The Union Cabinet on October 7, 2020 approved the Ratification of seven (7) chemicals listed under Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).
These seven POPs are:
- Chlordecone,
- Hexabromobiphenyl,
- Hexabromodiphenyl ether and Heptabromodiphenylether (Commercial octa-BDE),
- Tetrabromodiphenyl ether and Pentabromodiphenyl ether (Commercial penta-BDE),
- Pentachlorobenzene,
- Hexabromocyclododecane, and
- Hexachlorobutadiene
The Cabinet further delegated its powers to ratify chemicals under the Stockholm Convention to Union Ministers of External Affairs (MEA) and Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MEFCC) in respect of POPs already regulated under the domestic regulations thereby streamlining the procedure.
Stockholm Convention
- The Stockholm Convention is a global treaty to protect human health and environment from POPs, which are identified chemical substances that persist in the environment, bio-accumulate in living organisms, adversely affect human health/ environment and have the property of long-range environmental transport (LRET).
- It was signed in 2001 and became effective from 17 May 2004.
- Exposure to POPs can lead to cancer, damage to central & peripheral nervous systems, diseases of immune system, reproductive disorders and interference with normal infant and child development.
- POPs are listed in various Annexes to the Stockholm Convention after thorough scientific research, deliberations and negotiations among member countries.
- India had ratified the Stockholm Convention on January 13, 2006 as per Article 25(4), which enabled it to keep itself in a default “opt-out” position such that amendments in various Annexes of the convention cannot be enforced on it unless an instrument of ratification/ acceptance/ approval or accession is explicitly deposited with UN depositary.
- Considering its commitment towards providing safe environment and addressing human health risks, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) had notified the ‘Regulation of Persistent Organic Pollutants Rules, on March 5, 2018 under the provisions of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
- The ratification process would enable India to access Global Environment Facility (GEF) financial resources in updating the National Implementation Plan (NIP).
National Implementation Plan (NIP)
- Under Article 7 of the Stockholm Convention, Parties to the Convention are required to prepare a plan on how they are going to implement the obligations under the Convention and make efforts to put such plan into operation.
- The National Implementation Plan (NIP) is not a stand alone plan for the management of POPs but is a part of a national sustainable development strategy of the Party preparing and implementing such plan.
- The Ministry of Environment and Forests, which is the nodal ministry for the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) and Stockholm Convention in India has prepared a NIP.
(Source: PIB and UNEP)
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