EU pushes for tougher chemical laws
Monday 09 May 2005
The
European Union has called on the international community to do more to phase
out Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPS), at a recent high level conference.
"The EU welcomes and supports the nomination by Norway of the flame
retardant pentabromodiphenyl ether and the plan by Mexico to nominate
hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH), including the pesticide lindane. Both of these
are already severely restricted in the EU because of the danger they pose to
people and the environment. The EU is nominating two further candidates -
the pesticide chlordecone and the brominated flame retardant
hexabromobiphenyl,” said Colin Church, Head of the UK Delegation and acting
President of the EU Delegation to the first Conference of the Parties to the
Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in Uruguay.
"Our prime aim is to ensure that this meeting takes the decisions necessary
for effective implementation and further development of the Stockholm
Convention. In doing this, we have been seeking to work closely with
developing countries and countries with economies in transition, to take
their particular concerns into account,” he added.
The EU is also encouraging the active participation of NGOs in the
development of more stringent regulations on the issue. Various influential
groups have expressed concerns over the Convention’s objectives.
"We too recognise that much work remains to be done, but the way forward we
propose is both pragmatic and sensible and provides developed and developing
countries with a sound platform from which to progress,” said Jill Hanna,
Head of the European Community Delegation.
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