19 May 2015: The chemicals and electronics sectors responded to decisions taken by the 12th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 12) to the Basel Convention and COP 7 to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). Responding to Basel outcomes, the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) expressed support for actions taken to distinguish legitimate shipments of used electronics for appropriate servicing from improper electronic waste shipments.

Rick Goss, ITI, commended the “clear signal” sent by government that the transport of obsolete and broken products to countries lacking proper management capacity will not be tolerated. He added that the meeting resulted in strict conditions for environmentally sound servicing operations, which are not considered waste processing.

On a Stockholm decision rejecting some of the listing recommendations made by the POP Review Committee (POPRC), the American Chemistry Council (ACC) acknowledged that the quality of information included in the substance review could be improved. A Council representative said the POPRC should ensure robust scientific data and a review of all relevant studies, using an “appropriate weight-of-evidence framework.” While the ACC did not express a specific position on the chemicals proposed for listing, it hoped to see substances listed based on the best scientific information available.

COP 7 of the Stockholm Convention and COP 12 of the Basel Convention convened from 4-15 May 2015, in Geneva Switzerland, alongside the COP 7 to the Rotterdam Convention on Prior Informed Consent, collectively referred to as the Triple COPs or BRS COPs. [Chemicals Watch Press Release] [Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions Press Release on Outcomes of Triple COPs][IISD RS coverage of the BRS COPs]