Adoption and Future Main Point at Issue of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants

Abstract
In order to protect the global environmental pollution by POPs, "Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants" was adopted in May 2001. This convention includes measures such as prohibition and elimination of production and use of POPs, reduction of their releases, and environmentally sound management of wastes and stockpiles containing POPs.
The main points argued in the negotiation process of the convention were the precautionary approach, elimination of dioxins, specific exemptions, and technical and economical assistance for developing countries. It is necessary for us to make an effort so as not to generate new POPs and to develop measures for disposal of POPs such as stockpile and contaminated soil in an environmentally sound manner.

Key words: Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC), the Stockholm Convention, elimination, precautionary approach