Stockholm, 22 May 2001 - The International Council of Chemical Associations, ICCA, also speaking on behalf of the World Chlorine Council (WCC) today welcomes the adoption in Stockholm, Sweden, of the UNEP Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POP).
The Convention is a legally binding instrument for persistent organic pollutants that undergo long-range transport, so called POPs. The Convention will require phase-outs or restrictions of listed POPs products and the continuing minimisation and/or, when technically and economically feasible, ultimate elimination of releases of POPs listed as byproducts. The Convention presently covers twelve POPs, including eight pesticides (aldrin, chlordane, DDT, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, mirex, and toxaphene), two industrial chemicals (PCBs and hexachlorobenzene, which is also a pesticide), and four unwanted by-products of combustion and industrial processes (dioxins, furans, hexachlorobenzene and polychlorinated biphenyls). A science-based process for adding additional POPs and determining appropriate risk management measures is also part of the Convention. Governments are to promote the best available technologies and practices for minimizing POPs emissions and destroying POPs waste while preventing the development of new POPs. They will draw up national legislation and develop action plans for carrying out their commitments.
ICCA has from the beginning supported the POP negotiations, providing technical and scientific expertise to both the POP negotiations and the UNEP Criteria Expert Group (CEG), and building on the already adopted UNECE Convention on Long-Range Transboudary Air Pollution. We see the Convention as a important tool to support the Parties’desire to regularly control risks and emissions of POPs.
The chemical industry supports the balanced and workable international regime set up by the Convention, and its science-based approach which is set to fully protect public health and the environment. We see the Convention as fully consistent with Responsible Care - the code of practice the chemical Industry has adopted to guide its own behaviour.
ICCA is particularly pleased with the scientific criteria for adding further POPs to the Convention, the reference to Best Available Techniques for destruction of POP wastes, and the precautionary approach spelled out in the Convention, in line with Principle 15 of the Rio Declaration.
ICCA considers the POP Convention to constitute a very useful element in the safe management of chemicals. We are therefore very pleased for its adoption, which we believe will lead to realistic and meaningful levels of compliance, and thus of real environmental improvement.