Interventions at BRS COP 2022
IPEN closing statement
Thank you Mr President for giving IPEN the floor, and good afternoon Distinguished Delegates.
IPEN, as a global network of non-profit, civil society organizations, participates to bear witness for the billions of people whose well-being and human rights are affected by the decisions that are being made here.
We appreciate the hard work of many delegates to reach agreements that truly protects vulnerable communities of women, children, indigenous peoples and workers. The listing of PFHxS and related substances for global elimination, without any exemptions, is one more step towards banning all PFAS chemicals. Based on the precautionary principle and to avoid regrettable substitution, we urge Parties to increase the scope of upcoming nominations to include even larger groups of chemicals.
The new control of e-waste is a welcome development that we hope will help stop the dumping of e-waste in developing countries. However, we note with concern the remaining loophole that allows for export of e-waste under the guise of repair and repurposing. Considering the rapidly increasing use of lithium batteries, this loophole must be closed. Strong controls must be put in place to ensure that these are managed in the countries where they were actually used.
We are also concerned that stricter, truly health protective limits for POPs waste were not adopted. In addition, we see the remaining exemptions and acceptable purposes under the Stockholm Convention continue to lead to human exposure to toxic chemicals and environmental pollution.
While important progress was made under the Rotterdam Convention to list DecaBDE and PFOA, we are saddened by the continued blocking of asbestos, paraquat and other pesticides. We sincerely hope that Parties can agree on new ways to end this stalemate at the next Conference of the Parties.
Finally, we are proud to have representatives of IPEN´s Youth Caucus here with us. Youth is a key group of stakeholders whose voices must be heard in these deliberations.
We look forward to work with you all in a constructive and collaborative manner in the intersessional work, and at the COPs next year.
Thank you.
IPEN Youth Caucus - Statement at the closing of the BRS COPs plenary
Thank you, chair. I am a representative of the IPEN Youth Caucus.
We appreciate the progress that has been made during this meeting, and we are thankful for the opportunity to organize a Side Event on Youth involvement in the National Implementation Plans.
Persistent Organic Pollutants endanger future generations. The implementation of the Stockholm Convention is key to advancing intergenerational equity and a toxic-free future. However, the participation of youth is still limited. The challenges of chemicals and waste are not an exception; meaningful youth engagement around chemicals and waste is an important, but often neglected. A greater proportion of youth do not have the opportunity to fully develop its potential and contribute effectively to the development agenda.
The Stockholm Convention says that parties shall develop and endeavor to implement a plan for the implementation of its obligations under the convention. These national implementation plans are key components in order to secure the protection of human health and the environment from POPs.
Non-compliance with this obligation poses a serious obstacle to the availability of information and data needed to assess the effectiveness of the Convention to fulfill its overall objective.
We call on the Parties, the Secretariat, and other stakeholders, will continue to develop strategies to ensure an open, inclusive, and clear participation of youth in the BRS COPs, their preparatory meetings and consultations, as well as the work at the national level, including the development of the national implementation plans.
Youth groups, as well as “groups involved in the health of children”, as indicated by Article 7 of the Stockholm Convention, should be represented in decision-making at the BRS COPs and in other chemicals and waste policy processes.
The IPEN Youth Caucus hopes to act as the link between decision makers and youth in the BRS COPs to foster cooperation towards meaningful youth engagement. We hope to see an increased intersectional approach to youth inclusion in chemicals and waste policy processes, acknowledging that the chemicals and waste crisis affects some communities and social groups disproportionately, and recognizing that the chemicals and waste crisis is a broader socio-political crisis that necessitates systemic and urgent action.
Thank you for your consideration.
IPEN intervention on enhancing the effectiveness of the Rotterdam Convention
Thank you Mr. President,
The Rotterdam Convention is an important tool that empowers countries to control which hazardous chemicals enter their country, to protect the health of their citizens and the environment. This transparency measure does not prohibit anything but only puts in place a prior informed consent procedure.
IPEN is therefore very concerned about the lack of progress in adding asbestos and several highly hazardous chemicals to the Convention, as recommended by the Chemicals Review Committee after a thorough review. We urge Parties to adopt decisions to add DecaBDE and PFOA under the Convention; that are already listed under the Stockholm Convention for global elimination. We also call on Parties to put forward, and agree on, meaningful proposals to enhance the effectiveness of the Convention.
Based on precaution and to facilitate greater information availability and sharing, it would also be useful for the World Customs Organization to assign codes to chemicals and mixtures that have been notified by a Party to the secretariat as being severely restricted in their country, even before it is added to Annex III.
Thank You Mr. President.
Intervention on listing of PFOA under the Rotterdam Convention
PFOA is a widespread global pollutant that contaminates the drinking water, food and even the blood of millions of people around the world. Once in the environment, it is extremely difficult and costly to clean up the contamination.
PFOA is linked to a wide range of health effects such as kidney and testicular cancer, harm to reproductive development, liver impacts and impaired immune system function.
It has been used both for industrial applications, as well in a multitude of consumer products such as stain-resistant carpet, water-repellent clothes, paper and cardboard packaging, ski waxes and cosmetics. One of its most polluting uses has been in firefighting foam.
At the same time, effective fluorine-free alternatives that can replace PFOA are already available for all these uses. For example, fluorine free firefighting foams are already in use in the gas and oil industry, major airports, and military facilities.
The listing of PFOA under the Stockholm Convention was an important first step towards the global elimination of this toxic chemical. However, it is very important to add transparency and controls on its international trade in order to prevent further harm to health and violations of human rights of children, families, workers, and especially firefighters who are experiencing high levels of exposures, cancers and other adverse health effects.
IPEN therefore strongly supports the listing of PFOA in Annex Three of the Rotterdam Convention.
Intervention on Listing Chrysotile Asbestos
Thank you, Chair.
I represent CEPHED, an NGO from Nepal, participating organization of IPEN and ANROEV.
My country, Nepal, was the first country in South Asia to ban the import, sale, distribution, and use of all forms and types of asbestos and asbestos-containing products including chrysotile, except asbestos lining of clutch plates and brake shoes. The ban came into force in June 2015. However, Nepal is still struggling to achieve ZERO imports of Asbestos and asbestos-containing products.
I would like to raise two issues:
First, despite Nepal’s ban, some countries continue exporting asbestos and asbestos-containing products to Nepal, violating both national law and the required PIC process for already listed types of asbestos, thus also undermining the Business and Human Rights (BHR) principles.
Secondly, chrysotile asbestos has been recommended for addition in Annex III since 2005 and we urge Parties to adopt this addition at this meeting. A listing is not a ban of trade but would simply allow it to undergo a Prior Informed Consent procedure, improving the disclosure of information between the Parties.
The PIC procedure has an important function as it enhances the transparency of the trade and uses of substances of concern so that countries can better manage their risk and protect the population.
Therefore, it is never late to do the right thing, and hence strongly urge this gathering to find a suitable path and way out to list the last remaining types of Chrysotile Asbestos in Annex III PIC Process and respect the universal and fundamental right to know.
Thank you for your consideration.
Intervention on listing decaBDE in Annex III to the Rotterdam Convention
Thank you, Mr. President,
IPEN appreciates the work of the Chemical Review Committee (CRC) and strongly supports the recommendation to list decaBDE in Annex III of the Rotterdam Convention.
DecaBDE is toxic, highly persistent and bioaccumulates. It affects the ability of our children to learn and grow because it negatively affects thyroid function and neurodevelopment. DecaBDE is still found in mothers’ breast milk and thus passed to the most vulnerable of us, our children.
IPEN undertook extensive research into consumer products demonstrating DecaBDE is also present in children toys due to recycling of materials containing decaBDE.
Listing DecaBDE under the Rotterdam Convention gives governments one more tool to eliminate the inflow of decaBDE, which has already been listed for global elimination under the Stockholm Convention but for which exemptions are still in place.
