News | Regional Centre

27 May

A Quarter Century of the Stockholm Convention

On May 22, 2001, negotiators and experts on chemical management approved the text of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. To commemorate the anniversary, we spoke with JUDr. Jiří Hlaváček, Ph.D., a prominent Czech diplomat, who explains the circumstances surrounding the convention’s creation and the broader context of environmental pollution.

4 May

Endorsement of updated National Implementation Plan under Stockholm Convention in the North Macedonia

The Stockholm Convention Regional Centre at RECETOX, with the support of the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning of the North Macedonia and Ekomozaik, convened the Updated Stockholm Convention National Implementation Plan Endorsement Meeting.

9 Mar

Moving Forward on POPs: Bosnia and Herzegovina Updates National Implementation Plan under Stockholm Convention

On 25 February 2026, the Stockholm Convention Regional Centre (SCRC) at RECETOX convened the Updated Stockholm Convention (SC) National Implementation Plan (NIP) Endorsement Meeting in Sarajevo.

26 Feb

POPs Pesticides as a Continuous Challenge

The revolution in agricultural production over the past several decades has completely transformed the way we approach crop cultivation. Yet, in the shadow of this progress lies a serious problem — the legacy of pesticides.

13 Feb

Regional webinar on capacities for and status of the environmentally sound management of PCBs in the European region

The Stockholm Convention Regional Centre at RECETOX, in collaboration with the BRS Secretariat organized a 75 minute webinar online for countries in European region on polychlorinated biphenyls on 13 February 2026. The webinar was organized as a part of implementation of the contract (SSFA 2527).

15 Jan

New regulation “One Substance, One Assessment”

On 26 November 2025, the European Union adopted Regulation (EU) 2025/2455, which fundamentally changes the approach to managing, assessing, and sharing data on chemical substances.

19 Nov 2025

From Import to Impact: Assessing the Presence and Management of HBCD in RECETOX partner countries

Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) is a brominated flame retardant that has been widely used since the late 1960s to reduce the flammability of various materials. This white crystalline powder found its primary application in expanded polystyrene and extruded polystyrene foams used in building insulation, accounting for approximately 90% of global HBCD use. Minor applications included textile back-coatings, high-impact polystyrene for electronics casings, and various consumer products.

8 Oct 2025

Polychlorinated biphenyls in RECETOX partner countries

PCBs were once considered an industrial miracle due to their exceptional properties: chemical stability, thermal conductivity, non-flammability, and resistance to oxidation. Despite their industrial usefulness, they turned out to be among the most problematic contaminants of the modern era. PCBs were included in the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). National POPs disposal plans, which outline the basic framework for eliminating selected POPs, are the subject of projects coordinated by RECETOX.