Simply stated, elimination must be the key concept within the treaty. Where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation. In this context the proponent of an activity rather than the public should bear the burden of proof. The process of applying the Precautionary Principle must be open, informed, and democratic and must involve potentially affected parties. The process must include a comprehensive, systematic examination of the full range of alternatives, including no action.
Precautionary action can help to prevent such damage before it occurs.
Scientific certainty about the levels of some POPs that are likely to cause damage is, and is likely to remain, elusive. This is particularly true of those POPs that are not included in the initial list of twelve. When considering proposals to list additional substances, it is important that the precautionary principle is taken into account at two main stages in the process. Firstly, when determining whether a proposed substance meets the screening criteria, and secondly, when evaluating whether, on the basis of the risk profile, the proposal should proceed. Developing countries are on the receiving end of the most severe and widespread contamination and harm that has resulted, and will continue to result, from POPs.