UNTC

STATUS AS AT : 19-04-2024 03:16:05 EDT

CHAPTER XXVII

ENVIRONMENT

15 . Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants

Stockholm, 22 May 2001

Entry into force

17 May 2004, in accordance with article 26(1) which reads as follows: "1. This Convention shall enter into force on the ninetieth day after the date of deposit of the fiftieth instrument of ratification acceptance, approval or accession. 2. For each State or regional economic integration organization that ratifies, accepts or approves this Convention or accedes thereto after the deposit of the fiftieth instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, the Convention shall enter into force on the ninetieth day after the date of deposit by such State or regional economic integration organization of its instrument of rafification, acceptance, approval or accession. 3. For the purpose of paragraphs 1 and 2, any instrument deposited by a regional economic integration organization shall not be counted as additional to those deposited by member States of that organization".

Registration

17 May 2004, No. 40214

Status

Signatories : 152. Parties : 186. ¹

Text

United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2256, p. 119;
Depositary notifications: C.N.531.2001.TREATIES-96 of 19 June 2001;
C.N.1204.2002.TREATIES-63 of 19 November 2002 [Proposal of corrections to the original text of the Convention (authentic Spanish text)] and C.N.157.2003.TREATIES-6 of 21 February 2003 [Correction of the original text of the Convention (authentic Spanish text)]; C.N.242.2006.TREATIES-6 of 27 March 2006 [Adoption of Annex G] and C.N.1017.2007.TREATIES-14 of 31 October 2007 [Entry into force of Annex G]; C.N.618.2007.TREATIES-12 of 5 June 2007 [Proposal of corrections to the original text of the Convention (authentic Russian text) and to the Certified True Copies]; C.N.524.2009.TREATIES-4 of 26 August 2009 [Adoption of Amendments to Annexes A, B and C] and C.N.546.2010.TREATIES-7 of 27 August 2010 [Entry into force of amendments to Annexes A, B and C] re-issued on 11 January 20112;
C.N.811.2011.TREATIES-10 of 31 January 2012 (Proposal of corrections to the Chinese text of Amendments to Annexes A, B and C) and C.N.219.2012.TREATIES-XXVII.15 of 1 May 2012 (Corrections to the Chinese text of Amendments to Annexes A, B and C); C.N.703.2011.TREATIES-8 [Adoption of an amendment to Annex A] of 27 October 2011 and C.N.762.2012.Reissued.18072014.TREATIES-XXVII.15 of 8 October 2013 (Entry into force)3; C.N.934.2013.TREATIES-XXVII.15 of 26 November 2013 (Amendment to Annex A) and C.N.738.2014.TREATIES-XXVII-15 of 2 December 2014 (Entry Into Force)4; C.N.681.2015.TREATIES-XXVII.15 of 15 December 2015 (Amendments to Annexes A and C) and C.N.968.2016.TREATIES-XXVII.15 of 27 December 2016 (Entry into force of Amendments to Annexes A and C)5; C.N.766.2017.TREATIES-XXVII.15 of 18 December 2017 (Amendments to Annexes A and C) and C.N.639.2018.TREATIES-XXVII.15 of 22 January 2019 (Entry into force of Amendments to Annexes A and C)6; C.N.588.2019.TREATIES-XXVII.15 of 3 December 2019 (Amendments to Annexes A and B) and C.N.552.2020.TREATIES-XXVII.15 of 10 December 2020 (Entry into force)7; C.N.401.2022.TREATIES-XXVII.15 of 16 November 2022 (Amendment to Annex A) and CN.481.2023.TREATIES-XXVII.15 of 27 November 2023 (Entry into force)⁸; C.N.77.2024.TREATIES-XXVII.15 of 26 February 2024 (Amendments to Annex A).

Note

The Convention was adopted on 22 May 2001 at the Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, Stockholm, 22-23 May 2001.
In accordance with its article 24, the Convention opened for signature at Stockholm by all States and by regional economic integration organizations on 23 May 2001 at the Stockholm City Conference Centre/Folkets Hus, and at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from 24 May 2001 to 22 May 2002.

