On Friday, 19 October, POPRC-8 opened with an update on the work of the Global Monitoring Programme and its efforts to evaluate the effectiveness of the Convention. The Committee then adopted a decision to establish an ad hoc working group to revise a discussion paper on issues and common practices in the application of the Annex E criteria.

POPRC adopted a decision on effective participation of parties in the Committee’s work that asks the Secretariat and the Convention's regional centers to support such activities as: webinars, training and online meetings; workshops; pilot projects that can stimulate active involvement of research institutes, universities and other stakeholders in POPRC work; and the development of training modules and videos.

The Committee agreed to create an intersessional working group to revise the guidance on PFOS applications for consideration at POPRC-9. After a detailed discussion, the Committee adopted the recommendations on alternatives to the use of PFOS in open applications, based on a technical paper, for consideration by COP-6.

After adopting the report of the meeting, Chair Reiner Arndt gaveled the meeting to a close at 1:11 pm.