We underscore that the Rotterdam Convention is about access to information, allowing countries to decide whether they want to accept or refuse chemicals of concern through the prior informed consent procedure.
Thank you for your consideration.
Intervention on Harmonised Commodity Codes
Thank you Mr. President,
I am from the Consumers’ Association of Penang, a Participating Organisation of IPEN.
In my country, Malaysia, we have been fighting against the illegal export of plastic waste from developed countries. Recently a new form of subtle export of waste to developing countries has been arising: Refuse derived fuels and Process Engineered Fuel.
These are shredded plastics, paper, timber, fabric and other combustible wastes that are compressed into pellets or bales for burning in cement kilns and incinerators.
Because of the uncertainty in their composition, these wastes lack a clear identification under the Basel Convention as well as a specific HS code under which their movement could be tracked. This leads to their misclassification as products or fuels by countries that don’t allow the export of waste or have end-of-waste criteria that don’t align with the Basel Convention.
We call on parties to ensure appropriate controls are applied to these waste-derived fuels through a specific HS code to ensure full traceability and transparency of their transboundary movements.
Thank you for your consideration
Intervention on Ban Amendment Entry Into Force
Thank you Mr. President.
I am from Toxics Link an environmental NGO in India, a participating organization of IPEN.
The Ban amendment provides a powerful tool for non-OECD countries to prevent the harmful impacts of hazardous waste exports. Developing countries and countries in transition largely bear the brunt due of the hazardous waste movement from developed countries with devastating impacts on local communities. However, there are still countries that unfortunately have not ratified the ban amendment yet, which would allow them to protect the environment and health of their citizens.
We therefore encourage all Parties to ratify the Basel Ban amendment for the greater benefit of human health and the environment, and for countries to put strong provisions in their national regulations in place to support country implementation.
Thank you President.
Intervention on Listing of Herbicides/Pesticides
Thank you, Mr. President,
I represent the NGO Armenian Women for Health and Healthy Environment, member of IPEN.
The global community is increasingly aware of the risks of highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs) to human health and the environment. The use of HHPs can permanently undermine human health and affect future generations.
In 2019, 2020, and 2021 civil society organizations from ten out of 12 countries of Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia conducted a detailed study of the use of HHPs in their countries. The results show that more than 50 substances from the Pesticide Action Network HHP list are applied in each country, including the herbicides/pesticides nominated for PIC listing. For example, in Armenia, the pesticide fenthion, which is highly toxic for bees is allowed for use. The herbicide acetochlor is applied for a variety of crops, and fruit in Armenia. Overall, the consumption of chemicals and pesticides in the region is increasing. These HHPs are mainly imported.
Experts noted gaps in the national legislations, which do not allow to effectively control the use of pesticides. In the countries of the region, epidemiological studies to assess the health and environmental impacts of HHPs are almost completely absent. However, even fragmentary data show widespread soil contamination, mass deaths of bees, an increase of pesticide poisoning and diseases associated with exposure to HHPs.
IPEN urges Parties to list the nominated pesticides in Annex III as a first step to control their trade. We also call on the countries to ensure that the pesticides and herbicides that are banned in their countries for health and environment reasons are not exported to countries with less protective legislation and enforcement.
We also urge FAO to prepare a list of safer alternatives including ecosystem-based approaches to provide countries with the right to know and the right to choose plant protection measures that do not cause toxic exposure to the people, the wildlife and the environment.
Thank you.
Intervention on Further Considerations Plastic Waste
Thank you, Mr. President
The listing of plastic waste under the Basel Convention and it´s requirement of Prior Informed Consent was a game changer. Currently, the listing exempts several types of plastics from these requirements, provided that they are destined for recycling in an environmentally sound manner and almost free from contamination and other types of wastes.
Unfortunately, some types of plastics were included in the exemption list that will not be able to meet the criteria.
Cured resins and condensation products are so-called thermosets, which means that they cannot be remolded into other products by a heat-melting process, and therefore cannot be recycled.
Fluorinated polymers are used for example as coatings in paper products, aircraft interiors and solar panels, and as insulation on electrical wires, pipes and fittings. This means that they cannot, or are very unlikely to, be extracted to the extent that they are “…almost free from contamination and other types of wastes” after use, since they form integral parts of the products.
Fluoropolymer scrap generated during production can in some cases be recycled. However, this should not be exported, but recycled locally.
The COP should therefore withdraw the exemptions for cured resins and condensation products and fluorinated polymers, and the corresponding Annex IX listing should be deleted More information about this can be found in a fact sheet in IPEN´s booth.
- Thank you -
Intervention on Waste Containing Nanomaterials
Thank you, Mister president. I am from RAP-AL Uruguay, an IPEN Participating Organization. IPEN has been working with parties and stakeholders to raise awareness of the particularities of nanomaterials and their related risks for many years.
Nanomaterials are being used in almost all sectors (from textiles to agriculture, and from medical applications to food packaging and food additives, to cosmetics, to only name a few). Information relating to the nature, production, and use are still extremely limited (no one can respond to the basic questions of what is being produced, in what quantity and for what uses) while at the same time, science continues to point towards specific risks and the need for precaution.
One thing is however clear, is that production numbers are increasing, and so is the amount of waste that contains nanomaterials. The latest reports from OECD and academia showed that there are serious questions and risks from the potentially unsound management of such waste.
It is critical that Parties generate and make available information on wastes containing nanomaterials and that the secretariat continues to collect all available information and provide regular updates to the COP and the parties of the Basel Convention, as a first step to minimize the risks arising from mismanagement of waste containing nanomaterials.
We therefore support the decision being currently proposed for adoption and encourage the secretariat and partners to also increase their awareness raising activities.
Thank you.
español - Intervención sobre nanomateriales - 12 Junio 2022
Gracias, señor presidente. Soy de RAP-AL Uruguay, una Organización Participante de IPEN. IPEN ha estado trabajando con las partes y las partes interesadas para generar conciencia sobre las particularidades de los nanomateriales y sus riesgos relacionados durante muchos años.
Los nanomateriales se utilizan en casi todos los sectores (desde el textil hasta la agricultura, y desde aplicaciones médicas hasta envases de alimentos y aditivos alimentarios, hasta cosméticos, por nombrar solo algunos). La información relativa a la naturaleza, la producción y el uso es todavía extremadamente limitada (nadie puede responder a las preguntas básicas de qué se produce, en qué cantidad y para qué usos) mientras que, al mismo tiempo, la ciencia sigue apuntando hacia riesgos específicos. y la necesidad de precaución.
Sin embargo, una cosa está clara, que los números de producción están aumentando, al igual que la cantidad de desechos que contienen nanomateriales. Los últimos informes de la OCDE y de la academia mostraron que existen serias dudas y riesgos derivados de la gestión potencialmente inadecuada de dichos desechos.
Es fundamental que las Partes generen y pongan a disposición información sobre los desechos que contienen nanomateriales y que la secretaría continúe recopilando toda la información disponible y proporcione actualizaciones periódicas a la COP y a las partes del Convenio de Basilea, como primer paso para minimizar los riesgos derivados de la mala gestión de residuos que contienen nanomateriales.
Por lo tanto, apoyamos la decisión que actualmente se propone para su adopción y alentamos a la secretaría y a los socios a que también aumenten sus actividades de sensibilización.
Gracias
portugues - Intervenção em nanomateriais - 12 de junho de 2022
Obrigado, Sr. Presidente. Sou da RAP-AL Uruguay, uma Organização Participante do IPEN. O IPEN tem trabalhado com partes interessadas e partes interessadas para aumentar a conscientização sobre as particularidades dos nanomateriais e seus riscos relacionados há muitos anos.
Os nanomateriais são usados em quase todos os setores (desde têxteis até têxteis). agricultura, e de aplicações médicas a embalagens de alimentos e aditivos alimentares, a cosméticos, para citar apenas alguns.) As informações relativas à natureza, produção e uso ainda são extremamente limitadas (ninguém pode responder às questões básicas do que é produzido, em que quantidade e para o que usa) enquanto, ao mesmo tempo, a ciência continua a apontar para riscos específicos. e a necessidade de cautela.
