2006/507/EC: Council Decision of  14 October 2004  concerning the conclusion, on behalf of the European Community, of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants
Date: 2004-10-14
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: chemical product, environmental protection, international convention, organic pollution, pollution control measures, public health, toxic substance

31.7.2006

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Official Journal of the European Union

L 209/1

II

(Acts whose publication is not obligatory)

COUNCIL

COUNCIL DECISION

of 14 October 2004

concerning the conclusion, on behalf of the European Community, of the Stockholm Convention on
Persistent Organic Pollutants

(2006/507/EC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Commu-
nity, and in particular Article 175(1), in conjunction with the first
sentence of the first subparagraph of Article 300(2), and the
first subparagraph of Article 300(3) thereof,

Organic Pollutants, their safe handling and disposal and
elimination or reduction of releases of certain unintentional
Persistent Organic Pollutants. In addition, the Convention
lays down the rules for the listing of new chemicals in the
Convention.

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (1),

(5)

The Community, the then 15 Member States and eight of
the new Member States, signed the Convention during a
Conference of Plenipotentiaries held in Stockholm from
22 to 23 May 2001.

Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and
Social Committee (2),

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

The promotion of measures at international level to deal
with regional or worldwide environmental problems is one
of
the Community's policy on the
environment, in accordance with Article 174 of the Treaty.

the objectives of

In 1998 the Council authorised the Commission to
participate, on behalf of the Community, in the negotia-
tions on a Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants
under the auspices of the United Nations Environment
Programme. The Commission participated in those nego-
tiations together with the Member States.

The Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (Conven-
tion) was adopted in Stockholm on 22 May 2001.

The Convention provides a framework, based on the
precautionary principle, for elimination of production, use,
the initial 12 priority Persistent
import and export of

(1) OJ C 87 E, 7.4.2004, p. 495.
(2) OJ C 32, 5.2.2004, p. 45.

(6)

The Convention is open to ratification, acceptance or
approval by States and by regional economic integration
organisations.

(7) Under the terms of the Convention, a regional economic
integration organisation must declare in its instrument of
ratification, acceptance, approval or accession the extent of
its competence in respect of the matters governed by the
Convention.

(8)

The Community has already adopted instruments covering
matters governed by the Convention, including Regulation
(EC) No 850/2004 of the European Parliament and Council
of 29 April 2004 on persistent organic pollutants and
amending Directive 79/117/EEC (3), Regulation (EC)
No 304/2003 of the European Parliament and Council of
28 January 2003 concerning the export and import of
dangerous chemicals (4) and Council Directive 96/59/EC of
16 September 1996 on the disposal of polychlorinated
biphennyls and polychlorinated terphenyls (PCB/PCT) (5).

(3) OJ L 158, 30.4.2004, p. 7.
(4) OJ L 63, 6.3.2003, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Commission

Regulation (EC) No 777/2006 (OJ L 136, 24.5.2006, p. 3).

(5) OJ L 243, 24.9.1996, p. 31.

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Official Journal of the European Union

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(9)

(10)

The Convention contributes to the achievement of the
objectives of the environmental policy of the Community.
It is therefore appropriate that the Community approves
this Convention as soon as possible.

In the event of an amendment to Annex A, B or C or
additional Annexes to the Convention being adopted, the
Commission should provide for its implementation in the
framework of Regulation (EC) No 850/2004, or other
relevant Community legislation. If any amendment is not
implemented within one year from the date of commu-
nication by the depository of
the
amendment, and to avoid situations of non-compliance,
the Commission should notify the depository accordingly,

the adoption of

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants,
hereinafter referred to as ‘the Convention’, is hereby approved on
behalf of the Community.

The text of the Convention is attached to this Decision.

the
communication by the depository of
amendment, the Commission shall notify the depository in
accordance with Article 22 of the Convention.

the adoption of

2.
In case an amendment to Annexes A, B or C or additional
Annexes to the Convention is implemented after a notification
referred to in paragraph 1, the Commission shall withdraw the
notification without delay.

Article 3

the Council

1. The President of
is hereby authorised to
designate the person(s) empowered to deposit the instrument
of approval on behalf of the European Community with the
Secretary‑General of the United Nations,
in accordance with
Article 25(1) of the Convention.

the Council

2. The President of
is hereby authorised to
designate the person(s) empowered to deposit, on behalf of the
European Community, the declaration of competence set out in
the Annex to this Decision, in accordance with Article 25(3) of
the Convention.

Article 2

Done at Luxembourg, 14 October 2004.

1. Whenever an amendment
to Annexes A, B or C or
additional Annexes to the Convention is not implemented in
the Annexes to Regulation No 850/2004 or other relevant
Community legislation, within one year from the date of

For the Council

The President

P. VAN GEEL