Abstract
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are listed under the Stockholm Convention, which regulates the elimination/restriction of their production and use, reduction of release, and environmentally sound treatment. In order to promote environmentally sound treatment of POPs waste in Japan, the Law Concerning Special Measures for PCB has been enacted; and technical documents pertaining to treatment of waste containing pesticides and PFOS and describing requirements for the destruction of such substances have been established. In addition, the topic of how treatment of POPs waste should be positioned within the regulations is being taken into consideration and discussions continue about what is desired and what can actually be done. Regarding plastic wastes that contain POPs as brominated flame retardants, we recognize the importance of establishing the methods for its environmentally sound treatment and of designing new measures for how to distinguish these from others. Regarding POPs as fluorinated surfactants, we are discussing the required measures for the analysis, including the establishment of methods for environmentally sound treatment, in order to prepare for regulation of production and use of PFOA in the future. We look forward to cooperation from the research and development area in order to boost impact on effective policy making going forward.
