Declaration from 7th International HCH and Pesticides Forum:


Ukraine | Kyiv | Jun 7, 2003



Seventh International HCH and Pesticides Forum was held in Kyiv, Ukraine, on June 5-7, 2003. Here you can find a declaration from this Forum.



KYIV DECLARATION on the establishment of a programme of action for the environmentally sound management of obsolete pesticides and other stocks of unwanted POPs for Central and Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia (EECCA) countries



We, the 150 participants of the 7th International HCH and Pesticides Forum,


Having met in Kyiv, Ukraine, from 5 to 7 June 2003;


Concerned about the continuing risk of damage to the environment and of harmful effects on human health caused by the environmentally unsound management of stocks of hazardous wastes, in particular obsolete pesticides and other unwanted persistent organic pollutants (POPs);

Having noted with grave concern that during the current ongoing transition period of Central European and EECCA Countries it has still not been possible to address the urgent and complex problem of deteriorating stocks of obsolete pesticides, in particular regarding the ownership of the wastes;

Committed to the principles of the Ministerial Basel Declaration on Environmentally Sound Management adopted on the occasion of the fifth meeting of the Conference of Parties to the Basel Convention and the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Basel Convention in December 1999;

Also committed to the implementation of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs);

Reaffirming Principle 16 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development which states that national authorities should endeavour to promote the internalisation of environmental costs and the use of economic instruments, taking into account the approach that the polluter should, in principle, bear the cost of pollution, with due regard to the public interest and without adversely affecting international trade and investment;

Reiterating the commitment to the goals of the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development and the Plan of Implementation adopted at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa, September 2002;

Committed to the Challenges (Principles 15 and 16) and statements on Chemicals (Principles 54 and 55) of the Declaration from the Fifth Ministerial Conference 'Environment for Europe', 21-23 May 2003 in, that apply to the problems of obsolete pesticides;

Taking note of ongoing international developments with regard to the design and implementation of Programmes for the stepwise elimination of stocks of obsolete pesticides (with the African Stockpile Programme as an important reference) and the prevention of the build-up of new stocks;

Recognising ongoing national activities and that a large number of Central Eastern and EECCA Countries have expressed their strong concern about the problem and stress the need for a joint approach;

Recognising the expression of broad European and international willingness, as stated in official support letters from 21 Western and Central European and EECCA Countries, as well as from 8 international organisations and a further appeal of 4 former European Ministers of Environment to all European Ministers of Environment in Europe, that concrete steps for a East-West partnership for a Programme of Actions on the elimination of obsolete pesticides in Central European and EECCA Countries have to be made urgently (see Annex 2);

Recognising the supportive letters from EU Commissioner and EU Director General Environment, expressing strong concern on the issue of obsolete pesticides and the recommendation to use available EU Funds such as Cohesion Funds (for the new EU member countries), ISPA and TACIS;

Call on all stakeholders, public or private, to assist Central European and EECCA Countries to eliminate stocks of unwanted hazardous wastes and obsolete pesticides and to establish effective measures to prevent the build-up of new stocks, including pesticide use reduction programme and implementation of Integrated Pest Management;

Undertake to actively support all efforts , applying the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, to implement national or regional solutions to prevent accumulation of unwanted stocks of hazardous wastes, in particular of obsolete pesticides, and to manage and dispose of existing stocks of such wastes in an environmentally sound and cost effective way;

Recognise that, in order to enable Governments of Central European and EECCA Countries to put into place effective measures to prevent accumulation (including illegal imports) of stocks of hazardous wastes and obsolete pesticides and ensure their environmentally sound management, comprehensive national and regional plans need to be developed and implemented for which financial support should be guaranteed;

Further recognise that the United Nations system, also through the GEF mechanism, is uniquely positioned to provide the appropriate framework for implementing solutions and ensure the concrete and active involvement of other stakeholders, such as industry; and invite UNEP, UNDP, SBC, World Bank, FAO, UNIDO, WHO and EBRD to facilitate the development, implementation and monitoring of a Programme of Action;

Call on all countries of the region to ratify the Stockholm, Rotterdam and Basel Convention;

Recommend that, consistent with the already strongly expressed broad European and international support, donors, including the EU Commission and the GEF, should be encouraged in their funding priorities and budgets, enabling support for the start up and later implementation of a Programme of Action on the elimination of obsolete pesticides in Central European and EECCA Countries;

Recommend that a Working Group be established to develop a Programme of Action, to enable concerted actions in collaboration with governments, appropriate international organisations, international and regional development banks, and other stakeholders, including professional and public interest organisations and industry.

This Programme of Action should include, among others:
- Information on and reference to ongoing activities (such as GEF Enabling Activities, studies related to the EU-Acquis, FAO, UNEP and ACAP), to ensure optimal use of funds and resources and avoid duplication;
- Harmonised methodology for inventories and monitoring;
- Approach for priority setting and assessment of cost effectiveness;
- Ongoing review of existing and emerging technologies for POPs/obsolete pesticides destruction within the framework of existing and future waste management plans;
- Recommendations for the establishment of organisational infrastructure;
- Proposals for the appropriate use of financial mechanisms, such as existing EU and GEF funds;
- Assistance in establishment and implementation of coordination and communication structures;
- Specific programmes for public education and awareness raising, including measures to secure civil society support.

This Programme of Action should serve as a catalyst for the establishment and implementation of Programmes by the Governments of the Central European and EECCA Countries;

Recommend further that this working group should start its multilateral activities without delay using the International HCH and Pesticides Association (IHPA) as an interim platform;

Requesting the relevant international and governmental organisations, as the European Commission, relevant international organisations and bodies including UNEP, UNDP, SBC, World Bank, FAO, UNIDO, WHO and EBRD to sponsor this initiative;

Urge all stakeholders to cooperate on the basis of partnership and to provide advisory services, technical assistance and initial catalytic financial support for a prompt and effective initiation of the work of the working group;

Call on all Governments from the Western and Central European and EECCA Countries to ensure that the draft Programme of Action be put on the agenda of the forthcoming regional/subregional Ministerial Meetings.

The participants express their appreciation for the excellent organisation, facilities and hospitality, provided by the Government and Parliament of Ukraine.








Version: DRAFT 2.0 (June 1, 2006)