On July 20, 2023, the Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) issued a notice to call for information on "long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs), their salts and related compounds" and "medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCPs)" from the industry in China. The information required is:
Their production and use information (including production quantity, use quantity, use purpose, etc.); and
Their substitutes or relevant substitute technologies (including the introduction of substitutes or substitute technologies, substitute costs, substitute effects, etc.).
Relevant information is expected to be provided to the MEE in writing before August 27, 2023.
Background
Stockholm Convention on POPs is an international environmental treaty signed on May 22 of 2001, and effective from November 11 of 2004 in China. Initially, the Convention targeted on 12 key POPs, which were listed in Annex A (Elimination), Annex B (Restriction), and Annex C (Unintentional production). Later, the Conference of the Parties (COP), by its decisions, amended Annexes A, B and C to the Convention to include additional POPs. So far, there are 34 POPs listed in the Annexes to the Stockholm Convention.
As the nineteenth meeting to be held in October 2023, the COP to the Stockholm Convention will consider reviewing the followings:
Draft risk management evaluation for chlorinated paraffins with carbon chain lengths in the range C14-17 and chlorination levels at or exceeding 45 percent chlorine by weight
Draft risk management evaluation for long-chain PFCAs, their salts and related compounds
In order to fully understand the abovementioned POPs, China MEE is now open to the public to collect relevant information.
