From 5 to 7 July 2026, the Basel Convention Regional Centre for Asia and the Pacific / Stockholm Convention Regional Centre for Capacity-building and the Transfer of Technology in Asia and the Pacific (BCRC-SCRC China) successfully convened in Shanghai the kick-off meeting for two regional childprojects on the monitoring of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and mercury in Asia and the Pacific under the Stockholm Convention and the Minamata Convention. More than 30 representatives participated both in person and online, including representatives from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions (BRS Secretariat), the Secretariat of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, project countries, and relevant laboratories.

Ms. Yuan Chen, Chief of the Regional Chemicals Management Branch of BCRC-SCRC China, moderated the opening session. Mr. Jitendra Sharma, Programme Management Officer of UNEP Chemicals and Health Branch and GEF Focal Point; Ms. Kei Ohno Woodall, Senior Programme Management Officer of the BRS Secretariat; and Mr. Eisaku Toda, Senior Programme Officer of the Secretariat of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, delivered opening remarks from the perspectives of the project’s global strategy, effectiveness evaluation of the conventions, and the role of monitoring in supporting implementation. Representatives from project countries, testing institutions, regional laboratories and monitoring networks shared their monitoring practices, progress and capacity needs. The meeting also featured a demonstration on the installation of POPs air samplers and a technical visit to Shanghai Institute of Chemical Industry Testing Co., Ltd.

The kick-off meeting also set the sessions for the meeting of the Project Steering Committees (PSCs), during which participants reviewed the PSC Terms of Reference, elected the Chairs of the PSCs for the Asia and Pacific regions, and discussed the annual work plan, budget and key staffing arrangements.