Multilateral Environmental Agreements

Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

Status

Open for Signature/Ratification May 23, 2001
Canada signed and ratified the Convention on May 23, 2001
In force once 50 Parties have ratified the Convention, likely to occur sometime in 2004.

Objectives

The objective of the POPs Convention is to control, reduce, or eliminate discharges, emissions, and losses of POPs to the environment. Three measures are used as obligation in the Protocol: for some substances, production and use are eliminated; for other substances, use is severely restricted; and for those substances which are formed unintentionally as a result of combustion or processing activities, total annual emissions are to be reduced. A process incorporated into the Convention allows for substances to be added or current obligations to be modified as new information is obtained.

Commitments

The Convention seeks the elimination or restriction of production and use of all intentionally-produced POPs listed in the Convention. Initially, the chemicals slated for elimination are aldrin, chlordane, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), mirex, toxaphene, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Continued use of DDT is allowed for vector control until safe, affordable, and effective alternatives are in place. Countries must make determined efforts to identify, label, and remove PCB-containing equipment from use by 2025, and manage those wastes in an environmentally-sound manner. The Convention also seeks the continuing minimization and, where feasible, ultimate elimination of the releases of unintentionally produced POPs such as dioxins and furans. Stockpiles and wastes containing POPs must be managed and disposed of in a safe, efficient, and environmentally-sound manner, taking into account international rules, standards, and guidelines. Each Party is required to develop a plan for implementing its obligations under the Convention.

Action Required

Collectively, the existing federal, provincial, and territorial management instruments provide appropriate mechanisms for implementing Canada's commitments under the Convention. Under Article 7, Canada will be required to prepare a National Implementation Plan within two years of entry into force of the Convention, in consultation with non-government organizations.

Activities

Canada's priority is to support actions that facilitate early ratification and effective implementation of the Stockholm Convention:

• a key aspect is actions that will address the needs of developing countries and countries with economies in transition, to facilitate their implementation and ratification of the Convention. The Canada POPs Fund is a $20M fund administered by the World Bank which supports capacity-building projects in developing countries and countries with economies in transition; and
• Canada is also encouraging prompt ratification by the Western Europe and Others Group (WEOG). At the Diplomatic Conference in May 2001 in Stockholm, Sweden, Minister Anderson challenged the global community to have the 50 ratifications required for entry into force of the Convention by the close of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, August/September 2002. While recognizing that this may be considered an aggressive schedule based on past United Nations Conventions, Canada is continuing to emphasize that prompt global action on POPs is imperative.

Evidence of Compliance

The Stockholm Convention on POPs is not yet in force. Performance measures will only be relevant when the Convention comes into effect.

http://www.pops.int
http://www.ec.gc.ca/pops/index_e.htm

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