Participant	Signature, Succession to signature(d)	Ratification, Acceptance(A), Approval(AA), Accession(a)
Afghanistan		20 Feb 2013 a
Albania	5 Dec 2001	4 Oct 2004
Algeria	5 Sep 2001	22 Sep 2006
Angola		23 Oct 2006 a
Antigua and Barbuda	23 May 2001	10 Sep 2003
Argentina	23 May 2001	25 Jan 2005
Armenia	23 May 2001	26 Nov 2003
Australia	23 May 2001	20 May 2004
Austria	23 May 2001	27 Aug 2002
Azerbaijan		13 Jan 2004 a
Bahamas	20 Mar 2002	3 Oct 2005
Bahrain	22 May 2002	31 Jan 2006
Bangladesh	23 May 2001	12 Mar 2007
Barbados		7 Jun 2004 a
Belarus		3 Feb 2004 a
Belgium	23 May 2001	25 May 2006
Belize	14 May 2002	25 Jan 2010
Benin	23 May 2001	5 Jan 2004
Bolivia (Plurinational State of)	23 May 2001	3 Jun 2003
Bosnia and Herzegovina	23 May 2001	30 Mar 2010
Botswana		28 Oct 2002 a
Brazil	23 May 2001	16 Jun 2004
Brunei Darussalam	21 May 2002
Bulgaria	23 May 2001	20 Dec 2004
Burkina Faso	23 May 2001	31 Dec 2004
Burundi	2 Apr 2002	2 Aug 2005
Cabo Verde		1 Mar 2006 a
Cambodia	23 May 2001	25 Aug 2006
Cameroon	5 Oct 2001	19 May 2009
Canada	23 May 2001	23 May 2001
Central African Republic	9 May 2002	12 Feb 2008
Chad	16 May 2002	10 Mar 2004
Chile	23 May 2001	20 Jan 2005
China ⁹	23 May 2001	13 Aug 2004
Colombia	23 May 2001	22 Oct 2008
Comoros	23 May 2001	23 Feb 2007
Congo	4 Dec 2001	12 Feb 2007
Cook Islands		29 Jun 2004 a
Costa Rica	16 Apr 2002	6 Feb 2007
Côte d'Ivoire	23 May 2001	20 Jan 2004
Croatia	23 May 2001	30 Jan 2007
Cuba	23 May 2001	21 Dec 2007
Cyprus		7 Mar 2005 a
Czech Republic	23 May 2001	6 Aug 2002
Democratic People's Republic of Korea		26 Aug 2002 a
Democratic Republic of the Congo		23 Mar 2005 a
Denmark ¹⁰	23 May 2001	17 Dec 2003
Djibouti	15 Nov 2001	11 Mar 2004
Dominica		8 Aug 2003 a
Dominican Republic	23 May 2001	4 May 2007
Ecuador	28 Aug 2001	7 Jun 2004
Egypt	17 May 2002	2 May 2003
El Salvador	30 Jul 2001	27 May 2008
Equatorial Guinea		24 Dec 2019 a
Eritrea		10 Mar 2005 a
Estonia		7 Nov 2008 a
Eswatini		13 Jan 2006 a
Ethiopia	17 May 2002	9 Jan 2003
European Union	23 May 2001	16 Nov 2004 AA
Fiji	14 Jun 2001	20 Jun 2001
Finland	23 May 2001	3 Sep 2002 A
France	23 May 2001	17 Feb 2004 AA
Gabon	21 May 2002	7 May 2007
Gambia	23 May 2001	28 Apr 2006
Georgia	23 May 2001	4 Oct 2006
Germany	23 May 2001	25 Apr 2002
Ghana	23 May 2001	30 May 2003
Greece	23 May 2001	3 May 2006
Grenada		15 Oct 2021 a
Guatemala	29 Jan 2002	30 Jul 2008
Guinea	23 May 2001	11 Dec 2007
Guinea-Bissau	24 Apr 2002	6 Aug 2008
Guyana		12 Sep 2007 a
Haiti	23 May 2001
Honduras	17 May 2002	23 May 2005
Hungary	23 May 2001	14 Mar 2008
Iceland	23 May 2001	29 May 2002
India	14 May 2002	13 Jan 2006
Indonesia	23 May 2001	28 Sep 2009
Iran (Islamic Republic of)	23 May 2001	6 Feb 2006
Iraq		8 Mar 2016 a
Ireland	23 May 2001	5 Aug 2010
Israel	30 Jul 2001
Italy	23 May 2001	29 Sep 2022
Jamaica	23 May 2001	1 Jun 2007
Japan		30 Aug 2002 a
Jordan	18 Jan 2002	8 Nov 2004
Kazakhstan	23 May 2001	9 Nov 2007
Kenya	23 May 2001	24 Sep 2004
Kiribati	4 Apr 2002	7 Sep 2004
Kuwait	23 May 2001	12 Jun 2006
Kyrgyzstan	16 May 2002	12 Dec 2006
Lao People's Democratic Republic	5 Mar 2002	28 Jun 2006
Latvia	23 May 2001	28 Oct 2004
Lebanon	23 May 2001	3 Jan 2003
Lesotho	23 Jan 2002	23 Jan 2002
Liberia		23 May 2002 a
Libya		14 Jun 2005 a
Liechtenstein	23 May 2001	3 Dec 2004
Lithuania	17 May 2002	5 Dec 2006
Luxembourg	23 May 2001	7 Feb 2003
Madagascar	24 Sep 2001	18 Nov 2005
Malawi	22 May 2002	27 Feb 2009
Malaysia	16 May 2002
Maldives		17 Oct 2006 a
Mali	23 May 2001	5 Sep 2003
Malta	23 May 2001	17 Jan 2017
Marshall Islands		27 Jan 2003 a
Mauritania	8 Aug 2001	22 Jul 2005
Mauritius	23 May 2001	13 Jul 2004
Mexico	23 May 2001	10 Feb 2003
Micronesia (Federated States of)	31 Jul 2001	15 Jul 2005
Monaco	23 May 2001	20 Oct 2004
Mongolia	17 May 2002	30 Apr 2004
Montenegro ¹¹	23 Oct 2006 d	31 Mar 2011
Morocco	23 May 2001	15 Jun 2004
Mozambique	23 May 2001	31 Oct 2005
Myanmar		19 Apr 2004 a
Namibia		24 Jun 2005 a
Nauru	9 May 2002	9 May 2002
Nepal	5 Apr 2002	6 Mar 2007
Netherlands (Kingdom of the)	23 May 2001	28 Jan 2002 A
New Zealand ¹²	23 May 2001	24 Sep 2004
Nicaragua	23 May 2001	1 Dec 2005
Niger	12 Oct 2001	12 Apr 2006
Nigeria	23 May 2001	24 May 2004
Niue	12 Mar 2002	2 Sep 2005
North Macedonia	23 May 2001	27 May 2004
Norway	23 May 2001	11 Jul 2002
Oman	4 Mar 2002	19 Jan 2005
Pakistan	6 Dec 2001	17 Apr 2008
Palau	28 Mar 2002	8 Sep 2011
Panama	23 May 2001	5 Mar 2003
Papua New Guinea	23 May 2001	7 Oct 2003
Paraguay	12 Oct 2001	1 Apr 2004
Peru	23 May 2001	14 Sep 2005
Philippines	23 May 2001	27 Feb 2004
Poland	23 May 2001	23 Oct 2008
Portugal	23 May 2001	15 Jul 2004 A
Qatar		10 Dec 2004 a
Republic of Korea	4 Oct 2001	25 Jan 2007
Republic of Moldova	23 May 2001	7 Apr 2004
Romania	23 May 2001	28 Oct 2004
Russian Federation	22 May 2002	17 Aug 2011
Rwanda		5 Jun 2002 a
Samoa	23 May 2001	4 Feb 2002
Sao Tome and Principe	3 Apr 2002	12 Apr 2006
Saudi Arabia	14 Mar 2002	25 Jul 2012
Senegal	23 May 2001	8 Oct 2003
Serbia ¹³	2 May 2002	31 Jul 2009
Seychelles	25 Mar 2002	3 Jun 2008
Sierra Leone		26 Sep 2003 a
Singapore	23 May 2001	24 May 2005
Slovakia	23 May 2001	5 Aug 2002
Slovenia	23 May 2001	4 May 2004
Solomon Islands		28 Jul 2004 a
Somalia		26 Jul 2010 a
South Africa	23 May 2001	4 Sep 2002
Spain	23 May 2001	28 May 2004
Sri Lanka	5 Sep 2001	22 Dec 2005
St. Kitts and Nevis		21 May 2004 a
St. Lucia		4 Oct 2002 a
St. Vincent and the Grenadines		15 Sep 2005 a
State of Palestine		29 Dec 2017 a
Sudan	23 May 2001	29 Aug 2006
Suriname	22 May 2002	20 Sep 2011
Sweden	23 May 2001	8 May 2002
Switzerland	23 May 2001	30 Jul 2003
Syrian Arab Republic	15 Feb 2002	5 Aug 2005
Tajikistan	21 May 2002	8 Feb 2007
Thailand	22 May 2002	31 Jan 2005
Togo	23 May 2001	22 Jul 2004
Tonga	21 May 2002	23 Oct 2009
Trinidad and Tobago		13 Dec 2002 a
Tunisia	23 May 2001	17 Jun 2004
Türkiye	23 May 2001	14 Oct 2009
Tuvalu		19 Jan 2004 a
Uganda		20 Jul 2004 a
Ukraine	23 May 2001	25 Sep 2007
United Arab Emirates	23 May 2001	11 Jul 2002
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland	11 Dec 2001	17 Jan 2005
United Republic of Tanzania	23 May 2001	30 Apr 2004
United States of America	23 May 2001
Uruguay	23 May 2001	9 Feb 2004
Uzbekistan		28 Jun 2019 a
Vanuatu	21 May 2002	16 Sep 2005
Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)	23 May 2001	19 Apr 2005
Viet Nam	23 May 2001	22 Jul 2002
Yemen	5 Dec 2001	9 Jan 2004
Zambia	23 May 2001	7 Jul 2006
Zimbabwe	23 May 2001	1 Mar 2012

Declarations

(Unless otherwise indicated, the declarations were made upon ratification,
acceptance, approval or accession.)

