9. Stockholm and Basel Conventions: General Overview and Possible Synergies with the Rotterdam Convention
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9. Stockholm and Basel Conventions: General overview and possible synergies with the Rotterdam Convention Purpose of the Presentatiion • Introduce the Basel and Stockholm Conventions • Highlight how they relate to the Rotterdam The Stockholm Convention, and and Basel Conventions: • Possible opportunities for integrated General Overview and Possible Synergies implementation with the Rotterdam Convention 1 Rotterdam Convention 2 Rotterdam Convention Structure of the Presentation Objectives of the Stockholm Convention • To protect human health and the environment from the harmful • Objectives of the Conventions impacts of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) • Scope-Coverage • How – eliminate production and use of intentionally produced POPs • Key provisions of the Conventions – minimize and where feasible eliminate releases of unintentionally produced POPs • Present status – clean-up old stockpiles and equipment containing POPs – support the transition to safer alternatives • Areas of commonality – possible synergies – target additional POPs for action 3 Rotterdam Convention 4 Rotterdam Convention Scope-Coverage Clean up Stockpiles and Equipment Currently includes 12 chemicals • Governments to identify stockpiles, • Pesticides products and articles containing POPs – aldrin, chlordane, DDT, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, mirex, toxaphene, hexachlorobenzene • Stockpiles and wastes to be managed in a • Industrial Chemicals safe efficient and environmentally friendly – hexachlorobenzene, PCBs manner • Unintended byproducts • POPs content must be destroyed – chlorinated dioxins, chlorinated furans 5 Rotterdam Convention 6 Rotterdam Convention Transition to Safer Alternatives Criteria for New POPs • DDT is permitted for disease vector control until • Add new chemicals following consideration by locally safe, effective and affordable alternatives an expert body are available • PCBs – governments allowed until 2025 to • Criteria include phase out ‘in-place’ equipment – persistence, bio-accumulation, toxicity, • Country specific exemptions for certain – potential for long-range environmental pesticides transport • Improve ability to minimize release of byproducts (dioxins, furans, HCB, PCBs) 7 Rotterdam Convention 8 Rotterdam Convention Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 43 Assessment of New POPs Support for implementation • Screening criteria are assessed by a Detailed guidance is available including: POPs Review Committee • Developing a national implementation plan (NIP) • If the criteria are satisfied, information is for the Stockholm Convention gathered to prepare a risk profile • Reducing and Eliminating the use of POPs • Lack of full scientific certainty shall not • Action Plan for the Reduction of Reliance on prevent a proposal for global action on a DDT in Disease Vector Control chemical • Framework for the Management of PCBs 9 Rotterdam Convention 10 Rotterdam Convention Status of Stockholm Convention Objectiives of the Basel Convention Entered into force 17 May 2004 • Reduce transboundary movement of hazardous wastes to a minimum consistent with their • 122 Parties as of April 2006 environmentally sound management • COP 2, 1-5 May 2006 in Geneva • Dispose of hazardous wastes as close as possible to their source of generation • COP 3, ?? May 2007 in ?? • Minimize generation of hazardous wastes in Website: www.pops.int terms of quantity and degree of hazard. 11 Rotterdam Convention 12 Rotterdam Convention Scope-Coverage Key Provisions • Hazardous wastes (specified in Annex I) • A procedure for the notification of transboundary – Explosive movements of hazardous wastes or other – Flammable wastes, based upon a prior written consent – Poisonous procedure – Infectious – Corrosive • Each shipment needs a movement document – Toxic from the point of transboundary movement to the – Ecotoxic point of disposal 13 Rotterdam Convention 14 Rotterdam Convention Key Provisions Support for Implementatiion • Transboundary movement only among • Manual and guidelines: parties – Model legislation on control and management of hazardous wastes • Export is prohibited if – Implementation manual – The state of import has an import ban, OR – Instruction manual on the control system – The state of import has not given its consent – Technical Guidelines to the import • Basel Convention Regional Centres 15 Rotterdam Convention 16 Rotterdam Convention Possible Synergies Among Status of the Basel Convention the three Conventions Entered into force May 1992 1. Framework for lifecycle management 2. Chemicals covered • 168 Parties as of April 2006 3. Coordinated ratification • Subsequent