The fourth Conference of the Parties (COP4) to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) was held from 4-8 May 2009, in Geneva, Switzerland.

Over 800 participants, representing more than 149 governments, as well as intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, and UN agencies, attended the meeting. Three key decisions were prerequisites for success at COP4: the addition of nine new chemicals to the Convention; financial resources and technical assistance, including endorsement of regional coordinating centers; and agreement on a non-compliance mechanism. The three issues were interlinked, and while delegates were at an impasse until early Saturday morning, 9 May, a political compromise was eventually achieved allowing the COP to adopt a compromise package of decisions on new chemicals and financial resources and technical assistance. There was no agreement on a non-compliance mechanism and work on this was deferred to COP5.
Link to further information
IISD RS POPs COP4 coverage