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Persistent Organic Pollutants

Background
 UNECE Protocol
 Stockholm Convention
 Obligations
 Further Information

Background


Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are chemical substances that persist in the environment, bioaccumulate through the food web and pose a risk of causing adverse effects to human health and the environment. Exposure to POPs can lead to serious health effects including certain cancers and reproductive disorders, damage to the nervous and immune systems and impacts on normal infant and child development. POPs can be transported across international boundaries far from their sources, even to regions where they have never been either used or produced. Given their long range transport capability, no Government acting in isolation can fully protect its citizens or environment from POPs. In recognition of this, two international legally binding instruments have been negotiated and concluded.



UNECE Protocol on Persistent Organic Pollutants


Ireland is a signatory to the 1998 (Aarhus) Protocol on Persistent Organic Pollutants to the UNECE Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution. The Protocol aims to provide for the control and reduction of emissions of POPs so as to protect human health and teh environment from adverse effects. The Protocol lists 16 substances that have been singled out according to agreed risk criteria. 

Further details on the Aarhus Protocol (external link)


Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants


The Stockholm Convention is a global treaty designed to protect human health and the environment from POPs. Initially the Convention listed 12 POPs. A further 9 were added following the Conference of the Parties held in May 2009.

Ireland ratified the Stockholm Convention on 5 August 2010. The Convention entered into force in Ireland on 3 November 2010. 

The Stockholm Convention celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2011. To mark this occasion the Secretariat of the Stockholm convention is organising a global art contest for children and youth. The theme of the contest is “Stockholm at 10: Chemical Challenges, Sustainable Solutions”. The contest is open until 16 March 2012. Further information is available at the link below.
  
Further details on the Stockholm Convention (external link)
 


Obligations


The POPs covered under the Convention and the Protocol can be sub-divided into three main categories:-

  1. Pesticides e.g. DDT
  2. Industrial Chemicals e.g. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
  3. Unintentional by products e.g. Dioxins, furans

The Protocol and Convention establish strict international controls for listed POPs that include the following:

  • Prohibition or severe restriction of the production and use of intentionally produced POPs
  • Restrictions on export and import of the intentionally produced POPs (Stockholm Convention)
  • Provisions on the safe handling of stockpiles (Stockholm Convention)
  • Provisions on the environmentally sound disposal of wastes containing POPs
  • Provisions on the reduction of emissions of unintentionally produced POPs (e.g. dioxins and furans)

The European Union has signed both international instruments on POPs and is strongly committed to their implementation. Regulation (EC) No 850/2004 aligned EU legislation with the provisions of the international agreements on POPs. Furthermore, it requires Member States to prepare national implementation plans as well as monitoring and information exchange mechanisms.

Ireland gave effect in national legislation to Regulation (EC) No. 850/2004 on 31 May 2010 through the Persistent Organic Pollutants Regulations 2010, S.I. No. 235 of 2010 (external link).

The Regulations designated the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as the competent authority for enforcement. The EPA was already active in this role. Many of Ireland’s obligations under the Stockholm Convention were already being implemented under Regulation (EC) 850/2004 as well as through existing environmental regulatory systems such as IPPC and waste licensing and other EU chemical and pesticide regulations. The EPA is working on the preparation of a draft national implementation plan. Once completed, this draft will be made available for public consultation

 

Further information


Environmental Compliance and Air Quality Section,
Department of the Environment, Community & Local Government,
Newtown Rd,
Wexford.

Telephone: +353 (0)53 911 7358
Fax:           +353 (0)53 911 7603

E-mail: airquality@environ.ie  

 

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