: Eco-innovative strategies toward a
non-toxic and circular textiles' economy
• Component 3: Knowledge management for
scaling up
GEF/UNEP project: Reducing uses and
releases of chemicals of concern,
including POPs in the textiles sector
https://www.thegef.org/projects-operations/projects/10523
Technical assistance on PFAS reduction

16. Thank you!
Kei Ohno Woodall
Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam
and Stockholm conventions
11-13 chemin des Anémones
CH 1219 Châtelaine, Geneva
Tel.: +41 22 917 8201
Email: kei.ohno@un.org