No entanto, uma coisa é clara, que os números de produção estão aumentando, assim como a quantidade de resíduos contendo nanomateriais. Os últimos relatórios acadêmicos da OCDE mostraram que há sérias dúvidas e riscos decorrentes da gestão potencialmente inadequada desses resíduos.
É fundamental que as Partes gerem e disponibilizem informações sobre resíduos contendo nanomateriais e que a Secretaria continue coletando todas as informações disponíveis e fornecendo atualizações regulares à COP e às partes na Convenção de Basileia, como primeiro passo para minimizar os riscos decorrentes da má gestão. de resíduos contendo nanomateriais.
Por isso, apoiamos a decisão atualmente proposta para adoção e incentivamos a secretaria e os parceiros a também aumentarem suas atividades de conscientização.
Obrigado
IPEN Intervention on Science to Action
Thank you Madame/ Mister President,
IPEN builds its work on the scientific evidence about harm to human health and the environment caused by toxic chemicals. This includes the centuries old scientific evidence from traditional knowledge of Indigenous Peoples. It is important to include Indigenous experts on expert scientific bodies.
It is clear that the most vulnerable communities are suffering from the effect of climate changed, loss of biodiversity, and the most exposure to toxic chemicals and waste, including the many toxic chemicals in plastics. International policies must be based on precaution and make special efforts to protect women, children, workers and indigenous people from the harmful effects of these exposures.
In addition, there is now significant evidence about the widespread harm from the endocrine disrupting chemicals we are all exposed to in our everyday life. Impacts such as cancer, decreased fertility, reduced sperm count, and diabetes have all been linked to these exposures. The Parties to the BRS Conventions need to take strong decision to prevent this.
Also, peer-reviewed scientific literature must be free and accessible to all, particular in developing countries. It must not be compromised or silenced by political or corporate interests.
Finally, IPEN welcomes the work conducted to implement the Road Map and are encouraged by the commitment to science-based action. We also look forward to engaging in the upcoming discussions on the Science Policy Panel agreed by UNEA. We firmly believes this must specifically focus on chemicals and waste to accelerate work to prevent and address the widespread harm caused by toxic chemicals.
español - IPEN Intervención de la ciencia a la acción - 8 Junio 2022
Gracias Señora presidenta;
IPEN basa su trabajo en la evidencia científica sobre el daño a la salud humana y al medio ambiente causado por químicos tóxicos. Esto incluye la evidencia del conocimiento milenaria de los Pueblos originarios, razón por la que consideramos importante incluir indígenas en los organismos científicos de expertos.
Es claro que las comunidades más vulnerables son las que más sufren por los efectos del cambio climático, pérdida de la biodiversidad, así como la alta exposición de productos químicos y desechos tóxicos, incluidos una gran cantidad de productos químicos tóxicos en los plásticos. Las políticas internacionales deben basarse en el principio de precaución, y hacer esfuerzos especiales para proteger a las mujeres, los trabajadores, la población infantil, y los pueblos originarios, de los efectos nocivos de estas exposiciones.
Actualmente existe evidencia significativa sobre el daño generalizado de los químicos disruptores endocrinos a los que todos estamos expuestos diariamente. Impactos como el cáncer, la disminución de la fertilidad, la reducción del conteo de espermatozoides y la diabetes, están asociados con estas exposiciones. Las Partes de los convenios BRS deben tomar una decisión enérgica para prevenir estos efectos.
La literatura científica revisada por pares debe ser gratuita y accesible para todos, en particular en los países en desarrollo. Y además no debe ser comprometida o silenciada por intereses políticos o corporativos.
Finalmente, IPEN da la bienvenida al trabajo realizado para implementar la hoja de ruta, y se siente motivado por el compromiso con la acción basada en la ciencia. También esperamos participar en las próximas discusiones sobre el Panel de Política Científica acordado por UNEA. Creemos firmemente que esto debe centrarse específicamente en los productos químicos y los desechos, para acelerar los trabajos hacia la prevención y el abordaje del daño generalizado causado por los productos químicos tóxicos.
Muchas gracias.
Intervention on Gender
We very much welcome the report on gender related activities implemented by the Secretariat. These also include our case studies in Indonesia, Nigeria, Kyrgyzstan, Bolivia, and soon Kenya, and Tunisia.
In these studies we found amongst others high levels of pesticides in breastmilk and also levels of PCBs, we found mercury in the body burden of rural and indegenious women. We found women waste pickers being exposed to high levels of toxic fumes from burning waste. This is also true for women burning household waste.
These results are very alarming.
All genders are impacted differently from the exposure to harmful chemicals due to biological reasons and gender roles. Exposure to toxic chemicals from different sources damages women’s health, including reproductive health – all over the world. We cannot accept this as a normal side effect of life.
Women are not only a vulnerablae group in regards of exposure to toxins. Women’s expertise and perspective is crucial to make a change. Women leadership is already driving the transition to a non-toxic circular future. We see more and more people champtioning gender equality.
And we also see: more is needed.
This is why the further implementation of the gender action plan is essential.
Therefore,
- As Lesotho mentioned we call on the parties to develop and implement Gender Action Plans for the implementation of the BRS conventions at the national level.
- We call on the Secretariat to keep on, creating capacities - to tackle these important challenges related to the different impacts of chemicals on all genders.
- We also call for women to be represented equally in decision-making here and in other policy processes, such as Minanamata, SAICM and the coming plastic treaty.
Finally: We call on the parties to urgently move forward to regulate and phase out all toxic chemicals, in particular POPs, in order to improve the quality of life of women, men, children, all genders and social groups, and the future generation.
Thank you!
español - Intervención sobre Género - 8 Junio 2022
Gracias, señora presidenta,
Estoy representando a WECF, Women Engage for a Common Future, miembro de IPEN.
Acogemos con beneplácito el informe sobre las actividades relacionadas con el género ejecutadas por la Secretaría y las actividades emprendidas. Estos incluyen también nuestros estudios de caso en Indonesia, Nigeria, Kirguistán, Bolivia, Kenia y Túnez.
En estos estudios encontramos, entre otros, altos niveles de plaguicidas en leche materna y también niveles de PCB, encontramos mercurio en la carga corporal de las mujeres rurales e indígenas. Encontramos mujeres recicladoras expuestas a altos niveles de humos tóxicos por la quema de desechos plásticos. Esto también es cierto para las mujeres que queman desechos domésticos en el hogar. Estos resultados son muy alarmantes.
Sabemos que todos los géneros se ven afectados de manera diferente por la exposición a productos químicos nocivos debido a razones biológicas y roles de género. La exposición a productos químicos tóxicos de diferentes productos daña la salud de las mujeres, incluida la salud reproductiva, en todo el mundo. No podemos aceptar esto como un efecto secundario normal de la vida.
Las mujeres no son solo un grupo más vulnerable en lo que respecta a la exposición a toxinas. El liderazgo de las mujeres impulsa la transición hacia un futuro circular justo y no tóxico. Vemos que cada vez más personas respetan la igualdad de género.
Y vemos también que se necesita más.
Esta es la razón por la que una mayor aplicación del plan de acción en materia de género es crucial.
Por lo tanto
- Hacemos un llamado a las partes para que desarrollen e implementen Planes de Acción con enfoque de Género para la implementación de los convenios de Basilea, Róterdam y Estocolmo (BRE) a nivel nacional.
- Instamos a la Secretaría a que siga adelante, creando capacidades , para hacer frente a estos importantes desafíos relacionados con los diferentes impactos de los productos químicos en todos los géneros.
- También pedimos que las mujeres estén representadas por igual en la toma de decisiones sobre seguridad química, residuos y medio ambiente, aquí y en otros procesos políticos, como Minanamata, SAICM y el próximo tratado sobre el plástico.
