STATUS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF CONTENTS

THE • Introduction STOCKHOLM CONVENTION • Legal Developments • Constrains IN THE GAMBIA • Partners in NIP Development • Establishment of task teams 15th - 19th June 2009 • Tasks of teams NAIROBI, KENYA • Training & Visits Adama B. Cham Alieu Sallah • Review of reports National Environment Agency, • Main findings Banjul The Gambia • Validation of reports • Hiring of National Consultant NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT AGENCY • Reports of consultant 5 Fitzgerald Street, PMB 48, Banjul, The Gambia Tel: (220) 4224867, 4224869, 4228056 • Training Risk Management Fax: (220) 4229701 Adama B. Cham Email: [email protected] Nairobi, KENYA 15th - 19th June 2009

INTRODUCTION LEGAL DEVELOPMENTS

• Focal Point for Stockholm Convention identified; • Stockholm Convention signed in May 2001; • Regulatory action taken on several POP Chemicals; • Ratification in June 2003; • Inventory of PCBs undertaken; • Assent and signature by the Head of State; • Thirteen tons of obsolete pesticides including POPs • Convention incorporated into local law (hazardous transported to the UK in 1999 for high temperature chemicals act) by form of Regulations. incineration; • Sensitisation sessions on POPs conducted; • Our NIP Prepared.

Adama B. Cham Adama B. Cham Nairobi, KENYA Nairobi, KENYA 15th - 19th June 2009 15th - 19th June 2009

CONSTRAINS (1) CONSRAINS (2)

• Low level of awareness with regard to chemicals in • DDT use for indoor residue spraying has been tested general and POPs in particular; in two parts of the country because of the prevalence • PCB inventory done with assistance from GTZ and of malaria; PCB containing transformers that are leaking • Inadequate enforcement capabilities and capacities, identified, collected and stored waiting for disposal; including laboratory facilities and manpower • PCB still in use and low capacity constraint; to deal with them; • Inadequate data collection devices; • Waste management still a priority • Need to conduct research on alternatives to POPs. issue.

Adama B. Cham Adama B. Cham Nairobi, KENYA Nairobi, KENYA 15th - 19th June 2009 15th - 19th June 2009 PARTNERS IN NIP DEVELOPMENT

• National Environment Agency • Department of Agricultural Services STATUS OF • Department of Health Services • Department of Customs and Excise IMPLEMENTATION • Department of Statistics • Department of Livestock Services OF NIP • The National Water and Electricity Company • The Department of Water Resources • The Attorney General’s Chambers • The Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industries • National Agricultural Research Institute • The Private Sector • The Association of Non Governmental Organisations • The public and private media • The National Nutrition Agency NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT AGENCY • The University of The Gambia 5 Fitzgerald Street, PMB 48, Banjul, The Gambia Tel: (220) 4224867, 4224869, 4228056 • The Municipalities. Fax: (220) 4229701 Adama B. Cham Email: [email protected] Nairobi, KENYA 15th - 19th June 2009

ESTABLISHMENT OF TASK TEAMS TASK OF TEAMS

Five multi disciplinary Task Teams, headed by a Team Leader, were established around the following The main task of each team was: areas of interest: i. To carry out the specific assessments, including data generation and data gathering, i. Updating of National Profile required to provide the necessary background ii. POP Pesticide information on the POPs issue; iii.PCBs ii. To identify gaps in resources, capacity and iv.Unintentionally Produced POPs knowledge which prevent the complete v. Information Dissemination assessment of the status of POPs in the country; iii. To identify country needs in terms of technical expertise and other assistance needs.

Adama B. Cham Adama B. Cham Nairobi, KENYA Nairobi, KENYA 15th - 19th June 2009 15th - 19th June 2009

TRAINING & VISITS REVIEW OF REPORTS

The outcome of the work of the Task Teams was: • Meeting of Senegal-Gambia Joint Initiative on • An updated National Profile; Pesticides Management, in Dakar; • An assessment of the import, export, use and • Training on Development of Project Initiation; management of POP chemicals; • Assessment of the institutional and administrative • Training on Data Base Development. infrastructure for POPs management; • Report on the health and environmental impacts of POPs; • An inventory of PCB equipment; • Preliminary inventories of releases of unintentionally produced POPs; • Review of legal and enforcement situation; • Analysis of the level of awareness of the populace on POPs.

