Montenegro's Journey in POPs Inventories
What does it take for a small country with limited resources to advance with developing an inventory of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)?

At the recent GGKP Roundtable on POPs Inventories, Montenegro shared its experience—proving that close inter-institutional collaboration can overcome even the toughest technical challenges.

Key issues faced:
- Lack of historical registers for electronic devices like CRT monitors
- Gaps in end-of-life data for vehicles and electronics
- Discrepancies in e-waste data—by a factor of ten!
- Exposure risks among informal workers, especially the RAE population

? “Thanks to Customs administration data, we were able to compile an inventory for smaller electric and electronic devices. This is a notable improvement compared to the previous inventory.” — Danijela Šuković, Center for Ecotoxicological Research Podgorica

Despite data challenges, Montenegro is proactively engaging stakeholders, conducting household surveys, and planning outreach workshops for vulnerable communities involved in e-waste handling.

?Their approach to estimating HBCD in waste, based on import analysis and literature data, is a smart workaround to limited data, paving the way for better-informed policies.
? Read the full blog for more on Montenegro’s path toward safer POPs management, awareness efforts, and inventory innovation:
?https://thegreenforum.org/blog/inventory-brominated-pops-montenegro-ins…
? Hats off to the team in Montenegro behind this effort and RECETOX strongly supporting the project —proof that cooperation and commitment can drive progress in even the most complex environmental challenges.

Series of NIP Dialogues are hosted by GGKP as a part of GEF funded and UNEP- led project "Global NIP Update" (GEF ID 10785)

Join this opportunity for a critical conversation on gender and chemicals management!

The Global Framework on Chemicals Secretariat invites government representatives and stakeholders to a webinar on its Gender Action Plan (GAP).

- 30 May 2025
- 14:00–15:30 CEST
- RSVP now: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_JxxQioVDQyewEhPuaIluIA#/reg…

Learn how the GAP aims to advance gender equality in decision-making and implementation across the global chemicals and waste management agenda. This interactive session will include insights from global experts and space for stakeholder input.

Chemicals management is a complex task—so where does gender fit into the picture?
While the science and regulation of hazardous chemicals often dominate the conversation, gender is frequently overlooked. Yet women face unique and often disproportionate risks from chemical exposure—whether in workplaces, homes, or communities. In this NIP Dialogue, Dr. Olga Speranskaya from HEJ Support unpacks why gender matters, how current policies fall short, and what meaningful gender integration can look like in National Implementation Plans (NIPs).

Watch the video interview for a more detailed conversation on why gender-responsive approaches are essential for building safer, more inclusive systems.

? On 28 April 2025, GGKP hosted a side event under the GEF-funded Global NIP Update project (GEF ID 10785), in collaboration with UNEP’s Chemicals and Health Branch (Knowledge and Risk Unit), as part of the 2025 Meetings of the Conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions.

Opened by Dr. Rolph Payet, the Executive Secretary of the BRS Conventions, the event focused on how countries can strengthen their inventories of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) by leveraging publicly available data and improving national data collection practices.

The discussion reaffirmed a shared understanding among participants: strengthening POPs inventories requires more than access to publicly available data. Countries must also proactively consider how to generate relevant national datasets, establish robust methods for analyzing data, and develop systems for managing and applying this information effectively.

Such efforts are essential for informed decision-making and more effective management of hashtag#POPs at the national level.

We were honored to feature insights from Dr. Katerina Sebkova (RECETOX), Dr. Ramesh Kumar (NEERI), Mihaela Claudia Paun (UNEP KRU), Dr. Roland Weber (POPs Expert), Dana Lewis (BCRC Caribbean), Stephane Horel (Le Monde), Saidy Motladile (Department of Environmental Protection, National Environmental Laboratory, Botswana), Addisu Tibebu Kumsa (EPA Ethiopia), and Esquire Henry (Chemicals and Waste Youth Platform / Children and Youth International).

A big thank you to all speakers and a highly engaged audience committed to data-informed action for sound chemicals and waste management.