- Por último: Hacemos un llamamiento a las partes de BRE para que avancen urgentemente en la reglamentación y eliminación gradual de todos los productos químicos tóxicos, en particular los COP, a fin de mejorar la calidad de vida de las mujeres, los hombres, los niños, todos los géneros y grupos sociales y la generación futura.
¡Gracias!
portugues - Intervenção sobre Gênero - 8 de junho de 2022
Obrigado, Senhora Presidente,
Estou representando a WECF, Mulheres Engajam-se para um Futuro Comum, membro do IPEN.
Congratulamo-nos com o relatório sobre as atividades relacionadas ao gênero implementadas pela Secretaria e as atividades realizadas. Estes também incluem nossos estudos de caso na Indonésia, Nigéria, Quirguistão, Bolívia, Quênia e Tunísia.
Nesses estudos encontramos entre outros altos níveis de plaguidesno leite materno e também níveis de PCB, encontramos mercúrio na carga corporal de mulheres rurais e indígenas. Encontramos mulheres recicladoras expostas a altos níveis de fumaça tóxica da queima de resíduos plásticos. Isso também vale para mulheres que queimam lixo doméstico em casa. Esses resultados são muito alarmantes.
Sabemos que todos os gêneros são afetados de forma diferente pela exposição a produtos químicos nocivos por razões biológicas e papéis de gênero. A exposição a produtos químicos tóxicos de diferentes produtos prejudica a saúde da mulher , incluindo a saúde reprodutiva, em todo o mundo. Não podemos aceitar isso como um efeito colateral normal da vida.
As mulheres não são apenas um grupo mais vulnerávelquando se trata de exposição a toxinas. A liderança feminina impulsiona a transição para um futuro circular justo e não tóxico. Vemos que cada vez mais pessoas respeitam a igualdade de gênero.
E também vemos isso: mais é necessário.
É por isso que a implementação do plano de ação de gênero é crucial.
Portanto
- Apelamos às partes para desenvolver e implementar Planos de Ação de Gênero para a implementação das convenções do BRS em nível nacional.
- Exortamos a Secretaria a avançar, construindo capacidades , para enfrentar esses importantes desafios relacionados aos diferentes impactos dos produtos químicos em todos os gêneros.
- Também pedimos que as mulheres sejam igualmente representadas na tomada de decisões sobre segurança química, resíduos e meio ambiente, aqui e em outros processos políticos, como Minanamata, SAICM e o próximo tratado plástico.
- Por fim: Instamos as partes do BRS a avançarem urgentemente na regulação e na eliminação gradual de todos os produtos químicos tóxicos, em especial os PDS, a fim de melhorar a qualidade de vida das mulheres, homens, crianças, todos os gêneros e grupos sociais e da geração futura.
Obrigado!
Intervention on Cooperation between BRS Secretariat and the Minamata Convention
Merci monsieur le président
J’interviens au nom du Centre de Recherche et d’Education pour le développement (CREPD).
Nous profitons de cette tribune sur la coopération entre les Secrétariat BRS et la Convention de Minamata pour rappeler l’amendement sur l’amalgame dentaire qui oblige les parties qui ne l’ont pas encore fait d’interdire l’utilisation de ce matériaux qui contient 50 pourcent de mercure chez les enfants de moins de 15 ans, les femmes enceintes et les femmes allaitantes.
Nous prions le Secrétariat de la Convention de Minamata de communiquer le délai d’entrée en vigueur de cet amendement aux Parties.
Merci monsieur le Président
Intervention on Measures to Reduce or Eliminate Releases
Thank you, Madam President,
Measures to reduce or eliminate releases from unintentional production include parties developing, maintaining, and updating their inventories of Unintentional POPs, including dioxins. This requires more than just reporting atmospheric emissions of dioxins and other UPOPs and must include reporting of UPOPs released to the water and through wastes. Unfortunately, only some parties report on UPOPs releases other than atmospheric emissions. The consequence of this oversight is that the global trends in total UPOPs releases are significantly underestimated and will result in inaccurate input to effectiveness evaluation of the convention for UPOPs.
As more dioxin sources such as waste incinerators adopt BAT BEP measures to control atmospheric emissions of UPOPs, there is a greater transfer of UPOPs to incineration residues and wastes. IPEN has estimated that over 14 kg TEQ per year of dioxin is created in this way. In total there is missing data about dioxins in residues from countries that held 56.8% of the world capacity of waste to energy according to IPEN evaluation. This represents an enormous amount of dioxin that is not being reported and which is accumulating in the environment. We urge all parties to report their UPOPs releases to wastes and water as well as emissions to allow accurate data collection on UPOPs releases.
I thank you, Madam President.
IPEN intervention on Synergies in preventing and combating illegal traffic and trade in hazardous chemicals and wastes
Thank you Mr President.
My name is Semia Gharbi, I represent AEFFG Tunisia, a Participating Organization of IPEN network, and making this statement on behalf of IPEN.
The synergy of the three conventions has been in effect for over a decade now, and despite all efforts, illegal traffic of hazardous chemicals and wastes remain a major obstacle to complying with all their provisions, particularly in developing countries.
In the past decade, there have been several reported high profile cases of illegal waste trade in various developing countries, from mixed municipal waste clearly not meant for recycling, to shredded municipal waste meant as feedstock for cement kilns that works as waste incinerators, to toxic chemical wastes intended for dumping. Chemicals and recycled wastes in consumer products and children’s toys also enter countries illegally. These and other cases have led to toxic exposure of communities and potential contamination of their soil and water supplies.
Moreover, INTERPOL report points to the link between „crime networks and legitimate pollution management businesses which are used as a cover for illegal operations, with criminals often resorting to financial crime and document forgery to carry out their global operations“.
There is a need for continued sustainable synergies in preventing and combating illegal traffic and trade in hazardous chemicals and wastes, which remains a major challenge.
We encourage Parties to the Conventions to provide information about cases of trade occuring in contravention of the Conventions. Enhancing international waste traceability through better information exchange and intelligence sharing between import and export countries should be included as well as a mechanism for stakeholder input reports of illegal trade and its follow up.
Thank you Mr President.
Arabic
شكرا سيدي الرئيس
أمثل AEFFG تونس ، وهي منظمة مشاركة في شبكة IPEN ، وأدلي بهذا البيان نيابة عن IPEN.
ان العمل المشترك بين الاتفاقيات الثلاثة ساري المفعول منذ أكثر من عقد حتى الآن ، وعلى الرغم من كل الجهود ، يظل الاتجار غير المشروع بالمواد الكيميائية والنفايات الخطرة عقبة رئيسية أمام الامتثال لجميع الاحكام ، ولا سيما في البلدان النامية.
في السنوات الأخيرة ، تم الإبلاغ عن العديد من الحالات البارزة للاتجار غير المشروع بالنفايات في مختلف البلدان النامية بما فيها بلدي تونس ،منها ما هو من النفايــات المختلطــة مــن البلديــات التي من الواضح أنها لا تهدف إلى إعادة التدوير حسب معايير الإدارة السليمة بيئياً و منها ما هو نفايات مسحوقة التي تُستخدم كمواد وسيطة لأفران الأسمنت التي تعمل كمحارق للنفايات ، إلى النفايات الكيماوية السامة المعدة للدفن .
كما ان المواد الكيميائية والنفايات المعاد تدويرها في المنتجات الاستهلاكية ولعب الأطفال تدخل البلدان أيضًا بشكل غير قانوني. وقد أدت هذه الحالات وغيرها إلى تعرض المجتمعات للسموم واحتمال تلوث التربة و المياه.
علاوة على ذلك ، يشير تقرير الإنتربول إلى الصلة بين "شبكات الجريمة والأعمال المشروعة لإدارة التلوث التي تستخدم كغطاء للعمليات غير القانونية ، حيث يلجأ أصحاب هذه الشبكات في كثير من الأحيان إلى تزوير المستندات لتنفيذ عملياتهم العالمية".