Argentina

Declaration:

In accordance with article 25, paragraph 4 of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, the Republic of Argentina declares that any amendment to Annex A, B, or C shall enter into force for Argentina only after it has deposited its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession with respect thereto.

Australia

Declaration:

"In accordance with article 25 (4) [of the Convention], the Government of Australia declares that any amendment to Annex A, B or C shall enter into force only upon the deposit of Australia's instrument of ratification with respect thereto."

Austria

Declaration:

“The Republic of Austria declares in accordance with Article 18 paragraph 2 of the Convention that it accepts both of the means of dispute settlement mentioned in paragraph 2 as compulsory in relation to any party accepting an obligation concerning one or both of these means of dispute settlement.”

Bahrain

Declarations:

1. Arbitration according to the procedures adopted by the Conference of States Parties is the only binding procedure for the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain regarding resolving any dispute on the interpretation or implementation of the Convention.
2. Any amendment to the Convention annexes A, B and C will not be binding to the Kingdom of Bahrain unless it is ratified according to the constitutional rules.

Bangladesh

Declaration
"Pursuant to Article 25, paragraph 4, of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, Bangladesh hereby declares that any amendment to Annex A, B or C shall enter into force for Bangladesh only upon the deposit by Bangladesh of its instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval with respect thereto."

Belgium

Declaration made upon signature:

“This signature engages also the Waloon region, the Flemish region, and the Brussels-Capital region.”

Botswana

Declaration:

"... the Republic of Botswana declares pursuant to article 25 (4) that, with respect to it, any amendment to Annex A, B or C shall enter into force for it only after it has deposited an instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession with respect to such amendment."

Canada

Declaration:

“Pursuant to Article 25, paragraph 4, of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, Canada hereby declares that any amendment to Annex A, B or C shall enter into force for Canada only upon the deposit by Canada of its instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval with respect thereto.”

China

Declaration:

In accordance with the provisions of article 25, paragraph 4 of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, with respect to the People's Republic of China, any amendment to Annex A, B or C shall enter into force only upon the deposit of its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession with respect thereto.

El Salvador

Reservation:

With respect to the provisions of article 18 of this Convention, the Republic of El Salvador does not consider itself bound by the provisions of paragraph 2 of that article in that it does not recognize the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice.

Estonia ¹⁴

Upon accession:

“As a Member State of the European Community the Republic of Estonia has transferred its competence to the European Community in fields governed by this Convention and listed in the declaration annexed to the 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).”

European Union

Declaration in accordance with article 25 (3) :

"The Community declares that, in accordance with the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular article 175 thereof, it is competent for entering into international environmental agreements, and for implementing the obligations resulting therefrom, which contribute to the pursuit of the following objectives:

       - Preserving, protecting and improving the quality of the environment,
       - Protecting human health,
       - Prudent and rational utilisation of natural resources,
       - Promoting measures at international level to deal with regional or worldwide environmental problems.
       Moreover, the Community declares that it has already adopted legal instruments, binding on its Member States, covering matters governed by this Convention, and will submit and update, as appropriate, a list of those legal instruments to the Conference of the Parties in accordance with article 15 (1) of the Convention.
       The Community is responsible for the performance of those obligations resulting from the Convention which are covered by Community law in force.
       The exercise of Community competence is, by its nature, subject to continuous development."

Guatemala

Declaration:

In accordance with article 25, paragraph 4 of the aforementioned Convention, the Government of the Republic of Guatemala declares that any amendment to Annex A, B or C shall enter into force for Guatemala only after it has deposited its instrument of accession or ratification.

India

28 March 2006

Declaration:

"Any amendment to Annex A, B or C shall enter into force only upon the deposit of its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession with respect thereto."

Liechtenstein

Declaration:

"The Principality of Liechtenstein declares in accordance with Article 18 paragraph 2 of the Convention that it accepts both of the means of dispute settlement mentioned in this paragraph as compulsory in relation to any party accepting an obligation concerning one or both of these means of dispute settlement."

Mauritius

Declaration:

"Pursuant to Article 25, paragraph 4, of the Stockholm Convention on Persistant Organic Pollutants, the Republic of Mauritius declares that any amendments to Annex A, B or C shall enter into force for the Republic of Mauritius only upon the deposit by the Republic of Mauritius of its instrument of Ratification, Acceptance, Approval or Accession with respect thereto."

Micronesia (Federated States of)

Declaration:

1. The Federated States of Micronesia declares in accordance with the provisions of article 25, paragraph 4 of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, that any amendment to Annex A, B or C shall enter into force only upon the deposit of the Federated States of Micronesia's instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession thereto.
2. The Federated States of Micronesia declares in accordance with Article 18, paragraph 2 of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants that it accepts both of the means of dispute settlement mentioned in this paragraph as compulsory in relation to any party accepting an obligation concerning one or both of these means of dispute settlement.

Netherlands (Kingdom of the)

17 February 2010

Declaration:

“The Kingdom of the Netherlands declares, in accordance with paragraph 2 of Article 18 of the Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, that it accepts both means of dispute settlement referred to in that paragraph as compulsory in relation to any Party accepting one or both means of dispute settlement.”

Republic of Korea

Declaration:

The Republic of Korea, in accordance with Article 25, paragraph 4 of the Convention, declares that, with respect to the Republic of Korea, any amendment to Annex A, B or C shall enter into force only upon the deposit of its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession with respect thereto.

Republic of Moldova

Declaration:

In accordance with article 18, paragraph 2 of the Convention, the Republic of Moldova accepts both of the means of dispute settlement mentioned in this paragraph as compulsory in relation to any party that accepts the same obligation.
Pursuant to article 25, paragraph 4, of the Convention, any amendment to Annex A, B or C shall enter into force for the Republic of Moldova only upon the deposit of its instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval with respect thereto.

Russian Federation

1. The Russian Federation declares that in accordance with paragraph 2 of article 18 of the Convention, with respect to any dispute concerning the interpretation or application of the Convention, it recognizes the means of dispute settlement indicated in subparagraphs (a) and (b) of paragraph 2 of article 18 of the Convention as compulsory in relation to any Party accepting the same obligations;
2. The Russian Federation declares that in accordance with paragraph 4 of article 25 of the Convention any amendment to Annex A, B or C shall enter into force for the Russian Federation only upon the deposit of its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession with respect thereto.

