The Seventh Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-7) for an International Legally Binding Instrument for Implementing International Action on Certain Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) was held from 14-18 July 2003, in Geneva, Switzerland.

Approximately 400 delegates from more than 135 countries, as well as representatives of intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, attended the meeting. With expectations that the Stockholm Convention will enter into force early in 2004, this was almost certainly the last meeting as an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee. (The Convention will enter into force 90 days after receipt of the 50th instrument of ratification; 33 countries have ratified thus far, and there are indications that the required balance will be met early in 2004). Significant progress was made during this meeting in laying the groundwork for the successful administration of the Convention, although a number of the most contentious issues have been left for consideration by the Conference of the Parties.
During the week, delegates focused on addressing a number of “housekeeping” issues in preparation for the first COP. These included developing rules of procedure and financial rules for the COP, clarifying dispute settlement rules, elaborating reporting formats, and considering offers to host the permanent secretariat. INC-7 also provided the opportunity for delegates to consider on some of the more complex and contentious issues that will need to be addressed as the Stockholm Convention enters into force. These include in particular, such issues as the financial mechanism, the terms of reference for the POPs Review Committee, and non-compliance. No progress was made on the issue of a non-compliance mechanism, with developing countries firmly entrenched in their position that technical and financial matters be addressed prior to non-compliance. Discussions on this issue were postponed.
By the end of the meeting, delegates had dealt with all the issues in the Chair’s programme of work, and decisions were adopted on: offers to host the permanent Secretariat; technical assistance; national implementation plans (NIPs); exempted use; Party reporting; specific exemptions; DDT; interim financial arrangements; a standardized Toolkit for identification and quantification of dioxin and furan releases; measures to reduce or eliminate releases from stockpiles and wastes; effectiveness evaluation; the budget; and the financial mechanism. Following a week of work by the Legal Drafting Group (LDG), delegates were able to forward to COP-1, with few remaining outstanding issues, draft rules of procedure, draft financial rules, and draft rules of arbitration and conciliation. Review by the LDG also allowed for clarification of the draft terms of reference of the POPs Review Committee, thus allowing a clear focus on key political decisions at COP-1. The Earth Negotiations Bulletin report outlining these discussions in detail is available online at: http://enb.iisd.org/chemical/pops7/