**9. Stockholm convention**

This convention that deals with persistent organic pollutants (POPs) is an international treaty for the protection of human health and the environment from the effects of chemical compounds that remain for long periods in the environment, are widely distributed, and accumulate in the fatty tissues of humans and animals. The exposure to these compounds can result in serious health problems, such as some cancers, birth defects, and deficient immune and reproductive systems, among others [12].

The POP Review Committee (POPRC) is a scientific body created to review the chemical compounds that are proposed for inclusion in the text of the Annexes A, B, or C of the convention. Endosulfan was presented for inclusion in Annex A by the European Union in November 2007. The Committee of Review issued the decision POPRC-4/5, it specifies that "the selection criteria for endosulfan have been met" and a working group was established to elaborate a draft risk profile in accordance with Annex E of the Convention [12].

The information was requested from Parties for Annex F as well as the review of additional information on the adverse effects of endosulfan on human health [12, 15]. After evaluating the risk profile and finalizing the risk management evaluation, the POPRC, at its sixth meeting held in Geneva from October, 11 to 15, 2010, decided to recommend to the Conference of the Parties the inclusion of technical endosulfan, its α- and β-isomers as well as the main degradation product, the sulfate of endosulfan in Annex A of the Stockholm Convention for global elimination with possibility of specific and temporary exceptions [15].
