PFAS: POPRC-20 Reviews Indicative Lists for PFOA and PFHxS Compounds

The Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee (POPRC) held its 20th meeting from September 23-27, 2024, at the Food and Agriculture Organization headquarters in Rome, Italy. During this meeting, the committee provided comments on the indicative lists of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts, and PFOA-related compounds, as well as perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), its salts, and PFHxS-related compounds.
These lists were developed following the decisions at the 9th and 10th Conference of the Parties to amend Annex A of the Stockholm Convention, listing these substances for elimination. The updated lists, available in Excel format, include both covered and non-covered substances, along with detailed chemical information such as structural data.
The review of these lists is crucial for the implementation of the Convention, as Parties are required to take measures to eliminate the production and use of chemicals listed in Annex A. However, specific exemptions for use or production may apply to Parties that register for them.
This development represents another step in the global effort to address the challenges posed by persistent organic pollutants, particularly focusing on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). For more information on the POPRC-20 meeting and its outcomes, click here.