Serbia

Declaration:

“The Republic of Serbia declares in accordance with Article 18 of the Convention that it accepts both of the means of dispute settlement mentioned in paragraph 2.”

Slovakia ¹⁵

Slovenia

Declaration:

"In accordance with article 25, paragraph 4 of the Convention, the Republic of Slovenia herewith declares, that any amendment to Annex A, B or C shall enter into force only upon the deposit of its instrument of ratification with respect thereto."

Spain ¹⁶

16 August 2011

Declaration:

In the event that the Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants should in any way result in actions related to Gibraltar, Spain wishes to make the following declaration:

       1. Gibraltar is a Non-Self-Governing Territory for whose international relations the United Kingdom is responsible and which is subject to a process of decolonization in accordance with the relevant decisions and resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly.
       2. The Gibraltar authorities are local in character and exercise an exclusively domestic jurisdiction that originates in and is based on the powers allocated to and conferred on them by the United Kingdom, in accordance with its domestic law and in its capacity as the sovereign State upon which depends the said Non-Self-Governing Territory.
       3. Consequently, any involvement by the Gibraltar authorities in the implementation of this Convention shall be understood to take place exclusively within the framework of the domestic jurisdiction of Gibraltar and shall not be considered to affect in any way the content of the two preceding paragraphs.
       4. The procedure envisaged in the “Agreed Arrangements relating to Gibraltar Authorities in the Context of Certain International Treaties (2007)”, signed by Spain and the United Kingdom on 19 December 2007, together with the “Agreed Arrangements relating to Gibraltar Authorities in the Context of EU and EC Instruments and Related Treaties”, of 19 April 2000, shall be applicable to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, adopted on 22 May 2001.

Syrian Arab Republic

Declaration:

The ratification of the Syrian Arab Republic to this Convention shall in no way signify the recognition of Israel or entail entry into any dealings with Israel in the context of the provisions of this Convention.

Uzbekistan

Declaration:

“In accordance with the Article 25, paragraph 4 of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, the Republic of Uzbekistan declares that any amendment to Annex A, B, or C shall enter into force for the Republic of Uzbekistan only after it has deposited its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession with respect thereto.”

Vanuatu

Declaration:

"That in relation to paragraph 4 of Article 25 of the Convention, any amendment to Annex A, B or C shall bind the Republic of Vanuatu only upon its deposit of an instrument of ratification or accession with respect to such amendments."

Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)

Declaration:

In accordance with article 25, paragraph 4 of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela declares that any amendment to Annex A, B, or C shall enter into force for the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela only after it has deposited its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession with respect thereto.

Territorial Application

Participant	Date of receipt of the notification	Territories
China	26 Dec 2013	Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (under authorization by the Government of the People's Republic of China) and Macau Special Administrative Region (under authorization by the Government of the People's Republic of China)
	26 Dec 2013	Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (under authorization by the Government of the People's Republic of China) and Macau Special Administrative Region (under authorization by the Government of the People's Republic of China)

End Note

1. For the purpose of entry into force of the Convention, any instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession deposited by a regional economic integration organization shall not be counted as additional to those deposited by member States of that Organization.

2.The following States, pursuant to Article 25 (4), declared that any amendment to Annex A, B or C shall enter into force only upon the deposit of their instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession with respect thereto:

Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Botswana, Canada, China, Guatemala, India, Mauritius, Micronesia, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Slovenia, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela.

On 23 August 2010, the Government of New Zealand notified the Secretary-General, in accordance with paragraphs 3 (b) and 3 (c) and paragraph 4 of article 22 of the Convention, that it is currently unable to accept the amendments to Annexes A, B and C, transmitted by depositary notification C.N.524.2009.TREATIES-4 of 26 August 2009. (C.N.540.2010.TREATIES-6)

Thereafter, on 15 December 2016, the Government of New Zealand notified the Secretary-General, in accordance with paragraphs 3 (b) and 4 of article 22 of the Convention, of its withdrawal of this notification of non-acceptance of amendments (see C.N.917.2016.TREATIES-XXVII.15).

On 4 January 2011, the Government of Canada deposited its instrument of acceptance to the Amendments to Annexes A, B and C, transmitted by depositary notification C.N.524.2009.TREATIES-4 of 26 August 2009. (C.N.1.2011.TREATIES-I)

On 16 August 2011, the Government of Spain deposited its instrument of acceptance (with declaration) to the Amendments to Annexes A, B and C (C.N.531.2011.TREATIES-4 of 30 August 2011), transmitted by depositary notification C.N.524.2009.TREATIES-4 of 26 August 2009. By depositary notification C.N.825.2014.TREATIES-XXVII-15 of 23 December 2014, the Government of Spain informed the Secretary-General that it had decided to withdraw the following declaration made upon ratification:

Any amendment to Annex A, B or C shall enter into force for Spain only upon the deposit of its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession with respect thereto.

On 9 November 2011, the Government of Argentina deposited its instrument of acceptance to the Amendments to Annexes A, B and C, transmitted by depositary notification C.N.524.2009.TREATIES-4 of 26 August 2009. (C.N.737.2011.TREATIES-9)

On 8 May 2012, the Government of the Republic of Korea deposited its instrument of acceptance to the Amendments to Annexes A, B and C, transmitted by depositary notification C.N.524.2009.TREATIES-4 of 26 August 2009. (C.N.256.2012.TREATIES-XXVII-15)

On 16 May 2012, the Government of Moldova deposited its instrument of acceptance to Amendments to Annexes A and C, transmitted by depositary notification C.N.524.2009.TREATIES-4 of 26 August 2009. (C.N.267.2012.TREATIES-XXVII.15)

On 10 May 2013, the Government of Slovakia deposited its instrument of acceptance to Amendments to Annexes A, B and C, transmitted by depositary notification C.N.524.2009.TREATIES-4 of 26 August 2009. (C.N.270.2013.TREATIES-XXVII.15)

On 23 September 2013, the Government of Guatemala deposited its instrument of accession to Amendments to Annexes A, B and C, transmitted by depositary notification C.N.524.2009.TREATIES-4 of 26 August 2009. (C.N.597.2013.TREATIES-XXVII.15)

On 20 November 2013, the Government of Estonia deposited its instrument of approval of the Amendments to Annexes A, B and C (C.N.1020.2013.TREATIES-XXVI-15 of 13 December 2013), transmitted by depositary notification C.N.524.2009.TREATIES-4 of 26 August 2009. By depositary notification C.N.771.2016.TREATIES-XXVII-15 of 19 October 2016 , the Government of Estonia informed the Secretary-General that it had decided to withdraw the following declaration made upon ratification:

"In accordance with Article 25, paragraph 4 of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, any amendment to Annex A, B and C of the Convention shall enter into force for the Republic of Estonia only after the Republic of Estonia has deposited its instrument of approval to the amendment;"

On 26 December 2013, the Government of China deposited its instrument of ratification of Amendments to Annexes A, B and C, transmitted by depositary notification C.N.524.2009.TREATIES-4 of 26 August 2009, with the following declaration:

In accordance with the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China and the Basic Law of the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, the Government of the People’s Republic of China decides that the […] amendments apply to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China. (C.N.1051.2013.TREATIES-XXVII.15)

On 19 February 2015, the Government of Mauritius deposited its instrument of acceptance to the Amendments to Annexes A, B and C, transmitted by depositary notification C.N.524.2009.TREATIES-4 of 26 August2009. (C.N.141.2015.TREATIES-XXVII.15)

On 18 February 2016, the Government of Micronesia deposited its instrument of ratification to the Amendments to Annexes A, B and C, transmitted by depositary notification C.N.524.2009.TREATIES-4 of 26 August 2009. (C.N.66.2016.TREATIES-XXVII.15)

On 9 June 2016, the Government of Botswana deposited its instrument of ratification to the Amendments to Annexes A, B and C, with regards to decisions SC-4/10, SC-4/11, SC-4/12, SC-4/13, SC-4/14, SC-4/15, SC-4/17 and SC-4/18, transmitted by depositary notification C.N.524.2009.TREATIES-4 of 26 August 2009. (C.N.560.2016.TREATIES-XXVII.15)

On 29 December 2016, the Government of the Russian Federation deposited its instrument of accession to the Amendments to Annex A, with regards to decisions SC-4/10, SC-4/11, SC-4/12 and SC-4/15, transmitted by depositary notification C.N.524.2009.TREATIES-4 of 26 August 2009. (C.N.974.2016.TREATIES-XXVII.15).

On 21 July 2017, the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela deposited its instrument of ratification to the Amendments to Annexes A, B and C, with regards to decisions SC-4/10, SC-4/11, SC-4/12, SC-4/13, SC-4/14, SC-4/15, SC-4/16, SC-4/17 and SC-4/18, transmitted by depositary notification C.N.524.2009.TREATIES-4 of 26 August 2009. (C.N.409.2017.TREATIES-XXVII.15)

On 18 December 2020, the Government of India deposited its instrument of acceptance of the Amendments to Annexes A and C adopted by Decisions SC-4/12, SC-4/13, SC-4/14, SC-4/16 and SC-4/18, transmitted by depositary notification C.N.524.2009.TREATIES-4 of 26 August 2009. (see C.N.566.2020.TREATIES-XXVII.15)

On 4 November 2022, the Government of Bangladesh deposited its instrument of ratification of the Amendments to Annexes A, B and C transmitted by depositary notification C.N.524.2009.TREATIES-4 of 26 August 2009. (see C.N.453.2022.TREATIES-XXVII.15)

3. See End Note 2 above for a list of States which have made a declaration pursuant to article 25 (4).

On 26 December 2013, the Government of China deposited its instrument of ratification transmitted by depositary notification C.N.1052.2013.TREATIES-XXVII-15 of 14 January 2014 of an Amendment to Annex A, transmitted by depositary notification C.N.703.2011.TREATIES-8 of 27 October 2011, with the following declaration:

In accordance with the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China and the Basic Law of the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, the Government of the People’s Republic of China decides that the […] amendments apply to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China.

On 3 December 2013, the Government of Spain deposited its instrument of acceptance transmitted by depositary notification C.N.154.2013.TREATIES-XXVII-15 of 4 December 2013 of an Amendment to Annex A, transmitted by depositary notification C.N.703.2011.TREATIES-8 of 27 October 2011. By depositary notification C.N.825.2014.TREATIES-XXVII-15 of 23 December 2014, the Government of Spain informed the Secretary-General that it had decided to withdraw the following declaration made upon ratification:

Any amendment to Annex A, B or C shall enter into force for Spain only upon the deposit of its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession with respect thereto.

On 20 November 2013, the Government of Estonia deposited its instrument of approval transmitted by depositary notification C.N.970.2013.TREATIES-XXVII-15 of 26 November 2013 of an Amendment to Annex A, transmitted by depositary notification C.N.703.2011.TREATIES-8 of 27 October 2011. By depositary notification C.N.771.2016.TREATIES-XXVII-15 of 19 October 2016, the Government of Estonia informed the Secretary-General that it had decided to withdraw the following declaration made upon ratification:

"In accordance with Article 25, paragraph 4 of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, any amendment to Annex A, B and C of the Convention shall enter into force for the Republic of Estonia only after the Republic of Estonia has deposited its instrument of approval to the amendment;"

On 20 August 2013, the Government of the Republic of Moldova deposited its instrument of acceptance transmitted by depositary notification C.N.1054.2013.TREATIES-XXVII-15 of 10 October 2014 of an Amendment to Annex A, transmitted by depositary notification C.N.703.2011.TREATIES-8 of 27 October 2011.

On 10 May 2013, the Government of Slovakia deposited its instrument of acceptance transmitted by depositary notification C.N.270.2013.TREATIES-XXVII-15 of 16 May 2013 of an Amendment to Annex A, transmitted by depositary notification C.N.703.2011.TREATIES-8 of 27 October 2011.

On 23 September 2014, the Government of Guatemala deposited its instrument of accession transmitted by depositary notification C.N.708.2014.TREATIES-XXVII-15 of 24 October 2014 of an Amendment to Annex A, transmitted by depositary notification C.N.703.2011.TREATIES-8 of 27 October 2011.

On 19 February 2015, the Government of Mauritius deposited its instrument of acceptance transmitted by depositary notification C.N.141.2015.TREATIES-XXVII-15 of 20 February 2015 of an Amendment to Annex A, transmitted by depositary notification C.N.703.2011.TREATIES-8 of 27 October 2011.

On 29 July 2015, the Government of the Republic of Korea deposited its instrument of acceptance transmitted by depositary notification C.N.440.2015.TREATIES-XXVII-15 of 30 July 2015 of an Amendment to Annex A, transmitted by depositary notification C.N.703.2011.TREATIES-8 of 27 October 2011.

On 18 February 2016, the Government of Micronesia deposited its instrument of ratification of Amendments to Annexes A, B and C, transmitted by depositary notification C.N.66.2016.TREATIES-XXVII.15 of 18 February 2016 of an Amendment to Annex A, transmitted by depositary notification C.N.703.2011.TREATIES-8 of 27 October 2011.

On 26 February 2016, the Government of Argentina deposited its instrument of ratification of an Amendment to Annex A transmitted by depositary notification C.N.68.2016.TREATIES-XXVII.15 of 29 February 2016 of an Amendment to Annex A, transmitted by depositary notification C.N.703.2011.TREATIES-8 of 27 October 2011.

