The Stockholm Convention: Your Global Framework for POPs Compliance

If you're exporting products into the EU, US, or Asia, you’re already under the Stockholm Convention. Whether you know it or not.

This isn’t a symbolic agreement. The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) is the reason POPs are banned in most major markets today. From DDT to PFHxS, this treaty determines which chemicals are globally restricted — and which companies are legally on the hook.

What Is the Stockholm Convention?

Adopted in May 2001 and enforced since 2004, the Stockholm Convention is an international treaty aimed at eliminating or restricting the production, use, and release of POPs Persistent Organic Pollutants.

As of 2025:

• 185 countries are Parties to the Convention
• 31 substances are regulated under Annex A, B, or C
• The Convention shapes EU POPs Regulation, TSCA, and many regional laws

What Makes POPs So Dangerous?

POPs aren’t ordinary chemicals. They meet four strict criteria:

1. Persistence – They don’t degrade easily in the environment
2. Bioaccumulation – They build up in humans, animals, and food chains
3. Toxicity – Even low doses can cause cancer, reproductive harm, and neurological damage
4. Long-range transport – They travel across borders via air, water, and trade

That’s why POPs aren’t just a local issue. They’re a global regulatory priority.

How the Convention Works

Annex A – Elimination

These chemicals must be fully phased out. Example: PCBs (still allowed in equipment until 2025; waste disposal deadline: 2028)

Annex B – Restriction

Limited use with tight exemptions. Example: DDT — only allowed for disease control, not agriculture.

Annex C – Unintentional By-Products

Countries must reduce or eliminate emissions of POPs like dioxins, furans, and PCBs generated during combustion or industrial processes.

How New POPs Are Added

Any Party can propose a chemical. From there:

• The POPs Review Committee (POPRC) conducts a scientific risk assessment
• The Conference of the Parties (COP) votes on its inclusion
• If approved, it’s added to Annex A/B/C with binding obligations

Recent additions include:

• PFHxS, its salts, and related compounds (Annex A – 2022 COP, enforced by EU in 2023)
• PFOA and dicofol (added in 2019)

The list keeps growing — and companies must keep up.

Implementation Requirements

If your country is a Party (which most are), you’re required to:

• Create a National Implementation Plan within two years
• Identify and eliminate POPs in stockpiles, waste, and products
• Track releases and report exposure levels in humans and the environment
• Adopt Best Available Techniques and Best Environmental Practices (BAT/BEP) for all processes involving POPs

And if you export to a country that’s a Party? You’re expected to follow these rules, too.

Global Supply Chain Relevance

If you’re a manufacturer of:

• Electronics
• Plastic housings or insulation
• Textiles, coatings, or chemicals

Then Stockholm-aligned regulations are already affecting:

• Your raw material choices
• Your supplier disclosures
• Your market access eligibility

The EU POPs Regulation, TSCA PBT rules, and several Asian REACH-like laws are all rooted in this treaty.

How Acquis Helps Global Manufacturers Comply

Acquis helps compliance and sustainability teams:

• Map products to POPs and other restricted substances
• Collect and validate supplier declarations
• Monitor Stockholm-aligned global regulations
• Manage disposal and legacy product risk with audit-ready reports

If PFHxS caught you off guard, it won’t happen again with Acquis.

EU POPs Regulation Isn’t Optional

If you’re working globally, you’re already operating under the Stockholm Convention’s reach. It’s not a matter of “whether you comply”, it’s whether you know how to prove it.

From PCBs to PFHxS, the regulatory landscape will keep expanding. Acquis helps you stay ready.

Get ahead of your next audit. Schedule a POPs risk assessment with the Acquis team today and ensure you’re compliant globally, not just locally.