The Union Cabinet today gave its approval to ratify and accede to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.
The Convention will enable India to participate in the first ever-concerted global effort to save mankind from the adverse impact of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POP). It will also enable India to avail technical and financial assistance for implementing measures to meet the obligations of the Convention.
The Convention will eliminate or restrict the production and use of all intentionally produced POPs (i.e. industrial chemicals & pesticides). The chemicals slated for elimination are aldrin, chlordane, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), mirex, toxaphene, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Continued use of DDT is allowed for vector control until safe, affordable and effective alternatives are in place. Countries are required to make efforts to identify, label and remove PCB-containing equipment by the year 2025, and manage the wastes in an environmentally sound manner, not later than 2028. The Convention also seeks to continue minimization and, where feasible, ultimate elimination of the releases of unintentionally produced POPs, such as dioxins and furans. Stockpiles and wastes containing POPs must be managed and disposed off in a safe, efficient and environmentally sound manner, taking into account international rules, standards and guidelines. Each Party is required to develop a plan for implementing its obligations under the Convention.
BACKGROUND
The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants was signed by India on May 14, 2002. It focuses on reducing and eliminating the production / use of 12 highly hazardous substances including eight pesticides (aldrin, chlordane, DDT, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, mirex and toxaphene); two industrial chemicals (poly chlorinated biphenyls and hexachlorobenzene) and two unintended byproducts (poly chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzo furans, commonly referred to as dioxins and furans). Presently, the Convention has more than 104 Parties and 151 signatories. The Convention has come into force on May 17, 2004.
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are semi-volatile organic compounds that persist in the environment for long duration and accumulate in the fatty tissues of living organisms. They are toxic for humans and animals.
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