From May 1-12, 2023 the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention (SC COP) held its 11th meeting in Geneva, Switzerland. According to reporting from the Philippine Daily Inquirer and an announcement from the Center for International Environmental Law, SC COP-11 negotiators agreed to list UV-328 (CAS 25973-55-1) under Annex A for global elimination of all production and use (with specific exemptions). UV-328 is the first substance listed under the Stockholm Convention that is not halogenated (i.e., does not contain any fluorine, chlorine, or bromine).
UV-328 is used as an UV absorber to protect against discoloration and degradation under UV/sunlight. It is mainly used in paints and coatings and as an additive in a variety of plastics, including applications in food contact. Scientists have demonstrated that the chemical damages the liver and kidneys in mammals, and has endocrine-disrupting effects (FPF reported).
As a consequence, the EU legally recognized UV-328 as a substance of very high concern (SVHC) in 2014, and in 2019 it was added to the REACH Authorization list. The continued use worldwide, led the Swiss government to submit a proposal to add UV-328 to the elimination list of the Stockholm Convention in May 2020. In January 2021, the Persistent Organic Pollutants (POP) Review Committee (POPRC) within the Convention officially recognized that UV-328 fulfills the screening criteria of POPs: (1) persistence, (2) bioaccumulation, (3) adverse effects, and (4) potential for long-range environmental transport (FPF reported). This resulted in pushback from the world’s largest oil and chemical companies which perceived the ban as burdensome to their businesses (FPF reported). Scientists provided clarifications on plastic-driven long-range environmental transport of the chemicals (FPF reported). And, in the 17th and 18th meetings in January and September 2022, PORC agreed to move UV-328 onto the final step in the review process (FPF reported) and recommended its listing under Annex A, respectively (FPF reported).
Along with UV-328, the SC COP also agreed to list the flame retardant dechlorane plus (DP, CAS 13560-89-9), and the pesticide methoxychlor (CAS 72-43-5) to Annex A of the Stockholm Convention.
References
UN Stockholm Convention (May 2023). “Eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention.”
Faith Argosino (2023). “Groups hail ban on use of three chemicals by 120 countries.” Philippine Daily Inquirer.
Center for International Environmental Law (May 5, 2023). “Victory: Today Parties at the BRS COPs 2023 banned 2 harmful chemicals used in plastics — UV328 & DechloranePlus — under the Stockholm Convention.” Twitter
Read more
Center for International Environmental Law (May 2023). “CIEL Experts at the UN Negotiations on the Sound Management of Chemicals and Waste in Geneva.”
