A Stockholm Convention expert group approved a revision of the toolkit for identifying and quantifying releases of dioxins and furans and the design of an online version, both of which will be presented to the Sixth Conference of Parties (COP6) in April 2013.
They also approved a workplan to review and update the Guidelines on Best Available Techniques (BAT) and Provisional Guidance on Best Environmental Practices (BEP).
12 December 2012: A Stockholm Convention expert group has approved a new version of the toolkit for identifying and quantifying releases of dioxins and furans, and other unintentional persistent organic pollutants (POPs).
The seventh meeting of the Toolkit and the Best Available Techniques (BAT) and Best Environmental Practices (BEP) Expert Group was held in Geneva, Switzerland from 26-28 November 2012.
The main focus of the meeting was to conclude deliberations on unresolved issues in the revision of the Toolkit for Identification and Quantification of Releases of Dioxins and Furans and Other Unintentional POPs. The group completed revisions of chapters on chemicals and consumer goods production processes, waste disposal activities, miscellaneous sources, hot spots and contaminated sites.
The group also agreed on the design of the electronic, online interactive version of the toolkit. The Convention Secretariat reported that the electronic toolkit, as well as the revised toolkit, will be posted on the Convention’s website in January 2013, and will be formally presented at the Sixth Conference of Parties (COP6) in April 2013.
A separate session was held as the initial meeting of the BAT and BEP expert group to develop a 2013-2014 workplan for the review and update of the Guidelines on BAT and Provisional Guidance on BEP. [Stockholm Convention Note]