(1)

On 14 October 2004, the European Community approved the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (‘the Convention’) by means of Council Decision 2006/507/EC (1).

(2)

As a Party to the Convention, the Union is able to submit proposals for the amendment of the Annexes to the Convention. Annex A to the Convention lists chemicals to be eliminated.

(3)

According to available scientific information and review reports, and taking due account of the screening criteria set out in Annex D to the Convention, chlorpyrifos exhibits characteristics of a persistent organic pollutant.

(4)

Chlorpyrifos is not approved as an active substance pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council (2) and is therefore not allowed to be placed on the market or used in the Union in plant protection products. Chlorpyrifos is also not approved as an active substance pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council (3) and is therefore not allowed to be placed on the market or used in the Union in biocidal products. In addition, chlorpyrifos is not registered for any other use in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council (4) and, consequently, it is not allowed to be manufactured or placed on the market in the Union for such other use in quantities of 1 tonne or more per year per manufacturer or importer.

(5)

Although chlorpyrifos has been phased out in the Union, it appears that it is still used as a pesticide and dispersed in the environment outside the Union. Due to the potential for long-range environmental transport of chlorpyrifos, the measures taken nationally or at Union level are not sufficient to safeguard the high level of protection of the environment and human health. Wider international action is therefore necessary.

(6)

The Union should therefore submit a proposal to the Secretariat of the Convention for the listing of chlorpyrifos in Annex A to the Convention,