April 2013: The Stockholm Convention Secretariat has released updated guidance documents to assist Parties in the process of developing, reviewing and updating National Implementation Plans (NIPs), under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). The documents were developed in collaboration with the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), with financial support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

The updated documentation includes new guidance on reviewing and updating NIPs. The guidance on developing NIPs for the Convention, and the guidance on calculation of action plan costs for specific POPs, have been updated to include POPs recently added to the Convention.

The Stockholm Convention initially classified 12 POPs: aldrin, chlordane, DDT, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, mirex, toxaphene; hexachlorobenzene (HCB), polychlorinated biphenyls, dioxins and furans. Under the Convention, governments are required to promote best available techniques (BAT) and best environmental practices (BEP) for replacing existing POPs while preventing the development of new POPs. The NIPs set out government plans for addressing POPs.

In 2009, Parties to the Convention agreed to add nine more chemicals to the Convention: c-pentabromodiphenyl ether; chlordecone; hexabromobiphenyl (HBB); alpha hexachlorocyclohexane (alphaHCH); betaHCH; lindane; c-octabromodiphenyl ether, pentachlorobenzene (PeCB) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), its salts and PFOS fluoride. In 2011, Parties added endosulfan to the Convention. [Stockholm Convention Webpage on NIP Guidance] [Updated Guidance on NIP Development] [Updated Guidance on calculation of action plan costs for specific POPs]