و عليه هناك حاجة إلى استمرار العمل المشترك المستدام في منع ومكافحة الاتجار غير المشروع والتجارة في المواد الكيميائية والنفايات الخطرة ، والتي لا تزال تمثل تحديًا و خطرا كبيرًا للبلدان النامية.
كما نحث الأطراف في الاتفاقيات على تقديم معلومات حول حالات التجارة التي تحدث بشكل مخالف للاتفاقيات. كما يجب تضمين تعزيز إمكانية تتبع النفايات الدولية من خلال تحسين تبادل المعلومات وتبادل المعلومات الاستخباراتية بين بلدان الاستيراد والتصدير بالإضافة إلى آلية لتقارير مدخلات أصحاب المصلحة بشأن التجارة غير المشروعة ومتابعتها.
شكرا سيدي الرئيس
Intervention on National Implementation Plans
Thank you Madam President.
I am a representative of the IPEN youth caucus from The Gambia. Persistent Organic Pollutants endanger future generations and the implementation of the Stockholm Convention is key to advancing to a toxic-free future.
The review and update of the National Implementation Plans of the Stockholm Convention is an obligation that Parties have to meet to inform on domestic measures taken or planned to secure the protection of human health and the environment from POPs.
Non-compliance with this obligation poses a serious danger to the availability of information and data needed to assess the effectiveness of the Convention to fulfill its overall objective.
Madam President, we note with concern that: still, 8 Parties have not turned in NIPs for the original 12 POPs. Furthermore, only 26 NIPs are available for the POPs added at COP 8 in 2017, the deadline for which was in 2020 and 44 for POPs included at COP7 in 2015 which is less than one-fourth of all parties.
Madam President, we would recommend that the Secretariat investigates the practical obstacles facing parties in the development and updating of their NIPs as well as offer further guidance to ensure open, inclusive and clear participation in the development of the national implementation plans by all stakeholders, particularly youth groups and groups involved in the health of children as indicated by Article 7 of the Convention.
Thank you, Madam President, for considering our views.
Intervention on PFAS, PFHxS and Unnecessary Exposures
Intervention on Compliance Draft
Thank you Madam President.
I am speaking on behalf IPEN.
The Stockholm Convention was adopted in 2001 and has been in effect for more than two decades. However, despite all efforts, strong difficulties persist to comply with all its provisions in developed and developing countries as well as countries in transition. These difficulties are detrimental not only for the obligations of the Convention to protect human health and the environment but also a hindrance to achieve Global Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
We are gathered here to discuss how best to implement three conventions, to learn from each other and to build on the experience gathered over the years. In that respect, the compliance mechanism can be an opportunity to identify the areas of difficulties for implementation, the ultimate and proximate causes for these failures to implement the Convention, as well as facilitating access to the financial and technical means to address these difficulties.
IPEN greatly encourages parties to adopt effective compliance mechanisms for the Stockholm Convention, in the spirit of synergies, and for the greater benefit of the environment and human health.
Thank you Madam President.
IPEN Intervention Effectiveness Evaluation and Global Monitoring in Stockholm Convention
Thank you, Madame President. I am presenting this intervention on behalf of IPEN and Alaska Community Action on Toxics.
The current lack of national reporting and NIP updates are serious obstacles to robust effectiveness evaluation. Regional monitoring reports indicate that there are still large data gaps and lack of monitoring capacity in many regions.
Additionally, effectiveness evaluation should include whether national stakeholders participated in the National Implementation Plans, including consultation with women’s groups and groups involved in the health of children. The indicators should be modified to fully consider obligations to promote and facilitate public input to Convention implementation and for educational programs for women, children and the least educated.
The effectiveness evaluation should also measure the extent to which Parties have implemented publicly available right-to-know and reporting systems. It is crucial that an indicator for the number of parties that make data and information from research, development, management and monitoring activities publicly accessible.
The available global monitoring data shows concerning increasing trends of levels of some POPs. For example, a clear increase in HCBD has been noted at sampling and background sites in Japan since 2017 and PCB levels continued to exceed health levels in human matrices. Also, while levels of SCCPs have started to decline, levels of their regrettably medium chained substitutes are increasing.
Due to the vast production, use and release of POPs, the health and well-being of Arctic Indigenous Peoples has been disproportionately harmed. Stringent and swift actions by States are urgently needed to protect the health and well-being, lands and territories of Indigenous Peoples and all peoples globally. Indigenous peoples should have the right to fully participate as members of the expert committees of the Stockholm Convention and provide input on the global monitoring plan and effectiveness evaluation.
Finally, the global monitoring programme should include:
- the traditional foods of Indigenous peoples in the Arctic and throughout the world, including fish and marine mammals.
- POPs in key market foods that are important to the diets of people in regions throughout the world.
- POPs in microplastics collected around the world, including in remote areas.
Thank you for your consideration of our views.
español - Evaluación de la Eficacia de la Intervención de IPEN y Monitoreo Global e el Convenio de Estocolmo - 7 Junio 2022
Gracias, señora Presidenta. Presento esta intervención en nombre de IPEN, Alaska Community Action on Toxics, RAPAL Uruguay, Academia Mexicana de Derecho Ambiental.
Actualmente la falta de informes nacionales y actualizaciones de los Planes Naciones de implementación son obstáculos serios para una evaluación sólida de la eficacia. Los informes de seguimiento regionales indican que todavía existen grandes lagunas en los datos y una falta de capacidad de seguimiento en muchas regiones.
Además, la evaluación de la eficacia debe incluir si las partes interesadas nacionales participaron en los Planes Nacionales de Implementación, incluida la consulta a grupos de mujeres y grupos involucrados en el tema de salud infantil. Los indicadores deben modificarse para considerar plenamente las obligaciones de promover y facilitar la participación pública en la implementación del Convenio y los programas educativos dirigidos a comunidades vulnerables.
La evaluación de la eficacia también debe medir hasta qué punto los países Partes han implementado sistemas de información y de derecho a la información disponibles públicamente. Es fundamental contar con un indicador del número de países Partes que hagan públicos y accesible los datos, así como la información de las actividades de investigación, desarrollo, gestión y seguimiento.
Los datos de monitoreo global disponibles muestran tendencias crecientes en los niveles de algunos COP. Por ejemplo, se ha observado un claro aumento de HCBD en sitios de muestreo en Japón desde 2017 y los niveles de PCB continúan incrementándose en biomarcadores humanos
Además, mientras que los niveles de SCCP han comenzado a disminuir, lamentablemente los niveles de sustitutos en la cadena media están aumentando.
Debido a la gran producción, uso y liberación de COP, la salud y el bienestar de los pueblos indígenas del Ártico se han visto perjudicados de manera desproporcionada.
Se necesitan urgentemente acciones estrictas y rápidas por parte de los Estados para proteger la salud y el bienestar, las tierras y los territorios de los Pueblos Indígenas y de todos los pueblos a nivel mundial. Los pueblos indígenas deben tener derecho a participar plenamente como miembros de los comités de expertos del Convenio de Estocolmo, y proporcionar información sobre el plan de seguimiento mundial y la evaluación de la eficacia.
Finalmente, el programa de monitoreo global de los COP debe incluir:
- Alimentos tradicionales de los pueblos indígenas del Ártico y de todo el mundo, incluidos los peces y los mamíferos marinos.
- Alimentos claves importantes para las dietas de las personas en regiones de todo el mundo.
- Microplásticos recolectados en todo el mundo, incluso en áreas remotas.
Gracias por su consideración de nuestras opiniones.
Intervention on Finance
Thank you, madame president,
I’m speaking on behalf of IPEN, the International Pollutants Elimination network.
The Stockholm Convention has been in force for almost 2 decades and the main challenges with regard to its implementation result from the insufficient allocation of financial resources.
