CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC National Implementation Plan for the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPS) Ministry of Water, Forests, Hunting and Fishing Charged with the Environment Bangui, Central African Republic June 2007 National Implementation Plan for the Stockholm Convention, Page 2 PREFACE The acceleration of the scientific progress, the continual growth of the consumption of energy and primary material resources and the increasingly significant production of synthetic organic compounds render the question of chemical safety a major preoccupation of our time with regard to human health and environment in the context of sustainable development promotion. Among the efforts undertaken by the international community for the protection of environmental health against detrimental effects of chemical products, the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), which was held in June 1992 in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) marked a decisive turning point with the adoption of Chapter 19 of Agenda 21, dedicated to “environmentally sound management of toxic chemicals, including prevention of illegal international traffic in toxic and dangerous products”. The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), a legally binding treaty of global reach, is one of the important answers by the international community for the implementation of Agenda 21, to which the Central African Republic has associated itself by signing this Convention on 9 Mai 2002. The process of its ratification is ongoing. POPs emissions have a severe impact on human health (cancers, congenital malformations, diabetes, reproductive disorder, mental debility, etc.) and environment. They constitute a poverty aggravating factor in developing countries and impede the governments’ efforts for sustainable development. Signing the Stockholm Convention has made the Central African Republic eligible for financial support of the Global Environment Facility, based on which the CAR applied for technical assistance from the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) for the establishment of its National Implementation Plan. This work process is executed in a participatory manner by the Ministry of Water, Forests, Hunting and Fishing, Charged with the Environment, the government’s focal point according to Article 9 of the Convention. Thus the Central African Republic has carried out a national evaluation of POPs in order to draft and apply a national plan for the implementation of the Stockholm Convention (NIP) according to its Article 7. This analysis revealed that with the exception of dioxins and furans, which are unintentionally produced POPs, the CAR has never intentionally produced POPs (pesticides or industrial products). However, POPs pesticides have been imported into the country for use in agriculture and public health. Likewise industrial POPs, such as Pyralene, have been imported for use in electrical equipment, some of which is still in service in the electric power production and distribution sector. The will and determination of the Government to carry out necessary corrective measures for the promotion of sustainable development and to contribute to improving global environmental management are also expressed in the ratification of pertinent conventions, such as the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Convention to Combat Desertification, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, for the implementation of which synergies must be developed that follow the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM). To that goal, the ratification of the Rotterdam and Basel Conventions is on the agenda. The implementation of the Stockholm Convention is based on the substitution of POPs and the prevention of their emission into the environment, in accordance with the Convention’s spirit, and it gives our country the opportunity to develop a national integrated policy for environmentally sound management of dangerous chemical substances and products. This is the vision of the Government, which works on behalf of His Excellency, the President of the Republic. In his name and in the name of the Government I express our country’s sentiments of gratitude National Implementation Plan for the Stockholm Convention, Page 3 towards the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and our international development partners, in partic ular the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Swiss Government for their multiple contributions and support in the work process for the National Implementation Plan for the Stockholm Convention and in the execution of pilot projects for the reinforcement of relevant capacities in our country. I would like to nourish the hope to continue appreciating their presence at our side, as well as the presence of all, who also want to accompany us in the implementation of priority action plans, derived from the National Implementation Plan for the Stockholm Convention, which were validated by the different stakeholders at the National Workshop on 30 November and 2 December 2006, and which I formally endorse in the name of the Government. The Minister of Water, Forests, Hunting and Fishing, Charged with the Environment Emmanue l BIZOT National Implementation Plan for the Stockholm Convention, Page 4 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This National Implementation Plan (NIP) for the Stockholm Convention in the Central African Republic (CAR) was established under the aegis of the Ministry of Water, Forests, Hunting and Fishing, Charged with the Environment in the framework of Project UNIDO-GEF/CAF/02/013 “Enabling Activities” on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). The national coordination is carried out by Ms. Victorine GAZA, National Coordinator Mr. Pierre SEMBENE, Focal Point Representative for the Stockholm Convention on POPs The three consultants below have collaborated in preparing the NIP: Mr. Gustave DOUNGOUBE Mr. Léopold MBOLI FATRANE Mr. Jérôme DEGANE-NAMKONIN The National Coordination would like to thank all national consultants, international experts and members of the Steering Committee, who have participated in the inventory process and other studies, as well as all others, who have from near or far contributed to preparing this document. National Implementation Plan for the Stockholm Convention, Page 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface...............................................................................................................................................2 Acknowledgements...........................................................................................................................4 Table of Contents..............................................................................................................................5 List of Tables ....................................................................................................................................8 List of Figures ...................................................................................................................................8 Glossary ............................................................................................................................................9 Summary.........................................................................................................................................14 1. Introduction.............................................................................................................................18 1.1. Object and Structure of the NIP......................................................................................18 1.2. Major Objectives and Obligations of the POPs Convention..........................................19 1.3. Roadmap for the NIP Establishment...............................................................................21 1.4. Mechanism for Stakeholder Involvement.......................................................................22 1.5. Summary of the POPs Situation.....................................................................................22 1.5.1 National context 22 1.5.2 General information on chemical products 26 2. Basic Data on the Central African Republic...........................................................................30 2.1. General Context ..............................................................................................................30 2.1.1 Geography and demography 30 2.1.2 Political, economic and social context 31 2.1.3 Outline of the sectors of the economy 35 2.1.4 Environmental overview 35 2.2. Institutional, Political and Regulatory Framework.........................................................36 2.2.1 Environmental and sustainable development policy and legal framework 36 2.2.2 Roles and responsibilities of ministries, public organs and other governmental organizations involved with POPs 37 National Implementation Plan for the Stockholm Convention, Page 6 2.2.3 Relevant obligations and international commitments 40 2.2.4 Underlying principles of current laws and regulations in regard to POPs 41 2.2.5 Principal methods and approaches for POPs and POPs pesticides management, in particular regarding their use and follow-up 42 2.3. Assessment of the POPs