On 9 June 2016, the Government of Botswana deposited its instrument of ratification of an Amendment to Annex A transmitted by depositary notification C.N.703.2011.TREATIES-8 of 27 October 2011. (C.N.562.2016.TREATIES-XXVII.15)

On 29 December 2016, the Government of the Russian Federation deposited its instrument of accession to an Amendment to Annex A transmitted by depositary notification C.N.703.2011.TREATIES-8 of 27 October 2011. (C.N.975.2016.TREATIES-XXVII.15)

On 3 May 2022, the Government of Canada deposited its instrument of acceptance of an Amendment to Annex A, transmitted by depositary notification C.N.703.2011.TREATIES-XXVII-8 of 27 October 2011. (see C.N.117.2022.TREATIES-XXVII.15)

On 4 November 2022, the Government of Bangladesh deposited its instrument of ratification of the Amendment to Annex A transmitted by depositary notification C.N.703.2011.TREATIES-8 of 27 October 2011. (see C.N.454.2022.TREATIES-XXVII.15)

4.See End Note 2 above for a list of States which have made a declaration pursuant to article 25 (4).

On 13 August 2014 the Government of the Republic of Serbia notified the Secretary-General of the following:

“The Republic of Serbia is currently unable to accept the listing of HBCDD in Annex A to the Convention with specific exemptions for production and use in expanded polystyrene and extruded polystyrene in buildings according to Articles 21 and 22 of the Stockholm Convention.

The Republic of Serbia will be able to accept SC-6/13 decision on 21st August 2015.” (C.N.518.2014.TREATIES-XXVII.15)

On 29 August 2014 the Government of New Zealand notified the Secretary-General of the following:

“In accordance with paragraphs 3 b) and 3 c) and paragraph 4 of Article 22 of the Convention, […] New Zealand is currently unable to accept the amendment to Annex A of the Convention in respect of hexabromocyclododecane proposed by decisionSC-6/13.

In this regard, [reference is made] to paragraph 3 b) of article 22 of the Convention, which permits New Zealand to withdraw this notification at any time, following which the amendment would enter into force for New Zealand.”

Thereafter, on 15 December 2016, the Government of New Zealand notified the Secretary-General, in accordance with paragraphs 3 (b) and 4 of article 22 of the Convention, of its withdrawal of this notification of non-acceptance of the amendment (see C.N.917.2016.TREATIES-XXVII.15).

On 24 November 2014 the European Union notified the Secretary-General of the following:

“The Sixth Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants adopted in May 2013 Decision SC-6/13: Listing of hexabromocyclododecane (hereinafter ‘HBCDD’). The Decision was received by the depositary on 26 November 2013 and will thus take effect for all Parties that have stated to accept the procedures pursuant to Article 22.3 (b) on 26 November 2014.

The European Union (hereinafter 'the EU') has already legislative measures in place governing the manufacturing, importation and use of HBCD. These measures have been identified as leading to a temporary legal conflict with the said Decision.

Therefore the EU is hereby informing, pursuant to Article 22.3 (b) of the Convention, and in line with the declaration of competence submitted at the moment of ratification by the EU in accordance with Article 25.3 of the Convention, that the EU is unable to accept Decision SC-6/13 from its entry into force on 26 November 2014 and until 21 August 2015 after which the EU accepts the Decision and will be able to comply.”

On 19 August 2015, the European Union notified the Secretary-General of the following:

“The Sixth Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (the ‘Convention’) adopted in May 2013 Decision SC-6/13: Listing of hexabromocyclododecane (hereinafter ‘HBCDD’). The Decision entered into force on 26 November 2014.

On 24 November 2014, pursuant to Article 22.3 (b) of the Convention, the European Union (hereinafter ‘the EU’) notified the depositary of the Stockholm Convention that, due to an ongoing internal legislative process for HBCDD, the EU was “unable to accept Decision SC-6/13 from its entry into force on 26 November 2014 and until 21 August 2015 after which the EU accepts the Decision and will be able to comply”.

Since the submission of that notification to the depositary, the EU has been preparing the measures necessary to be able to comply with Decision SC-6/13. However, due to the timeline of internal administrative adoption processes, those measures implementing the requirements of the Decision will not be in place in the EU by 21 August 2015.

Therefore the EU is informing the depositary, pursuant to Article 22(3)(b) of the Convention, and in line with the declaration of competence submitted at the moment of ratification by the EU in accordance with Article 25.3 of the Convention, that the EU will not be in a position to accept the Decision on 21 August 2015 and will need to extend the EU’s period of non-acceptance of the Decision until such time as the internal administrative processes are finalised. At that point, the EU will inform the depositary that the notification of non-acceptance is withdrawn.”

Thereafter, on 22 April 2016, the European Union notified the Secretary-General, in accordance with paragraphs 3 (b) and 4 of article 22 of the Convention, of its withdrawal of the notification of non-acceptance of the amendment (see C.N.370.2016.TREATIES-XXVII.15).

On 29 July 2015, the Government of the Republic of Korea deposited its instrument of acceptance transmitted by depositary notification C.N.441.2015.TREATIES-XXVII.15 of 30 July 2015 of an Amendment to Annex A, transmitted by depositary notification C.N.934.2013.TREATIES-8 of 26 November 2013.

On 16 November 2015, the Government of the Republic of Serbia notified the Secretary-General of the following:

“On 20 July 2014, the Republic of Serbia notified the Secretary-General as depositary of the Stockholm Convention of the following: “The Republic of Serbia is currently unable to accept the listing of HBCDD in Annex A to the convention with specific exemptions for production and use in expanded polystyrene and extruded polystyrene in buildings according to Articles 21 and 22 of the Stockholm Convention. The Republic of Serbia will be able to accept SC-6/13 decision on 21st August 2015.”

This position of the Republic of Serbia as EU candidate country for membership is in line with position of the European Union.

Since the submission of that notification to the depositary, the EU has been preparing the measures necessary to be able to comply with Decision SC-6/13. However, due to the timeline of internal administrative adoption processes, those measures implementing the requirements of the Decision will not be in place in the EU by 21 August 2015.

With that regard and pursuant to Article 22(3)(b) of the Stockholm Convention, the Republic of Serbia is informing the depositary, that it will not be in a position to accept the Decision on the listing of HBCDD in Annex A to the convention by 21 August 2015 and will need to extend the period of non-acceptance of the Decision for the Republic of Serbia until such time as the internal administrative processes in EU are finalised.

The Republic of Serbia will, upon the adoption of the mentioned measures for implementation of the SC-6/13 decision, inform the depositary that the notification of non-acceptance is withdrawn. The notification will contain the date of acceptance of the amendment.” (C.N.628.2015.TREATIES-XXVII.15)

Thereafter, on 11 July 2017, the Government of the Republic of Serbia notified the Secretary-General, in accordance with paragraphs 3 (b) and 4 of article 22 of the Convention, of its withdrawal of the notification of non-acceptance of the amendment to Annex A (see C.N.393.2017.TREATIES-XXVII.15).

