The State of Eritrea Department of Environment of the Ministry of Land, Water and Environment National Implementation Plan For the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants ASMARA, Eritrea June 2012 1 Published by the Department of Environment of the Ministry of Land, Water and Environment, the State of Eritrea, Asmara 2012 Copyright © 2012 Department of Environment, Ministry of Land, Water and Environment, Eritrea This publication may be reproduced for educational or non-profit purposes with out the special permission from the copyright holders provided acknowledgement of the source is made. The Department of Environment of the Ministry of Land, Water and Environment would appreciate receiving a copy of any publication that uses this publication as a source. This document has to be considered as a technical document. The views expressed in this document and the maps and graphs presented don’t necessarily reflect the position of the Government of Eritrea or United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). For further information please contact: Department of Environment Ministry of Land, Water and Environment P.O.Box. 5713 Asmara, Eritrea Tel: +291-1-120311 or +291-1-125887 Fax: +291-1-126095 2 Background The National Implementation Plan (NIP) was developed based on Article 7 of the Stockholm Convention (SC), which was signed on May 23, 2001 and came into force on May 17, 2004. According to the provisions of the Stockholm Convention, each Party shall develop and endeavour to implement a plan for the execution of its obligations under the Convention. This NIP document has been prepared by the Government of Eritrea and UNIDO within the framework of the UNIDO/GEF Project “Enabling Activities to Facilitate Early Action on the Implementation of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in Eritrea”, GF/ERI/07/001 National project-executing organization Department of Environment of the Ministry of Land, Water and Environment Director General, Department of Environment (GEF Focal Point): Mr. Mogos Woldeyohannes. Director of Environmental Resources Assessment and Information Division: Mr. Tewolde Gebreyesus Project team National Project Team: Mr. Tewolde Gebreyesus Mr. Ephrem Gebreamlak Mr. Adel Osman Mr. Kibrom Asmerom Mr. Yosief Gebreyesus Mr. Hager Asrat Mr. Dawit Tewelde Acknowledgements Financing: This report was financed by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) through UNIDO as the GEF implementing agency, and co-financed by the Government of The State of Eritrea. International guidance: This report was elaborated based on the guidance and training provided by Dr. Szabolzs Fejes. All rights reserved First published 2012 3 List of Project Steering Committee S.No Name Sector 1 Mr. Tewelde Gebreyesus Ministry of Land, Water and Environment 2 Mr. Ephrem Gebreamlak Ministry of Land, Water and Environment 3 Mr. Yosief Gebreyesus Ministry of Land, Water and Environment 4 Mr. Kibrom Asmerom Ministry of Land, Water and Environment 5 Mr. Biniam Mesfin Ministry of Finance (Department of Customs) 6 Eng. Debesay Hailu Ministry of Transport and Communication 7 Dr. Tewolde Gebremeskel Ministry of Health (Malaria Control Unit) 8 Mr. Teklu Gebreyohannes Ministry of Labor and Human Welfare 9 Mr. Selemun Tesfamariam Ministry of Trade and Industry 10 Mr. Mussie Sium Eritrean Institute of Technology (Department of Chemistry) 11 Mr. Tesfatsion Embaye National Confederation of Eritrean Workers 12 Mr. Beyene Araya Chamber of Commerce 13 Mr. Esayas Haile Eritrean Standard Institute (ESI) 14 Mr. Teklehaimanot Debretsion Ministry of Energy and Mines (MoEM) 15 Eng. Haj Osman Abubeker Eritrean Electric Corporation List of Project Task Teams Team 1 (POPs Pesticides) Institution Team 2 (PCB) Institution Yosief Gebreyesus MoLWE Ephrem Gebreamlak MoLWE Kaleab Haile MoA Haji Osman EEC Selam Mihreteab MoH Ferah Hassen EEC Zoba representatives All Zoba representatives All Team 3 (PCDD/Fs) Institution Team 4 (Legal and Technical Institution Infrastructure) Adel Osman MoLWE Yonatan Goitom MoLWE Michael Beyene Municipality Daniel Semere MoJ Yemane Abraha MoTI Aron Berhane MoLWE Tekie Abraha MoH Essayas Haile ESI Zoba representatives All 4 Table of Contents Acknowledgements .......................................................................................................................8 Foreward .........................................................................................................................................9 List of Figures ..............................................................................................................................11 Executive Summary .....................................................................................................................14 1. Objectives of the NIP Development and Stockholm Convention .......................................14 2. Eritrea’s Commitment to Implement the NIP.........................................................................15 3. Status of POPs in Eritrea- Summary......................................................................................16 4. National Priorities and key POPs issues addressed under the Action Plans ...................16 1. Introduction ..............................................................................................................................19 2. Country Baseline .............................................................................................................22 2.1. Country Profile ......................................................................................................................22 2.1.1. Geography and Climate.....................................................................................................22 2.1.2. Population, language and culture ....................................................................................23 2.1.3. Historical and Economical Profile....................................................................................23 2.1.4. Infrastructural Profile ........................................................................................................24 2.1.5. Profiles of Economic Sectors ...........................................................................................24 2.2. Policy, legal and administrative framework .......................................................................26 2.2.1. National Obligations to Environment, Chemicals and Agriculture...............................26 2.2.2. National Legal Framework ................................................................................................27 2.3. Assessment of the POPs issue in Eritrea...........................................................................34 2.3.1. Assessment with respect to Annex, Part I Chemicals (POP Pesticide) .......................34 2.3.2. Assessment with respect to Annex A, Part II chemicals (PCBs) ..................................51 2.3.3. Assessment with respect to Annex B chemicals- DDT..................................................55 2.3.4. Assessment of releases from unintentional production of Annex C Chemicals (PCDD/PCDF, HCB and PCBs)....................................................................................................59 2.3.5. Information on the state of knowledge on stockpiles, contaminated sites and wastes, identification, likely numbers, relevant regulations, guidance, remediation measures and data on releases from sites .................................................................................................................68 5 2.3.6. Summary of future production, use and releases of POPs- requirements for exemptions .......................................................................................................................................................70 2.3.7. Existing programmes for monitoring releases and environmental and human health impacts, including findings.........................................................................................................70 2.3.8. Current level of information, awareness and education among target groups; existing systems to communicate such information to the various groups; mechanism for information exchange with other parties to the Convention........................................................................71 2.3.9. Relevant activities of non-governmental stakeholders .................................................72 2.3.10. Overview of technical infrastructure for POPs assessment, measurement, analysis, alternatives, alternatives and prevention measures, management, research and development- linkage to international programmes and projects ..................................................................75 2.3.11. Identification of threats to human health and environment and social implications for workers and local communities .................................................................................................75 2.3.12. Details for Any Relevant system for the Assessment and Listing of New chemicals77 3. Strategy and Action Plan Elements of the NIP of Eritrea.....................................................77 3.1. Policy Statement ...................................................................................................................77 3.2. Implementation Strategy ......................................................................................................78 3.2.1. Coordinating mechanism for the NIP implementation...................................................78