Progress and Challenges at International POPs Negotiations
October 12, 1999
Negotiators from 115 countries met in Geneva, Switzerland last month
for the third round of United Nations-sponsored negotiations to develop
an international treaty on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). During
the session, governments agreed to eliminate and phase out eight of
twelve POPS chemicals targeted for action by the UN. The POPs
negotiations were also attended by more than 70 NGO representatives,
including activists from PAN International's five regional coordinating
centers and other organizations participating in the International POPs
Elimination Network (IPEN). IPEN is a new and influential coalition
made up of 180 NGOs from 40 countries.
POPs are highly toxic chemicals that can travel long distances and last
for decades in the environment. They are linked to reproductive
abnormalities, immune system dysfunction, neurological defects and
cancer in humans and wildlife. The UN's "short list" of twelve POPs
includes the pesticides endrin, mirex, toxaphene, chlordane, heptachlor,
aldrin, dieldrin and DDT; the industrial chemicals hexachlorobenzene
(also used as a pesticide) and PCBs; and the industrial byproducts
dioxins and furans.
Government negotiators in Geneva agreed to eliminate production and
use of the pesticides aldrin, endrin and toxaphene without exemptions.
They also agreed to phase out chlordane, dieldrin, heptachlor, mirex
and hexachlorobenzene, but may consider limited country-specific
exemptions. Significant controversy remains regarding elimination of
the remaining chemicals on the list: PCBs, dioxins and furans, as well
as the infamous pesticide DDT, which remains registered for public
health purposes in approximately 20 countries. Negotiators also
discussed criteria by which new POPs will be added to the action list,
and technical and financial assistance for POPs phase outs and related
activities. National participation was noticeably unbalanced. Many
northern countries sent large delegations (22 people in the case of the
U.S.), while developing countries were often represented by one or two
people. This frequently led to inequities when key topics were
discussed in contact groups held at the same time as the plenary
negotiations.
The use of DDT to control insect vectors that carry diseases including
malaria was a particular focus of debate during the negotiations.
Delegates from several malaria-affected countries reported their
governments had implemented successful DDT-free anti-malaria
programs. Such programs include release of natural enemies of
mosquitoes, public education campaigns, and elimination of insect
breeding sites, as well as use of non-POPs pesticides including
synthetic pyrethroids. Additional examples of successful DDT phase-
outs were documented in a World Wildlife Fund study of disease vector
management released during the Geneva negotiations. Other countries
reported, however, that they lack resources to establish and maintain
such programs. The persistence of malaria as a significant threat to the
lives of millions underscores not just the need for redoubled efforts to
implement existing alternatives to DDT and develop additional control
measures, but that political leadership and financial commitments are
required in order for this to occur. IPEN participating organizations
called for a DDT elimination strategy that combines adequate funding
for development and implementation of effective, affordable alternative
vector control measures with interim exceptions in specific situations
and rigorous enforcement of bans against illegal DDT uses.
IPEN participants at the negotiations praised the leadership of the
European Union, Iceland, Thailand, Norway, Gambia and El Salvador
in developing a strong agreement to ban POPs. The U.S. and Australia
were criticized by IPEN groups for supporting several loopholes that
could indefinitely delay chemical phase-outs. NGOs addressed many
issues during plenary and working group meetings. Regarding dioxins,
Greenpeace and others noted that U.S. proposals would actually speed
the spread of dioxin-generating technologies, such as waste
incineration, in the developing world. Members of the Indigenous
Environmental Network repeatedly noted the horrific impacts of POPs
on their health, traditional foods and cultures. PAN North America
joined the National Toxics Network of Australia and others in
condemning wording that could allow important POPs data to be
treated as confidential business information. PAN Asia and the Pacific
circulated a letter calling for the addition of endosulfan (an
organochlorine pesticide widely used in agriculture) to the POPs action
list.
The next POPs negotiation session, to be held in March in Bonn,
Germany, will be the last opportunity to ensure the concrete details
needed to eliminate the 12 targeted POPs are incorporated within the
draft treaty. The POPs treaty is due to be completed in late 2000 and
signed by participating governments in Spring 2001, and to come into
force in 2003. NGOs interested in participating in efforts to strengthen
the POPs treaty and eliminate POPs in their communities and countries
are urged to contact IPEN and/or PAN at the addresses and websites
listed below for additional information and action suggestions.
Sources: IPEN press releases September 6, 1999 and September 11,
1999; WWF press release September 11, 1999; Greenpeace press
release September 10, 1999; presentation by WHO representative at
IPEN Conference, September 4, 1999; National Toxics Network
(Australia) report on INC3, September 25, 1999; Disease Vector
Management for Public Health and Conservation, Patricia Matteson,
editor, World Wildlife Fund, August 1999; "Debating the Dilemma of a
Global DDT Ban," San Francisco Chronicle August 31, 1999; PCB
Research and Information Project Web News report on INC3
September 13, 1999; "Phaseout of World's Worst Chemicals Closer,"
Environment News Service, September 13, 1999; "UN Progress Slow
on 'Dirty Dozen' Pollutants Ban," Reuters News Service, September 15,
1999.
Contact: PANNA. For more information on POPs and IPEN, also see
IPEN's website at http://www.ipen.org; for more information on DDT
and alternative vector management see WWF's website at
http://www.worldwildlife.org/toxics/
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