amendments have yet to enter into force 4. Import/export control 5. Waste management Website: www.basel.int 6. Hazard communication 17 Rotterdam Convention 18 Rotterdam Convention Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 44 1. Framework for Lifecycle Management 1. Framework for Lifecycle Management • Together the three conventions cover the key Rotterdam Convention elements of the life cycle management of hazardous chemicals: • is a first line of defence against future – SC sets out specific criteria for identifying POPs that POPs are to be incorporated into national assessment • gives countries an early opportunity to schemes – should lead to national regulatory action consider alternatives – RC candidate chemicals are those that are banned or • PIC procedure should assist in avoiding an severely restricted or refused first time approval for health or environmental reasons accumulation of unwanted stockpiles 19 Rotterdam Convention 20 Rotterdam Convention 2. Framework for Lifecycle Management 3. Framework for Lifecycle Management Stockholm Convention Basel Convention • eliminate production and use of POPs • can assist in managing disposal of chemicals unwanted stockpiles • restricts the import and export of POPs to • technical working group is developing cases where the purpose is the environmentally sound disposal guidelines on management of POPs wastes • reduce or eliminate releases of POPs working on BAT/BEP guidelines 21 Rotterdam Convention 22 Rotterdam Convention 2. Chemicals Covered 3. Coordinated Ratification/Implementation • 8 of the 10 intentionally produced POPs • Countries can use the experience gained during are subject to the Rotterdam Convention ratification of the Basel Convention for Stockholm and Rotterdam • anticipate that in future intentionally produced POPs in the Stockholm • NIPS developed under the Stockholm Convention will be first included in the RC Convention: opportunity to review national chemicals legislation – ensure that Rotterdam • as wastes all chemicals will be subject to requirements are met the Basel Convention – Utilize Rotterdam Legal Guide in reviewing legislation 23 Rotterdam Convention 24 Rotterdam Convention 3. Coordinated Ratification/Implementation 4. Import/Export Controls • All three Conventions provide mechanisms to restrict imports and obligations on exports. • Secretariats are working together to – Import restrictions under Rotterdam may help prevent reference to the relevant elements of the stockpiles and wastes accumulating Rotterdam Convention in a revised • Customs officials should be trained on Convention requirements in a coordinated version of the Guidance to developing manner, addressing all three Convention’s NIPs under the Stockholm Convention • Conventions may potentially allow monitoring of movement of hazardous chemicals 25 Rotterdam Convention 26 Rotterdam Convention 4. Import/Export Controls 5. Waste Management • Movement of wastes under Basel Convention • Secretariats of the three Conventions are – Rotterdam and Stockholm may help to prevent working together to ensure a coordinated accumulation of stockpiles approach to training customs authorities on the requirements of the Conventions • Basel Convention is developing technical guidelines for PCB, dioxins, furans and other – in association with UNEP Green Customs hazardous wastes initiative and the World Customs Organization – These will be incorporated into Stockholm work, which will save resources. 27 Rotterdam Convention 28 Rotterdam Convention Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 45 6. Hazard Communication Conclusion • All three Conventions have mechanisms for hazard • Secretariats of the three Conventions are communication working to coordinate guidance on those • National focal points for the Conventions should share elements common to the Conventions information to ensure awareness among relevant authorities • Countries should review current • Close cooperation between focal points and regulators operations to determine opportunities for will assist in an integrated approach integrated implementation at the national – such cooperation may assist in coordinated implementation, as common issues can be considered together level 29 Rotterdam Convention 30 Rotterdam Convention Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 46 10. The Basel Convention Regional Centre for English-speaking African Countries (BCRC Pretoria) BASEL CONVENTION REGIONAL CENTRE PERSPECTIVES PRESENTATION TO A W ORK SH OP ON ROTTERD AM C ONV ENTION -------------------------------------------------- by PRETORIA Dr John Mbogoma PRETORIA Executive Director SOU TH AF RIC A Basel Convention Regional Centre Pretoria 19TH - 23RD JU NE 2006 1 2 BACKGROUND TO THE BASEL CONVENTION W H AT Y OU W IL L K NOW 1) Objectives of the B asel C onvention • Global