IOPC Funds delivers HNS Reporting Workshop for Northwestern European States

On 27 February 2026, the IOPC Funds delivered a workshop for Northwestern European  States on the reporting of Hazardous and Noxious Substances (HNS) in the context of the 2010 HNS Convention. The workshop was held in The Hague, the Netherlands, and was attended by representatives from Belgium, the Netherlands , France and Germany.

The aim of the workshop was to provide an in-depth, interactive demonstration of the online HNS Reporting Platform and to gather feedback to support further improvements to the system ahead of the entry into force of the 2010 HNS Convention.

The IOPC Funds’ team, comprising HNS Project Manager Gillian Grant, Policy Officer Yuji Okugawa, and Information Technology Officer, Stuart Colman, highlighted ongoing preparations for the entry into force of the HNS Convention, the IOPC Funds’ role in the process, and the establishment of the future HNS Fund. The team provided a comprehensive overview of the HNS Reporting Platform for government users and HNS receivers.

The workshop featured a hands-on session that enhanced  participants’  understanding of the platform’s functionality and architecture. Discussions also covered insurance certificates and the current status of HNS reporting by Contracting States in 2025.

The workshop was delivered to an engaged audience, with participants raising a wide range of questions on the HNS Reporting Platform and related matters.

To date, eight States have ratified the HNS Protocol to the original 1996 HNS Convention, with commitments from several others, including  States participating in the workshop, indicating that further ratifications will follow this year. Twelve States are required to accede to the Protocol for it to enter into force and become the 2010 HNS Convention. It is anticipated that this will take place in the near future, approximately 18 months after the Convention’s entry criteria of the Convention have been met.