The official effectiveness evaluation estimated that funding necessary for the implementation of the Stockholm Convention for the next 4 years (2022–2026) is $4.93 billion USD.
This means that the 406 million allocated for the 2022 – 2026 period would cover less than 10% of the estimated needs for implementing the Convention.
If we only consider PCBs elimination, the GEF allocation would cover less than 20% of the estimated requirement of $2.39 billion USD for the destruction of PCB stockpiles, which should be completed by 2028.
These figures are likely optimistic due to the uncertainties related to the amounts of equipment contaminated with PCBs and the uncertainties around inventories.
This is a problem. The financial burden of getting rid of PCBs has fallen on national governments. Producers have been given a free pass. But cleaning up widespread POPs will need much more money than governments are able to allocate.
Principle 16 of the Rio Declaration calls for Polluters to bear the cost of the pollution they have caused.
But 30 years after the Rio declaration this principle is not yet operational. it is time to consider mechanisms to recover financial resources from the chemicals industry for the damage that POPs contamination cause.
To conclude, we would like to highlight CIEL and IPEN’s proposal to adopt a financial responsibility mechanism to ensure the chemical industry pays for the pollution it causes.
That is more urgent since several POPs are in the process of being listed under the Convention and the lack of adequate funding risks undermining the important work that is being carried out under this convention.
Thank you for your consideration.
Intervention on Exemptions
Thank you Madam Chair
IPEN together with its participating organisations representing all UN regions undertook extensive research into consumer products made from recycled e-waste plastics, demonstrating the harmful effects of including exemptions when listing new POPs for global elimination. The results show that children's toys, beauty and decorative products for young women, and even food contact materials are contaminated with penta- and octaBDE mixtures. These POPs chemicals are listed into the Annex A of the Stockholm Convention for global elimination because of their harm to human health and the environment.
Our findings confirmed the early warnings by the POPs Review Committee (POPRC) that recycling exemptions for PBDEs would result in widespread contamination of recycled consumer products. The POPRC noted that: failure to swiftly eliminate brominated diphenyl ethers from the recycling streams will inevitably result in wider human and environmental contamination and the dispersal of brominated diphenyl ethers into matrices from which recovery is not technically or economically feasible and in the loss of the long-term credibility of recycling. They were right! This is the reality now in all countries where IPEN have tested products.
IPEN calls for closure of the loophole in the Stockholm Convention that allows products made from recycled waste to contain these contaminants. Recycling materials containing POPs violates the goal of the Stockholm Convention to protect human health and the environment. It’s time for the Parties to withdraw its registration for the recycling exemptions.
Similarly to penta- and octaBDEs, large loopholes allowing continued production and use accompanied listing of decaBDE. An IPEN study of recycled plastic pellets from 23 countries showed that decaBDE was present in the overwhelming majority (in 92%) of the investigated recycled plastic pellet samples, despite no recycling exemption for DecaBDE. Also, the listings of SCCPs and PFOA included a wide range of exemptions. This leads to further dispersal of POPs into the working environment, consumer products, and food chain despite the goal of global elimination under the Stockholm Convention.
We are very encouraged to see the proposed decision to list PFHxS without exemptions, which is the only way to truly achieve the goal of the Convention of global elimination of POPs.
Thank you Madam President
español - Intervención sobre las exenciones en el Convenio de Estocolmo - 7 Junio 2022
Gracias, señora Presidenta.
IPEN, junto con sus organizaciones participantes que representan a todas las regiones de las Naciones Unidas, llevó a cabo una amplia investigación sobre los productos de consumo elaborados a partir de plásticos reciclados de desechos electrónicos, lo que demuestra los efectos nocivos de incluir exenciones al incluir nuevos COP para su eliminación mundial. Los resultados muestran que los juguetes infantiles, los productos de belleza y decorativos para mujeres jóvenes, e incluso los materiales en contacto con alimentos están contaminados con mezclas de pentabBDE y octaBDE. Estos productos químicos COP se enumeran en el anexo A del Convenio de Estocolmo para su eliminación mundial debido al daño que causan a la salud humana y al medio ambiente.
Nuestros hallazgos confirmaron las alertas tempranas del Comité de Examen de COP (POPRC) de que las exenciones de reciclaje para PBDE darían lugar a una contaminación generalizada de productos de consumo reciclados. El POPRC señaló que: si no se eliminan rápidamente los éteres de difenilo bromados de las corrientes de reciclado, inevitablemente se producirá una contaminación humana y ambiental más amplia y la dispersión de los éteres de difenilo bromados en matrices cuya recuperación no es técnica ni económicamente viable y se perderá la credibilidad a largo plazo del reciclado. ¡Tenían razón! Esta es la realidad ahora en todos los países donde IPEN ha probado productos.
IPEN pide que se cierre el vacío legal en el Convenio de Estocolmo que permite que los productos hechos con desechos reciclados contengan estos contaminantes. El reciclaje de materiales que contienen COP viola el objetivo del Convenio de Estocolmo de proteger la salud humana y el medio ambiente. Es hora de que las Partes retiren su registro para las exenciones de reciclaje.
De manera similar a los penta-éteres de octabromodifenilo, grandes vacíos que permiten la producción y el uso continuo acompañan a la inclusión del decaBDE. Un estudio de IPEN de pellets de plástico reciclados de 23 países mostró que el decaBDE estaba presente en la abrumadora mayoría (en el 92%) de las muestras de pellets de plástico reciclado investigados, a pesar de que no había exención de reciclaje para el DecaBDE. Además, las listas de Parafinas Clordas de Cadena Coprta (PCCC) y PFOA incluían una amplia gama de exenciones. Esto conduce a una mayor dispersión de los COP en el entorno de trabajo, los productos de consumo y la cadena alimentaria a pesar del objetivo de eliminación mundial en virtud del Convenio de Estocolmo.
Nos alienta mucho ver la decisión propuesta de incluir PFHxS sin exenciones, que es la única manera de lograr verdaderamente el objetivo de la Convención de eliminación mundial de los COP.
Gracias, señora Presidenta.
portugues - Intervenção Sobre Isenções Convenção de Estocolmo - 7 de junho de 2022
Obrigado, Senhora Presidente.
O IPEN, juntamente com suas organizações participantes que representam todas as regiões das Nações Unidas, realizou extensas pesquisas sobre produtos de consumo feitos a partir de plásticos reciclados a partir de resíduos eletrônicos, demonstrando os efeitos nocivos da inclusão de isenções por meio da inclusão de novos POPs para descarte global. Os resultados mostram que brinquedos infantis, produtos de beleza e decorativos para mulheres jovens, e até mesmo materiais de contato alimentar estão contaminados com misturas de pentabBDE e octaBDE. Esses produtos químicos pops estão listados no anexo A da Convenção de Estocolmo para eliminação global devido aos danos que causam aosrecursos humanos e ao meio ambiente.
Nossas descobertas confirmaram avisos antecipados do Comitê de Revisão pop (POPRC) de que as isenções de reciclagem para PBDEs resultariam em contaminação generalizada de produtos de consumo reciclados. O POPRC observou que: se os éteres de difenil brominados não forem rapidamente removidos dos córregos de reciclagem, inevitavelmente haverá uma contaminação humana e ambiental mais ampla e a dispersão de éteres de difenil brominados em matrizes cuja recuperação não é nem técnica nem economicamente viável e a credibilidade a longo prazo da reciclagem será perdida. Eles estavam certos! Esta é a realidade agora em todos os países onde o IPEN testou produtos.
O IPEN pede o fechamento da brecha na Convenção de Estocolmo que permite que produtos fabricados a partir de resíduos reciclados contenham esses poluentes. A reciclagem de materiais contendo POPs viola o objetivo da Convenção de Estocolmo de proteger a saúde humana e o meio ambiente. É hora das partes retirarem seu registro para isenções de reciclagem.