On 18 February 2016, the Government of Micronesia deposited its instrument of ratification of the Amendment to Annex A transmitted by depositary notification C.N.934.2013.TREATIES-XXVII.15 of 26 November 2013.(C.N.66.2016.TREATIES-XXVII.15)

On 9 June 2016, the Government of Botswana deposited its instrument of ratification of the Amendment to Annex A transmitted by depositary notification C.N.934.2013.TREATIES-XXVII-15 of 26 November 2013. (C.N.569.2016.TREATIES-XXVII.15)

On 27 September 2016, the Government of the People`s Republic of China deposited its instrument of ratification and notified the following to the Secretary-General regarding the Amendment to Annex A transmitted by depositary notification C.N.934.2013.TREATIES-XXVII.15 of 26 November 2013:

In accordance with the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China and the Basic Law of the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, the Government of the People’s Republic of China decides that the Amendment applies to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China. (C.N.710.2016.TREATIES-XXVII.15)

On 7 July 2017, the Government of Guatemala deposited its instrument of accession to the Amendment to Annex A transmitted by depositary notification C.N.934.2013.TREATIES-XXVII.15 of 26 November 2013. (C.N.352.2017.TREATIES-XXVII.15)

On 28 November 2017, the Government of the Republic of Mauritius deposited its instrument of ratification of an Amendment to Annex A transmitted by depositary notification C.N.934.2013.TREATIES-XXVII.15 of 26 November 2013. (C.N.746.2017.TREATIES-XXVII.15)

On 18 December 2020, the Government of India deposited its instrument of acceptance of the Amendment to Annex A transmitted by depositary notification C.N.934.2013.TREATIES-XXVII-15 of 26 November 2013. (see C.N.567.2020.TREATIES-XXVII.15)

On 4 November 2022, the Government of Bangladesh deposited its instrument of ratification of the Amendment to Annex A transmitted by depositary notification C.N.934.2013.TREATIES-XXVII.15 of 26 November 2013. (see C.N.455.2022.TREATIES-XXVII.15)

On 6 January 2023, the Government of Argentina deposited its instrument of ratification of the Amendment to Annex A transmitted by depositary notification C.N.934.2013.TREATIES-XXVII.15 of 26 November 2013. (see C.N.5.2023.TREATIES-XXVII.15)

5.See End Note 2 above for a list of States which have made a declaration pursuant to article 25 (4).

On 28 November 2017, the Government of the Republic of Mauritus deposited its instrument of ratification of Amendments to Annexes A and C transmitted by depositary notification C.N.681.2015.TREATIES-XXVII.15 of 15 December 2015. (C.N.747.2017.TREATIES-XXVII.15)

On 19 July 2018, the Government of the Republic of Korea deposited its instrument of acceptance of the Amendments to Annexes A and C transmitted by depositary notification C.N.681.2015.TREATIES-XXVII.15 of 15 December 2015. (C.N.336.2018.TREATIES-XXVII.15)

On 28 August 2020, the Government of the Russian Federation deposited its instrument of acceptance of the Amendments to Annexes A and C transmitted by depositary notification C.N.681.2015.TREATIES-XXVII-15 of 15 December 2015. (see C.N.385.2020.TREATIES-XXVII.15)

On 18 December 2020, the Government of India deposited its instrument of acceptance of the Amendment to Annex A adopted by Decision SC-7/12, transmitted by depositary notification C.N.681.2015.TREATIES-XXVII-15 of 15 December 2015. (see C.N.568.2020.TREATIES-XXVII.15)

On 3 May 2022, the Government of Canada deposited its instrument of acceptance of the Amendments to Annexes A and C adopted by Decisions SC-7/12 and SC-7/14, transmitted by depositary notification C.N.681.2015.TREATIES-XXVII-15 of 15 December 2015. (see C.N.118.2022.TREATIES-XXVII.15)

On 4 November 2022, the Government of Bangladesh deposited its instrument of ratification of the Amendments to Annexes A and C transmitted by depositary notification C.N.681.2015.TREATIES-XXVII-15 of 15 December 2015. (see C.N.456.2022.TREATIES-XXVII.15)

On 6 January 2023, the Government of Argentina deposited its instrument of ratification of the Amendments to Annexes A and C transmitted by depositary notification C.N.681.2015.TREATIES-XXVII-15 of 15 December 2015. (see C.N.6.2023.TREATIES-XXVII.15)

On 8 March 2023, the Government of China deposited its instrument of ratification of the Amendments to Annexes A and C transmitted by depositary notification C.N.681.2015.TREATIES-XXVII-15 of 15 December 2015.

In accordance with the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China and the Basic Law of the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, the Government of the People’s Republic of China has decided that the above-mentioned Amendments apply to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China.

(see C.N.68.2023.TREATIES-XXVII.15)

6.See End Note 2 above for a list of States which have made a declaration pursuant to article 25 (4).

On 22 November 2019, the Government of the Republic of Korea deposited its instrument of acceptance of the Amendments to Annexes A and C transmitted by depositary notification C.N.766.2017.TREATIES-XXVII.15 of 18 December 2017. (see C.N.593.2019.TREATIES-XXVII.15)

On 28 August 2020, the Government of the Russian Federation deposited its instrument of acceptance of the Amendment to Annex C adopted by Decision SC-8/12, transmitted by depositary notification C.N.766.2017.TREATIES-XXVII-15 of 18 December 2017. (see C.N.386.2020.TREATIES-XXVII.15)

On 18 December 2020, the Government of India deposited its instrument of acceptance of the Amendment to Annex C adopted by Decision SC-8/12, transmitted by depositary notification C.N.766.2017.TREATIES-XXVII-15 of 18 December 2017. (see C.N.569.2020.TREATIES-XXVII.15)

On 3 May 2022, the Government of Canada deposited its instrument of acceptance of the Amendments to Annexes A and C adopted by Decisions SC-8/11 and SC-8/12, transmitted by depositary notification C.N.766.2017.TREATIES-XXVII-15 of 18 December 2017. (see C.N.119.2022.TREATIES-XXVII.15)

On 4 November 2022, the Government of Bangladesh deposited its instrument of ratification of the Amendments to Annexes A and C transmitted by depositary notification C.N.766.2017.TREATIES-XXVII-15 of 18 December 2017. (see C.N.457.2022.TREATIES-XXVII.15)

On 6 January 2023, the Government of Argentina deposited its instrument of ratification of the Amendments to Annexes A and C transmitted by depositary notification C.N.766.2017.TREATIES-XXVII-15 of 18 December 2017. (see C.N.7.2023.TREATIES-XXVII.15)

On 8 March 2023, the Government of China deposited its instrument ofratification of the Amendments to Annexes A and C transmitted by depositary notification C.N.766.2017.TREATIES-XXVII-15 of 18 December 2017.

