Stockholm Convention - substances and implementation plan

The Stockholm Convention contains provisions on persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and is a global convention with the aim to protect human health and the environment. Every country that is a party to the Convention shall develop, implement and update a national implementation plan.

POPs – persistent organic pollutants

The Stockholm Convention contains provisions on persistent organic pollutants (POPs) with considerable negative health and environmental properties. The convention aims at protecting human health and the environment, and is currently covering 34 substances. The years in brackets in the list below indicates when the parties to the convention made the decision for the respective substance.

The following POPs substances are regulated by the Stockholm Convention:

  • UV-328 – additive in plastic to protect color and structure (2023)
  • Methoxychlor – a pesticide (2023)
  • Dechlorane Plus – a flame retardant (2023)
  • Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS) and PFHxS-related substances – belongs to the group PFAS, Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and is used for surface treatment and in firefighting foam (2022)
  • Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts and PFOA related compounds - belongs to the group PFAS, Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and is produced and used for surface treatment in a number of consumer products and in fire fighting foam (2019)
  • Dicofol - pesticide (2019)
  • Decabromdiphenyl ether – flame retardant mainly used in plastic (2017)
  • Short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) - lubricant, additive in sealants, paints, plastic and rubber (2017)
  • Hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD) - e.g. solvent. Is being produced as a biproduct during some manufacturing (2015, and 2017 regarding unintentional production)
  • Polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) - additive in plastic and rubber and as a lubricant (2015)
  • Pentachlorphenol (PCP) - pesticide (2015)
  • Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) – flame retardant in insulation plastics, electronics and textiles (2013)
  • Endosulfan – pesticide (2011)
  • Hexabromodiphenyl ether and heptabromodiphenyl ether – flame retardant in insulation plastics (2009)
  • Tetrabromodiphenyl ether and pentabromodiphenyl ether – flame retardant (2009)
  • Chlordecone – previously used as a pesticide (2009)
  • Hexabromobiphenyl (HBB) – previously used as a flame retardant (2009)
  • Lindane – insecticide previously used for treatment against head lice and scabies (2009)
  • Alpha and Beta hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) – insecticides produced as unintentional by-product of lindane (2009)
  • Pentachlorobenzene – flame retardant, produced unintentionally during certain combustion (2009)
  • Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) – is still used in fire fighting foam and the metal industry (2009)
  • Aldrin, Chlordane, Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), Dieldrin, Endrin, Heptachlor, Mirex, Toxaphene, Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), Hexachlorobenzene (HCB), Polychlorinated dioxines (PCDD), Furans (PCDF) (all in 2004).

Read more about the listed substances, substances proposed for listing and the mechanism to include more substances on the website of the Stockholm Convention. External link.

Sweden's implementation plan for the Stockholm Convention

Parties to the Stockholm Convention shall develop, implement and update national implementation plans to limit or eliminate production, use and releases of persistent organic pollutants. Since 2006, Sweden has such an implementation plan that describea the situation in Sweden, identifies the main concerns and presents ongoing measures and strategies for future work.

In October 2020, the latest update of the national implementation plan was submitted to the Government Offices for further submission to the Convention Secretariat. The update has been made by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency in cooperation with the Swedish Chemicals Agency and the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management. The plan address the substances listed in the Convention in 2019 and in 2017; Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts and PFOA related compounds, Dicofol, Decabromdiphenyl ether and Short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) and also unintentional production of Hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD).

The latest update of Sweden's implementation plan, from 2020 (on the Swedish EPA website) External link.

The update of Sweden's implementation plan from 2017 (on the Swedish EPA website) External link.

The update of Sweden's implementation plan from 2014 (PDF 205 kB) , 205 kB.

The update of Sweden's implementation plan from 2012 (PDF 2,1 MB, on the website of the Swedish EPA) External link.

Sweden’s implementation plan from 2006

EU POPs Regulation

The EU POPs Regulation is implementing the Stockholm Convention by banning or restricting the use of the POPs substances in both chemical products and articles within the EU.

The EU POPs Regulation

Read more about the EU POPs Regulation

Last published 6 February 2024