Call for comments on a revised draft risk profile of a substance proposed as a persistent organic pollutant (POP) 2026
Call for comments on a draft risk profile for polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans and mixed polybrominated/chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans, excluding polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans.
Documents
Details
At the 20th meeting of The Stockholm Convention’s POPs Review Committee (POPRC), the Committee evaluated the proposal by Switzerland to list polyhalogenated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans in Annex C to the Stockholm Convention. The Committee concluded that these compounds meet the screening criteria specified in Annex D to the Convention (decision POPRC-20/4).
At its 21st meeting in 2025, the Committee decided to defer its decision on a related draft risk profile.
The Stockholm Convention’s POPs Review Committee (POPRC) has now requested comments on a revised draft risk profile for the following group of substances:
- polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PBDD/Fs)
- mixed polybrominated/chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PBCDD/Fs), excluding polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs)
You can find more information about POPRC’s calls for comments on the Stockholm Convention’s website.
Background
The UK is a party to the United Nations’ Stockholm Convention on persistent organic pollutants (POPs).
POPs are substances that persist in the environment, accumulate in living organisms and pose a risk to our health and the environment. They can be transported by air, water, or migratory species across international borders, reaching regions where they have never been produced or used.
Using and sharing your information
How we use your personal information is set out in Defra’s research privacy notice, with the following changes:
Your personal data will be used to assess whether the UK wishes to add comments to any Risk Profile documents during the intersessional period ahead of the next POPRC meeting on 21 to 25 September 2026.
We will publish any comments we receive on GOV.UK approximately 2 to 6 months after the date for commenting closes. It is your responsibility to remove confidential information from any comments and attachments. Comments will only be attributed to a company or organisation name.
Defra respects your personal privacy when responding to access to information requests. We only share information when necessary to meet the statutory requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
How to comment
The comment period is 8 weeks. It opens on Monday 9 March 2026 and closes on Friday 1 May 2026.
Email your responses to POPs@defra.gov.uk.