POPs Convention listed DP and UV-328 in Annex A for Global Ban

At the 11th Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Stockholm Convention held from 1 to 12 May, 2023, delegates representing 180 countries took important decision to list three persistent organic pollutants (POPs), namely the pesticide methoxychlor and the industrial chemicals Dechlorane Plus and UV-328 in Annex A to the Convention. The listing will require Parties to eliminate the production and use of these chemicals.

As agreed, methoxychlor will be banned without exemption, while Dechlorane Plus and UV-328 will be granted time-limited exemption in certain applications.

Here are the main usage and hazard of three POPs:

Substance	CAS No.	Usage	Hazard
Methoxychlor	72-43-5	Used as an insecticide combating a wide range of pests Replacement for DDT	Persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) Endocrine disruptor
Dechlorane Plus	13560-89-9; 135821-03-3; 135821-74-8	Used as flame retardant in many polymeric systems Used in thermosets such as epoxy and polyester resins, polyurethane foam, polyethylene, ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber, etc.	PBT Long-range environmental transport
UV-328	25973-55-1	Used as a UV absorber In paints, coatings and sealants Used as an additive in plastics, printing ink and adhesives	PBT Very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB) Long-range environmental transport