Unprecedented international toxic chemical treaty enters into force:


Sweden | Stockholm | May 17, 2004



Global Day of Action in 30 countries to celebrate victory, rally for active civil society participation in treaty implementation.

Today the first-ever legally binding international treaty to control toxic chemicals -- the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) – enters into force, providing an unprecedented legal framework to ban or severely restrict the production and use of the some of the world’s most toxic chemicals. Treaty provisions become law in nearly 60 countries that have ratified the Stockholm Convention. More than 150 governments have signed the POPs Treaty, which seeks global elimination of chemicals such as PCBs, dioxins, and several pesticides and places severe restrictions on production and use of DDT.

"The goal of the Stockholm Convention is to eliminate the harm and suffering of people who are exposed to toxic chemicals that are linked to cancer, birth defects and other serious illnesses. This is a major victory for public health," said Bjorn Beeler, International Coordinator of International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN).

But he cautioned that there is much work to be done to ensure the Treaty is effectively implemented. "It is up to all of us to make sure that the words on paper translate into actions on the ground to eliminate all sources of these chemicals."

A Global Day of Action is underway in more than 30 countries to mark this historic occasion and to raise public awareness with press conferences, rallies and public meetings. For details on actions in your country, contact Bjorn Beeler.

The events are organized by IPEN, a global network of more than 350 public health, environmental, consumer, and other non-governmental organizations in 65 countries.

NGOs in the IPEN network played a key role in the POPs Treaty negotiations and will now actively participate in its implementation. The Treaty is unique in that it incorporates the precautionary principle and requires public participation as key components. It is also a living document in that it establishes a science-based process for identifying and adding chemicals to the initial list of 12 POPs. Top candidates to be added include lindane (already restricted in the European Union) and brominated flame retardants such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs).

For more information on the convention see - www.pops.int

BELOW Download the Press Release and list of Global Day of Action events around the world.


Bjorn Beeler


Attachment:
IPEN Global Day of Action: List of NGO activities from around the world - ENGLISH   DOWNLOAD
IPEN Press Release- Global Day of Action - ENGLISH   DOWNLOAD
IPEN Press Release- Global Day of Action - SPANISH   DOWNLOAD
IPEN Press Release- Global Day of Action - RUSSIAN   DOWNLOAD
IPEN Press Release- Global Day of Action - ARABIC   DOWNLOAD






Version: DRAFT 2.0 (June 1, 2006)