In accordance with the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China and the Basic Law of the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, the Government of the People’s Republic of China has decided that the above-mentioned Amendments apply to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China.

(see C.N.69.2023.TREATIES-XXVII.15)

7.See End Note 2 above for a list of States which have made a declaration pursuant to article 25 (4).

On 28 August 2020, the Government of the Russian Federation deposited its instrument of acceptance of the Amendment to Annex A adopted by Decision SC-9/11, transmitted by depositary notification C.N.588.2019.TREATIES-XXVII-15 of 3 December 2019. (see C.N.387.2020.TREATIES-XXVII.15)

On 12 November 2020, the Government of Japan notified the Secretary-General, in accordance with paragraphs 3 (b) and 3 (c) and paragraph 4 of article 22 of the Convention, that it is currently unable to accept the amendments to Annex A, transmitted by depositary notification C.N.588.2019.TREATIES-XXVII-15 of 3 December 2019. (see CN.529.2020.Reissued.13112020.TREATIES-XXXVII-15).

Thereafter, on 24 October 2023, the Government of Japan notified the Secretary-General, in accordance with paragraphs 3 (b) and 4 of article 22 of the Convention, of the withdrawal of its notification of non-acceptance of the amendment to Annex A regarding Decision SC-9/11 (listing of dicofol).

(see C.N.460.2023.TREATIES-XXVII.15)

On 5 March 2021, the Government of the Republic of Korea deposited its instrument of acceptance of the Amendments to Annexes A and B transmitted by depositary notification C.N.588.2019.TREATIES-XXVII-15 of 3 December 2019. (see C.N.84.2021.TREATIES-XXVII.15)

On 3 May 2022, the Government of Canada deposited its instrument of acceptance of an Amendment to Annex A adopted by Decision SC-9/11, transmitted by depositary notification C.N.588.2019.TREATIES-XXVII-15 of 3 December 2019. (see C.N.120.2022.TREATIES-XXVII.15)

On 4 November 2022, the Government of Bangladesh deposited its instrument of ratification of the Amendments to Annexes A and B transmitted by depositary notification C.N.588.2019.TREATIES-XXVII-15 of 3 December 2019. (see C.N.458.2022.TREATIES-XXVII.15)

On 6 January 2023, the Government of Argentina deposited its instrument of ratification of the Amendments to Annexes A and B transmitted by depositary notification C.N.588.2019.TREATIES-XXVII-15 of 3 December 2019. (see C.N.8.2023.TREATIES-XXVII.15)

8.See End Note 2 above for a list of States which have made a declaration pursuant to article 25 (4).

On 28 October 2023, the Government of Japan notified the Secretary-General, in accordance with paragraphs 3 (b) and 3 (c) and paragraph 4 of article 22 of the Convention, that it is currently unable to accept the amendment to Annex A adopted by Decision SC-10/13, transmitted by depositary notification C.N.401.2022.TREATIES-XXVII-15 of 16 November 2022. (see CN.459.2023.TREATIES-XXXVII-15).

On 22 August 2023, the Government of Slovenia deposited its instrument of ratification of the Amendment to Annex A transmitted by depositary notification C.N.401.2022.TREATIES-XXVII-15 of 16 November 2022. (see C.N.251.2023.TREATIES-XXVII.15)

9. With the following :

In accordance with the provisions of article 153 of the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China and article 138 of the Basic Law of the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, the Government of the People’s Republic of China decides that the Convention shall apply to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China.

10.By a communication received on 22 March 2024, the Government of Denmark notified the Secretary-General that it had decided to withdraw the declaration, made upon ratification, regarding the territorial exclusion in respect of Greenland.

By a communication received on 10 February 2012, the Government of Denmark informed the Secretary-General that it had decided to withdraw the declaration, made upon ratification, regarding the territorial exclusion in respect of the Faroe Islands.

Upon ratification on 17 December 2003, Denmark had notified the Secretary-General of the following: With a territorial exclusion in respect of the Faroe Islands and Greenland.

11. See note 1 under "Montenegro" in the "Historical Information" section in the front matter of this volume.

12. With the following territorial exclusion:

".....consistent with the constitutional status of Tokelau and taking into account the commitment of the Government of New Zealand the development of self-government for Tokelau through an act of self-determination under the Charter of the United Nations, this ratification shall not extend to Tokelau unless and until a Declaration to this effect is lodged by the Government of New Zealand with the Depositary on the basis of appropriate consultation with that territory."

13.“On 20 July 2014, the Republic of Serbia notified the Secretary-General as depositary of the Stockholm Convention of the following: “The Republic of Serbia is currently unable to accept the listing of HBCDD in Annex A to the convention with specific exemptions for production and use in expanded polystyrene and extruded polystyrene in buildings according to Articles 21 and 22 of the Stockholm Convention. The Republic of Serbia will be able to accept SC-6/13 decision on 21st August 2015.”

This position of the Republic of Serbia as EU candidate country for membership is in line with position of the European Union.

Since the submission of that notification to the depositary, the EU has been preparing the measures necessary to be able to comply with Decision SC-6/13. However, due to the timeline of internal administrative adoption processes, those measures implementing the requirements of the Decision will not be in place in the EU by 21 August 2015.

With that regard and pursuant to Article 22(3)(b) of the Stockholm Convention, the Republic of Serbia is informing the depositary, that it will not be in a position to accept the Decision on the listing of HBCDD in Annex A to the convention by 21 August 2015 and will need to extend the period of non-acceptance of the Decision for the Republic of Serbia until such time as the internal administrative processes in EU are finalised.

The Republic of Serbia will, upon the adoption of the mentioned measures for implementation of the SC-6/13 decision, inform the depositary that the notification of non-acceptance is withdrawn. The notification will contain the date of acceptance of the amendment.”

14.By a commmunication received on 19 October 2016, the Government of Estonia informed the Secretary-General that it had decided to withdraw the following declaration made upon ratification:

In accordance with Article 25, paragraph 4 of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, any amendment to Annex A, B and C of the Convention shall enter into force for the Republic of Estonia only after the Republic of Estonia has deposited its instrument of approval to the amendment;

15. By a commmunication received on 10 May 2013, the Government of the Slovak Republic informed the Secretary-General that it had decided to withdraw the following declaration made upon ratification and deposited its instrument of acceptance to the Amendments to Annexes A, B and C of the Convention:

"Pursuant to article 25, paragraph 4, of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, the Slovak Republic hereby declares that any amendment to Annex A, B or C shall enter into force for the Slovak Republic only upon the deposit by the Slovak Republic of its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession with respect thereto."

16. By a commmunication received on 23 December 2014, the Government of Spain informed the Secretary-General that it had decided to withdraw the following declaration made upon ratification:

Any amendment to Annex A, B or C shall enter into force for Spain only upon the deposit of its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession with respect thereto.