IPEN Press Releases:

15 MAY PRESS RELEASE: TOXIC PESTICIDE GLOBALLY BANNED AFTER UNPRECEDENTED VOTE AT UN CHEMICALS MEETING

Delegates from more than 90 countries took the unprecedented step of voting for a global ban on pentachlorophenol – a proven toxic pesticide and contaminant in wildlife and human biomonitoring studies. The historic vote came at the combined meetings of the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions, which usually make decisions by consensus, after India repeatedly blocked action. 

Read the entire press release here (English / español) 

8 May Press Release: EU Promotes Recycling Toxic Chemicals into New Products Which WIll Ultimately be Dumped as Waste into Developing Countries 

The EU has pushed dangerous cleanup standards for three toxic flame retardant chemicals widely used in building insulation, upholstery and electronics (HBCD, PentaBDE, and OctaBDE) at a UN meeting of chemicals treaties in Geneva, Switzerland. All three toxics chemicals are listed in the Stockholm Convention for global elimination. They are ubiquitous in the environment globally and can disrupt human hormone systems, creating potential adverse effects on the development of the nervous system and children's IQ.

Read the entire press release here (English / español)

IPENers Featured in News Reports from around the World:

19 May: Bloomberg BNA: UN Negotiators Eschew Consensus to Ban Toxic Chemical, Adopt E-Waste Guidelines 

18 May: Chemical Watch: Three substances banned under POPs convention

16 May: CTV News: Russia Helps Block Restriction on Asbestos

16 May: Daily News: Africa Opposes EU's Waste Dumping Move

12 May: ENDS Europe Daily: Europe under Fire for Flame Retardant Stance  

7 May: Chemical Watch: EU tells Stockholm Convention meeting of PFOA ban proposal

Earth Negotiations Bulletin Daily Coverage of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Convention Conference of the Parties