Semelhante aos penta-éteres octaBDE, grandes vazios que permitem a continuação da produção e uso acompanham a inclusão do decaBDE. Um estudo do IPEN sobre pelotas plásticas recicladas de 23 países mostrou que o decaBDE estava presente na esmagadora maioria (em 92%) das amostras de pelotas de plástico recicladas investigadas, embora não houvesse isenção de reciclagem para o DecaBDE. Além disso, as listas SCCP e PFOA incluíam uma ampla gama de isenções. Isso leva a uma maior dispersão de PDVs no ambiente de trabalho, produtos de consumo e na cadeia alimentar, apesar da meta global de eliminação de fases sob a Convenção de Estocolmo.
Estamos muito encorajados a ver a decisão proposta de incluir o PFHxS sem isenções, que é a única maneira de alcançar verdadeiramente o objetivo da Convenção Global de Eliminação sobre PDS.
Obrigado, Senhora Presidente
IPEN Intervention on PCB Elimination
Thank you Madam President,
IPEN recognises that there is still a long, long way to go in terms of disposing of what appears to be around 80% of the global PCB stockpile by 2028. We have made very slow progress on this issue to date, and it is important for us to consider hat currently a lot of the technology that has been used to dispose of PCB s has been incineration technology which in itself generates UPOPs such as Dioxin particularly in incinerator ash and residue. It is really important that parties consider the option to use non-combustion technologies for the destruction of PCB wastes and its also important for the COP and the GEF to consider accelerating the program of funding to deploy non combustion technologies to developing countries where they can act on a regional basis or in a national capacity to destroy existing stockpiles there. This is of critical importance as there is limited infrastructure in developing countries and PCB movements , transboundary movement require expensive insurance and logistical operations it would be preferable for this waste to be treated in those locations directly.
Thank you, Madam President.
Thank you.
IPEN intervention on POPs contaminated sites
Thank you, Mr President,
I speak on behalf of IPEN, a global network of Over 600 public interest NGOs in more than 120 countries working together for a toxics free future for all.
IPEN welcomes the draft guidance on the identification and management of sites contaminated with POPs that has been developed by the BAT BET Expert Group of the Stockholm Convention. It has been 20 years since the convention was agreed and yet in all that time no guidance of this type was developed to assist parties in the identification and management of thousands of POPs contaminated sites worldwide. The draft guidance represents the first serious effort to produce comprehensive information on the how parties can identify sites, develop inventories manage POPs contaminated sites and select technologies and techniques to remediate contaminated sites. The BAT BEP group should be commended for this initiative.
Importantly the guidance includes sections on application of non-combustion technologies that can be applied to destroy POPs waste removed from contaminated sites and to treat POPs in soil and groundwater to reduce their impacts and where possible eliminate them. Of interest to many parties is the section on techniques to manage PFAS contamination which is a growing contamination problem in groundwater and surface water in many countries and which is very difficult to remediate.
POPs waste and POPs contaminated site management are closely linked and the guidance addresses areas where these two issues overlap which provides clarity for managing POPs waste in the context of a contaminated site. IPEN would encourage parties to adopt the guidance at the next BRS COP in 2023 and give many parties currently without guidance an opportunity to tackle this important contamination issue preventing human exposure and food chain contamination.
Thank you.
IPEN Intervention on Ghana-Switzerland Proposal at the Plenary of BRS COPs
Thank you Mr. President,
I speak on behalf of IPEN, a network of over 600 organizations in more than 120 countries, working for a toxic-free future. IPEN would like to thank Switzerland and Ghana for this proposal to make all Electrical and Electronic Waste subject to the Prior Informed Consent Procedure and welcome the progress this proposal has made and the broad support by many co-sponsors
Millions of tonnes of e-waste are exported from Western countries to low- and middle-income countries every year. This e-waste contains POPs and many other toxic chemicals and is a severe health concern for Africa, particularly for children and workers in open dumpsites where it ends up.
IPEN supports the adoption of this proposal which would capture significant volumes of E-waste that otherwise would not be subject to PIC and may end up in non-environmental sound management and disposal.
However, we want to emphasize that it is important to find a solution to end the current loophole that is allowing the export of electrical and electronic equipment “for repair and reuse”, as this loophole means that exporters may declare their E-waste is destined for reuse to avoid undergoing the PIC procedure.
Thank you for your consideration, Mr. President.
IPEN Intervention on PFHxS
Honorable President and Distinguished Delegates. Thank you and good evening. I make this statement as Co-Chair of IPEN.
We support the listing of PFHxS and its salts and related compounds in Annex A of the Convention with no exemptions as recommended by the POPs Review Committee. Safer, feasible, and economical alternatives are available for all uses; and it makes sense to prevent further harm, as well as avoid astronomical liability costs for remediation and health care.
PFHxS is ubiquitous in the global environment, including remote regions, and is found in blood serum, umbilical cord blood and breast milk. It is linked with adverse effects including immunotoxicity, neurodevelopmental harm, thyroid disruption, reproductive impairment, metabolic disorders, and breast cancer.
Indigenous peoples of the Arctic are exposed to elevated levels of PFAS, and further harm must be prevented. A recent study has demonstrated a significant positive association between breast cancer risk and PFHxS in Greenlandic Inuit women.
At the same time, levels of fluorinated substitutes to PFHxS are now increasing in pregnant Inuit women in the Arctic. Global action to eliminate PFHxS and the class of PFAS chemicals is therefore urgently needed to prevent further harm to health and violations of human rights of children, families, workers, and especially firefighters who are experiencing high levels of exposures, cancers, and other adverse health effects. There is irrefutable evidence that fire fighters all over the world have elevated levels of PFHxS and other PFAS from exposure to fluorinated fire-fighting foams.
The POPRC has recommended that regrettable PFAS substitutes should be avoided as they could have negative environmental, human health and socio-economic impacts.
We look forward to working in a constructive and collaborative manner toward the listing of PFHxS in Annex A with no exemptions. Thank you.
Thank you.
Intervention on Low POPs Content Levels in Waste
Thank you Mr. President,
I speak on behalf of IPEN, a network of more than 600 civil society organizations in over 120 countries. We appreciate the work done by Small Intersessional Working Group on the update of the Technical Guidelines addressing the POPs wastes, and we welcome the options for limit values for persistent organic pollutants in wastes. However, weak options for limits for POPs waste set in the General Technical Guidelines for POPs waste still lead to recycling of vast amounts of POPs, as documented in a recent study conducted by IPEN and its participating organizations in eleven African and Arabic countries. The study revealed that a substantial number of toys and other products made of electronic and end-of-life vehicle waste plastic contains not only high levels of PBDEs, but also highly toxic brominated dioxins.
Another global study by IPEN estimated that we lose the control over approximately 7.5 kg TEQ of polychlorinated dioxins and furans in wastes such as incineration fly ash every year. This amount of dioxins is equal to the tolerable intake for the entire populations of 133 planet Earths. We are losing control over the most toxic chemicals that the Stockholm Convention aimed to eliminate. This is a direct consequence of very weak Low POPs Content levels set in the General Technical Guidelines for POPs waste. Another consequence of this weakness is the free movement of POPs in wastes across borders because there are no other regulatory barriers than the Low POPs Content Levels.
We looked at data available in each of the UN regions about contamination of chicken eggs by dioxins and found many hot spots where the food chain was highly contaminated by this group of POPs, due to improper handling of wastes. Another study by a team of 21 authors published in Emerging Contaminants reviewed measured levels of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs in free range chicken eggs. Almost 90% of surveyed areas around the world were not safe for production of free range eggs which remain an important part of locally grown food at many place worldwide.
We recognized that in some countries, decisions to set Low POPs Content Levels which define POPs wastes, is a political decision driven only by the criteria of costs for additional treatment of waste. This approach undermines the objective of the Stockholm Convention which is not about avoiding costs for treatment of wastes but "is to protect human health and the environment from persistent organic pollutants”. We believe that the less visible costs of lost health and environmental values must be the priority criterion when setting the limits for POPs in wastes. Some studies show that potential costs of health damage are manyfold higher than those for treatment of POPs waste. We urge delegates to bear this in mind when deciding definitions of POPs waste through setting Low POPs Content levels.
