Fwd: PANUPS: POPs Treaty Achieves 50th Ratification

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PANUPS: POPs Treaty Achieves 50th Ratification

Wed, 18 Feb 2004 17:24:30 -0800

 

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P A N U P S

Pesticide Action Network Updates Service

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POPs Treaty Achieves 50th Ratification

Environmental Health Advocates Worldwide Applaud Sweeping Accord

 

Today, environmental health advocates worldwide celebrate the 50th ratification

of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs Treaty). This

benchmark, reached at surprising speed for such a sweeping accord, brings the

global agreement into international law.

 

“The ratification of this treaty is a true landmark for environmental health, "

says Monica Moore of Pesticide Action Network North America (PANNA). " By

targeting an entire class of chemicals for global phase out, it moves us a giant

step forward in protecting people and the planet. "

 

The POPs Treaty targets an initial 12 chemicals for elimination, all of which

are members of a dangerous class of chemicals that does not respect national

borders–persistent organic pollutants (POPs). POPs can travel great distances,

are often toxic at very low levels, and last for many years in the environment

and in our bodies. Nine of the initial 12 chemicals are pesticides, the others

are products of industrial manufacturing processes (see below for link to June

8, 2001 PANUPs). The treaty was signed on May 23, 2001 by more than 100 nations.

 

France was the 50th nation to ratify the Stockholm Convention. The treaty will

officially " come into force " on May 17, 2004, 90 days following the 50th

ratification. The first meeting of the parties to the Convention will be held

within a year of that date. Countries that ratify the treaty before this first

meeting in early 2005 will be eligible to participate in crucial implementation

discussions as well as the scientific review committee that considers the

addition of new POPs chemicals to the elimination list.

 

Ironically the U.S., which was one of the first countries to press for the

treaty, has not yet ratified the accord. Implementing legislation has been

stalled in Congress for nearly a year, with the major sticking point the

question of what to do when new POPs chemicals are targeted for global

elimination under the treaty. One proposal under consideration

by Congress gives U.S. EPA complete discretion in taking any action on a

domestic ban

when a new chemical is listed under the Stockholm Convention. This approach,

which is being promoted by the Bush Administration, effectively de-links the

U.S. from any international decisions taken on new chemicals and directly

undermines the spirit of the Convention.

 

The question of how to target new chemicals is particularly important because

there are many POPs still in use in the United States that are likely to face

elimination under the Stockholm Convention. Three of those on the short list of

candidates are pesticides still in use in the U.S.: pentachlorophenol (PCP),

lindane and endosulfan.

 

A powerful force behind the swift ratification of the POPs Treaty has been a

global network of non governmental organizations, the International POPS

Elimination Network (IPEN). “IPEN played a key role in building the

international resolve to get rid of these dangerous chemicals, " says PANNA's

Kristin Schafer. " This unprecedented mobilization of NGOs from affected

communities around the world made this a better treaty and led directly to its

rapid ratification. " PANNA was a founding member of IPEN in the mid-1990s.

 

Resources:

PANUPS June 8, 2001, POPs Treaty Signed, NGOs Call for Early Ratification,

http://www.panna.org/resources/panups/panup_20010608.dv.html; Current

information on the status of Stockholm Convention signatures and ratification

can be found at UNEP's Stockholm Convention Web site: http://www.pops.int; The

International Pops Elimination Network web site http://www.ipen.org; Additional

information on POPs chemicals: http://www.panna.org,

http://www.chemicalbodyburden.org .

Contact: PANNA

 

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Back issues of PANUPS are available online at:

http://www.panna.org/resources/panups.html

 

Please note: responses to this message will not be read.

To comment, send an email to:

panna

 

Pesticide Action Network North America (PANNA)

49 Powell St., Suite 500, San Francisco, CA 94102 USA

Phone: (415) 981-1771

Fax: (415) 981-1991

Email: panna

Web: http://www.panna.org

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