4 Possess toxic characteristics;
4 are persistent;
4 bioaccumulate;
4 are prone to long-range transboundary atmospheric transport and deposition; and
4 are likely to cause significant adverse human health or environmental effects near to and distant from their sources.

The Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh has signed the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants on 23 May 2001, after actively taking part in the negotiation process leading to the final Convention. As a Party and signatory to the SStockholm Convention, Bangladesh will be required to take actions to generate general awareness of harmful consequences of POPs to reduce their releases, and their ultimate elimination. Mr. Klaus Sakari Tyrkko on a POP's Mission for Project Support for Stockholm POPs Convention Follow-up came to Bangladesh during 20-29 November 2001. During his stay in Dhaka he prepared an 'Enabling Activity Proposal' for Stockholm Convention on Phase-out of Persistent Organic Pollutants in consultation with stakeholders, which was subsequently forwarded along with the endorsement of the Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forest (MOEF) to GEF for approval. The Project Brief was approved by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GEF Secretariat on 27 March, 2002. A Project Document was sent by UNDP on 28 July 2002 to the Secretary, MOEF for facilitating the Government's preparation of counterpart TAPP. The TAPP had been prepared in the light of "Project Document (PRODOC)" of UNDP and subsequently been approved by the appropriate authority.