In order to address the issue of persistent organic pollutants, global cooperation has been initiated through provisions described in international legislation, notably the Stockholm Convention (or "POPs Convention") and the Aarhus Protocol (or "POPs Protocol").

These two international legislations have the same objectives: the reduction, control and elimination of emissions of POPs substances into the environment.

Within the European Union, these initiatives have been translated into EU Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 (or "POPs Regulation") of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on persistent organic pollutants. This new regulation is a recast of the Regulation (EC) No 850/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on persistent organic pollutants and amending Directive 79/117/EEC, which had itself been amended several times.