Heads of Pesticides Control Boards of the wider Caribbean region consider ratification and implementation of the Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions
In Belize City, Belize, the Coordinating Group of Pesticide Control Boards of Caribbean countries had the 13th session of its annual meeting during June 17-20. Representatives of the Secretariats of the Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions participated in the meeting and provided updated information on the ratification and implementation of the two Conventions.
For the Stockholm Convention, there was much interest on the issues of technical assistance, the possible inclusion of new chemicals as POPs to be listed in the Convention and the disposal of POPs waste. Of the 13 countries present, only Belize and Suriname have yet to ratify the Stockholm Convention. Many representatives were disappointed that no institution from the region was nominated to be a regional centre and would be consulting with their Stockholm Focal points to assess possible candidates. All considered that such centres could play a meaningful role in the transfer of technology to the region and to the increase of capacity toward satisfying their obligations under the Convention.
Even though only two active chemicals were currently proposed as POPs, the participants agreed that both lindane and endosulphan are being used by some countries and work would need to be undertaken to adjust to any decision by the Conference of the Parties to list these two pesticides as POPs.
Most of the representatives mentioned that waste pesticides presented a problem in their countries. However, much of these obsolete chemicals were not POPs and therefore do not qualify for support for disposal. Still, small quantities of DDT did remain in storage and the relevant Parties were having difficulties to undertake environmentally sound disposal.
The Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention at its third meeting in Dakar, Senegal in 2007, requested its Secretariat to prepare a business plan to enhance the establishment of a global partnership to develop and deploy alternative products, methods and strategies to DDT for disease vector control. This business plan is to be presented to the COP at its fourth meeting in May 2009. There is requirement for a consultancy organization to lead the preparatory process and to eventually write the business plan. This organization should be global in outlook; have expertise and experience in undertaking the task; be an independent body; have the confidence of all the stakeholders involved in the implementation of the business plan; be knowledgeable on the use of DDT and on disease vector control; be capable of producing a comprehensive business plan.