Chemicals for Priority Action
The List of Chemicals for Priority Action in its current form was adopted in 2002. OSPAR focuses on the substances on Part A of the List and has prepared a background document on each.
The Background Documents assess the situation for the substance and conclude on what actions OSPAR should take to move towards the cessation target. Each of these chemicals also has a monitoring strategy detailing monitoring and progression towards the cessation target.
In 2004, OSPAR decided not to systematically select and prioritise substances, because the evaluation of chemicals and their properties was sufficiently covered by EU legislation.
OSPAR is undertaking a full review of the OSPAR List of Chemicals for Priority Action, to filter and rationalise it in light of the registration, evaluation and authorisation of chemicals (REACH) Regulation and on the prioritisation of substances under the Water Framework Directive. A new List is expected to be published in 2021/22.
Download here the OSPAR List of Chemicals for Priority Action with annotations. Chemicals for priority action listed in Part A are also shown below.
| CAS No | Group of substances/substance | Function | Last revision of Background Document (Lead Country) | Review Statement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| cadmium | Metallic compound | 2004 (Spain) | 2010 | |
| lead and organic lead compounds | Metal/organometallic compounds | 2009 (Norway) | ||
| mercury and organic mercury compounds | Metal/organometallic compounds | 2004 (UK) | 2009 | |
| organic tin compounds | Organometallic compounds | 2011 (The Netherlands) | ||
| 51000-52-3 | neodecanoic acid, ethenyl ester | Organic Ester | 2011 (UK) | |
| 1763-23-1 | perfluorooctanyl sulphonic acid and its salts (PFOS) | Organohalogens | 2006 (UK) | 2011 |
| 79-94-7 | tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBP-A) | Organohalogens | 2011 (UK) | |
| 87-61-6 | 1,2,3-trichlorobenzene | Organohalogens | 2005 (Belgium & Luxembourg) | 2010 |
| 120-82-1 | 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene | Organohalogens | 2005 (Belgium & Luxembourg) | 2010 |
| 108-70-3 | 1,3,5-trichlorobenzene | Organohalogens | 2005 (Belgium & Luxembourg) | 2010 |
| brominated flame retardants | Organohalogens | 2009 (Sweden) | ||
| polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) | Organohalogens | 2004 (Germany & Belgium) | 2008 | |
| polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDDs) | Organohalogens | 2007 (Denmark & Belgium) | ||
| polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) | Organohalogens | 2007 (Denmark & Belgium) | ||
| short chained chlorinated paraffins (SCCP) | Organohalogens | 2009 (Sweden) | ||
| 793-24-8 | 4- (dimethylbutylamino) diphenylamin (6PPD) | Organic nitrogen compound | 2006 (Germany) | |
| 115-32-2 | Dicofol | Pesticides/biocides/ organohalogens | 2004 (Finland) | 2008 |
| 115-29-7 | endosulfan | Pesticides/biocides/ organohalogens | 2004 (Germany) | 2008 |
| hexachlorocyclohexane isomers (HCH) | Pesticides/biocides/ organohalogens | 2004 (Germany) | 2008 | |
| 72-43-5 | methoxychlor | Pesticides/biocides/ organohalogens | 2004 (Finland) | 2008 |
| pentachlorophenol (PCP) | Pesticides/biocides/ organohalogens | 2004 (Finland) | ||
| 1582-09-8 | trifluralin | Pesticides/biocides/ organohalogens | 2005 (Germany) | 2012 |
| 23593-75-1 | clotrimazole | Pharmaceutical | 2013 (France) | |
| 732-26-3 | 2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenol | Phenol | 2006 (UK) | 2009 |
| nonylphenol/ethoxylates (NP/NPEs) and related substances | Phenol | 2009 (Sweden) | ||
| 140-66-9 | octylphenol | Phenol | 2006 (UK) | 2009 |
| certain phthalates: dibutylphthalate (DBP), diethylhexylphthalate (DEHP) | Phthalate esters | 2006 (Denmark & France) | ||
| polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) | Polycyclic aromatic compounds | 2009 (Norway) | ||
| musk xylene | Synthetic musk | 2004 (Switzerland) |