Adama B. Cham Adama B. Cham Nairobi, KENYA Nairobi, KENYA 15th - 19th June 2009 15th - 19th June 2009 MAIN FINDINGS (1) MAIN FINDINGS (2)

a) National Profile Update (b) PCBs The bulk of the PCBs in this country are within the A national profile on chemicals management was purview of NAWEC by virtue of the presence of prepared in 1997 and as part of the NIP Project was PCBs in transformer oils. updated to take on board new developments. Lack of capacity in management of PCBs is a major constraint. Inadequacies in the laws as well as lack Lack of awareness and capacity, and inadequate of enforcement capacities are other constraints. legal and administrative infrastructure are still major constraints in chemicals management. An inventory of PCBs in the open systems need to be also given due concern.

Adama B. Cham Adama B. Cham Nairobi, KENYA Nairobi, KENYA 15th - 19th June 2009 15th - 19th June 2009

MAIN FINDINGS (3) MAIN FINDINGS (4)

(c) POP Pesticides (d) Unintentionally produced POPs

This study revealed that POP The inventory indicates that the pesticides are not currently principal sources of releases of dioxins and used in the country, but can furans in The Gambia are: possibly enter illegally through the Lumos. • landfill and dump fires; • open burning of domestic and other wastes; DDT reintroduced, by government to be strictly used as indoor residue spraying by the Department of • forest and bush fires; Health Services in their fight against the malaria • the burning of agricultural residues; vector. • the use of biomass for cooking.

Adama B. Cham Adama B. Cham Nairobi, KENYA Nairobi, KENYA 15th - 19th June 2009 15th - 19th June 2009

MAIN FINDINGS (5) VALIDATION OF REPORTS

(e) Education and Awareness Creation • Task Team Reports were validated at a workshop attended by all stakeholders.

This study built on work that was already begun in the field of awareness creation with regard to • International consultants were hired to assist with PCB hazardous chemicals. inventory, the DDT alternatives assessment, and the inventory of Dioxins and furans.

The major problems are lack of awareness, lack of viable and appropriate information systems, and • A socio-economic analysis of the impacts lack of adequate information on health implications of alternatives. due to POPs.

Adama B. Cham Adama B. Cham Nairobi, KENYA Nairobi, KENYA 15th - 19th June 2009 15th - 19th June 2009 HIRING OF NATIONAL CONSULTANTS REPORTS OF CONSULTANT (1)

The outcome of the work of the consultants showed • Advertisement was made and national consultants that the different areas had the following concerns: hired for the above work, in three areas: a) PCB • POP pesticides, PCBs, Unintentional POPs and • Non-sustainable management options; Information System establishment. • Absence of Awareness Creation and Capacity Building Programs; • Inadequate legislation; • Absence or inadequate monitoring and enforcement strategies.

Adama B. Cham Adama B. Cham Nairobi, KENYA Nairobi, KENYA 15th - 19th June 2009 15th - 19th June 2009

REPORTS OF CONSULTANT (2) REPORTS OF CONSULTANT (3)

b) POP Pesticides c) Unintentionally produced POPS • The lack of awareness and information; • Uncontrolled combustion • Lack of data especially on groundwater • Emissions from power generation and cooking. contamination; • Weak enforcement structures; • Illegal trade of pesticides and other products.

Adama B. Cham Adama B. Cham Nairobi, KENYA Nairobi, KENYA 15th - 19th June 2009 15th - 19th June 2009

REPORTS OF CONSULTANT (4) TRAINING RISK MANAGEMENT

d) Proposals for establishment of a POP Information system The Consultancy revealed the following important issues that could impact on the establishment of a POP Information system: A UNITAR Consultant was recruited to conduct the • Lack of general awareness on chemicals and POPs in particular. five-day training. PCB was identified among the POPs • Lack of data on POPs in general. for this training because: • Lack of comprehensive and exhaustive sampling or population frames for various studies on POPs. • Data gaps with regard to the National Malaria Control • PCBs are currently the only intentional POPs in The Programme (NMCP). Gambia; • Lack of training for target groups especially customs officials with respect to transport of POPs and their wastes. • The risks due to PCBs are of a major concern; • Lack of detection, inspection and record-keeping protocols and procedures. • NAWEC and other stakeholders need to be trained on • Lack of record keeping for most of the relevant sources of risk reduction strategies. emission of dioxins and furans.

Adama B. Cham Adama B. Cham Nairobi, KENYA Nairobi, KENYA 15th - 19th June 2009 15th - 19th June 2009 THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!

Adama B. Cham Nairobi, KENYA 15th - 19th June 2009