Persistent organic pollutants (POPs)
Information relating to persistent organic pollutants (POPs).
This collection brings together information about persistent organic pollutants (POPs).
POPs are substances that:
- persist in the environment
- accumulate in living organisms
- pose a risk to our health and the environment
- have the potential for long-range environmental transport
POPs policy information
General POPs guidance
Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) guidance
Waste upholstered domestic seating (WUDS) guidance
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) guidance
Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) guidance
Live consultations and requests for information
Closed consultations and requests for information
Reports, research and evidence
The UK does research and analysis to inform our work and to manage the risks posed by POPs. You can find previous research published on Defra Science Search.
The Stockholm Convention requires the UK to:
- develop, review and periodically update a National Implementation Plan (article 7)
- report statistical data on its total quantities of production, import and export of each of the chemicals listed in Annex A and Annex B (article 15)
Read the UK National Implementation Plan on the Stockholm Convention website.
Read the UK’s returns for national reporting in our POPs triennial report 2019 to 2021.
Updates to this page
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Added document collection for 'Reports, research and evidence'. This includes links to research and analysis published on Defra Science Search, the UK National Implementation Plan on the Stockholm Convention website, and the UK’s returns for national reporting in our POPs triennial report 2019 to 2021.
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The request for information on substances proposed as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) 2024 has ended, and comments have been received.
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A request for information to feed into a draft Risk Profile, and draft Risk Management Evaluation for 2 chemical substances proposed as POPs to the UN’s POP Review Committee, has been added.
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Added link to a guide on 'When electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) becomes waste (WEEE)'.
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First published.