Thank you, Chair
español - Participación de Jindrich Petrlik - 6 Junio 2022
Gracias, señor presidente,
Hablo en nombre de IPEN, una red de más de 600 organizaciones de la sociedad civil en más de 120 países. Agradecemos la labor realizada por el Pequeño Grupo de Trabajo entre períodos de sesiones sobre la actualización de las directrices técnicas relativas a los desechos de COP, y acogemos con beneplácito las opciones de valores límite para los contaminantes orgánicos persistentes en los desechos. Sin embargo, las débiles opciones de límites para los desechos de COP establecidos en las Directrices Técnicas Generales para los desechos de COP todavía conducen al reciclaje de grandes cantidades de COP, como se documenta en un estudio reciente realizado por IPEN y sus organizaciones participantes en once países africanos y árabes. El estudio reveló que un número sustancial de juguetes y otros productos hechos de plástico de desechos de vehículos electrónicos y al final de su vida útil contienen no solo altos niveles de PBDEs, sino también dioxinas bromadas altamente tóxicas.
Otro estudio global realizado por IPEN estimó que perdemos el control sobre aproximadamente 7,5 kg de TEQ de dioxinas policloradas y furanos en desechos como la incineración de cenizas volantes cada año. Esta cantidad de dioxinas es igual a la ingesta tolerable para todas las poblaciones de 133 planetas Tierra. Estamos perdiendo el control sobre los productos químicos más tóxicos que el Convenio de Estocolmo pretendía eliminar. Esto es una consecuencia directa de los niveles muy débiles de bajo contenido de COP establecidos en las Directrices técnicas generales para los desechos de COP. Otra consecuencia de esta debilidad es la libre circulación de COP en los desechos a través de las fronteras porque no existen otras barreras reglamentarias que los bajos niveles de contenido de COP.
Examinamos los datos disponibles en cada una de las regiones de las Naciones Unidas sobre la contaminación de los huevos de gallina por dioxinas y encontramos muchos puntos críticos donde la cadena alimentaria estaba altamente contaminada por este grupo de COP, debido a la manipulación inadecuada de los desechos. Otro estudio realizado por un equipo de 21 autores publicado en Emerging Contaminants revisó los niveles medidos de dioxinas y PCBs similares a las dioxinas en huevos de gallina de corral. Casi el 90% de las áreas encuestadas en todo el mundo no eran seguras para la producción de huevos de corral , que siguen siendo una parte importante de los alimentos cultivados localmente en muchos lugares del mundo.
Reconocimos que en algunos países, la decisión de establecer niveles bajos de contenido de COP que definen los desechos de COP es una decisión política impulsada únicamente por los criterios de costos para el tratamiento adicional de desechos. Este enfoque socava el objetivo del Convenio de Estocolmo, que no se trata de evitar los costos del tratamiento de los desechos, sino que "es proteger la salud humana y el medio ambiente de los contaminantes orgánicos persistentes". Creemos que los costos menos visibles de la pérdida de valores sanitarios y ambientales deben ser el criterio prioritario al establecer los límites para los COP en los desechos. Algunos estudios muestran que los costos potenciales de los daños a la salud son muchas veces más altos que los del tratamiento de los desechos de COP. Instamos a los delegados a que tengan esto en cuenta al decidir las definiciones de desechos de COP mediante el establecimiento de niveles de bajo contenido de COP.
Gracias Presidente
portugues - Apresentação de Jindrich Petrlik - 6 de junho de 2022
Obrigado, Sr. Presidente,
Falo em nome do IPEN, uma rede de mais de 600 organizações da sociedade civil em mais de 120 países. Agradecemos o trabalho realizado pelo Pequeno Grupo de Trabalho Intersessional na atualização das diretrizes técnicas sobre resíduos de POPs, e saudamos as opções de valores-limite para poluentes orgânicos persistentes em resíduos. No entanto, as fracas opções de limite para resíduos de POPs estabelecidas nas Diretrizes Técnicas Gerais para resíduos de POPs ainda levam à reciclagem de grandes quantidades de PDS, como documentado em um estudo recente realizado pelo IPEN e suas organizações participantes em onze países africanos e árabes. O estudo revelou que um número substancial de brinquedos e outros produtos feitos de plástico a partir de resíduos de veículos eletrônicos e no final de sua vida útil contêm não apenas altos níveis dePBDEs, mas também dioxinas altamente tóxicas.
Outro estudo global da IPEN estimou que perdemos o controle sobre aproximadamente 7,5 kg de TEQ de dioxinas policloradas e furanos em resíduos como incineração de cinzas de mosca a cada ano. Esta quantidade de dioxinas é igual à ingestão tolerável para todas as populações de 133 planetas terrestres. Estamos perdendo o controle sobre os produtos químicos mais tóxicos que a Convenção de Estocolmo tentou eliminar. Esta é uma consequência direta dos níveis muito fracos de PDVs baixos contidos nas Diretrizes Técnicas Gerais para Resíduos de POPs. Outra consequência dessa fraqueza é a livre circulação de POPs em resíduos além das fronteiras porque não há barreiras regulatórias além de baixos níveis de conteúdo de POPs.
Examinamos os dados disponíveis em cada uma das regiões das Nações Unidas sobre a contaminação de ovos de galinha por dioxinas e encontramos muitos pontos críticos onde a cadeia alimentar estava altamente contaminada por esse grupo de PDV, devido ao manuseio inadequado de resíduos. Outro estudo realizado por uma equipe de 21 autores publicado na Emerging Contaminants analisou os níveis medidos de dioxinas e PCBs semelhantes à dioxina em ovos de gama livre. Quase 90% das áreas pesquisadas em todo o mundo eram inseguras para a produção de ovos de gama livre, que continuam sendo uma parte importante dos alimentos cultivados localmente em muitas partes do mundo.
Reconhecemos que, em alguns países, a decisão de estabelecer baixos níveis de conteúdo de POPs que definem os resíduos de POPs é uma decisão política impulsionada apenas por critérios de custo para tratamento adicional de resíduos. Essa abordagem mina o objetivo da Convenção de Estocolmo, que não se trata de evitar os custos do tratamento de resíduos, mas "é proteger a saúde humana e o meio ambiente de poluentes orgânicos persistentes". Acreditamos que os custos menos visíveis de perda de valores sanitários e ambientais devem ser o critério prioritário na definição de limites para os PDVs em resíduos. Alguns estudos mostram que os custos potenciais de danos à saúde são muitas vezes maiores do que os do tratamento de resíduos de PDV. Pedimos aos delegados que levem isso em conta ao decidir sobre definições de resíduos de POPs, estabelecendo baixos níveis de POPs.
Obrigado , Presidente.
IPEN Intervention on D10 R1 Incineration
Thank you, Mr President,
I represent IPEN a global network of Over 600 public interest NGOs in more than 120 countries working together for a toxics-free future for all.
The guidance D10 incineration has been significantly improved by the intersessional working group which was outdated in many aspects. While the guidance has been improved to include more information about the impacts of incineration such as POPs accumulation in bottom ash and fly ash it could go further and include updated information about best practice in terms of dioxin emission limits. The long-recognised emission limit level for dioxins and furans of 0.1 ng TEQ/Nm3which is referenced in the Basel General technical guidelines on POPs waste has been superseded in the EU and reduced substantially.
If the convention guidance is to promote best practice for incineration dioxin emission control, then this new standard, representing a much lower dioxin emission range than the current guidance recommendation, should be integrated both into the D10 guidance and the General technical guidance on POPs waste. We must take all efforts to reduce atmospheric emissions of dioxins to the lowest level technically possible and then move to phase out incineration as we create a circular economy.
Thank you.
Conference variant