Two Chemicals Conferences in Geneva
Bern, 30.04.2009 - At the Fourth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) from 4 to 8 May 2009 in Geneva, discussion will focus on the inclusion of new items in the list of prohibited substances. At the Second International Chemicals Conference from 11 to 15 May 2009 in Geneva, the key theme will be the specification of a global chemicals strategy.
Two key conferences relating to chemicals and waste management will take place in Geneva in May 2009: the Fourth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP-4) to the UN Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and the Second International Chemicals Conference. The Federal Council defined the mandate of the Swiss delegation in its session of 22 April 2009.
Fourth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention
At the COP-4 of the Stockholm Convention (see box) the following topics in particular will be discussed:
- Listing of new substances: Switzerland will argue for the inclusion of nine new pollutants in the list of prohibited substances drawn up by the POPs Convention. These substances are very long-lived (persistent) in the environment and are transported across long distances, so they are also found far away from where they are used, e.g. in the Arctic. They are absorbed by living organisms and accumulate along the food chain, often in animal species that are endangered, and ultimately also in humans. These harmful substances have effects on the hormonal system, cause malformations in offspring and damage water organisms such as crustaceans and fish. More specifically, these new POPs consist of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and its precursor substances, a group of chemicals widely used in the manufacture of semi-conductors, in electroplating processes, in fire-extinguishing foams, in the manufacture of paper, as stain resistant coatings on textiles and furniture and also as insecticides. In addition, pentabromodiphenyl ether and octabromodiphenyl ether, also called brominated fire retardants, and certain pesticides and medical drugs such as lindane should also be included in the list.
- Budget and work schedule 2010/11: the Swiss delegation will lobby for an appropriate budget which would allow the Secretariat to continue performing its tasks effectively and without duplication of effort. These tasks consist for example of arranging Conference of Parties meetings and giving administrative support to the developing and threshold countries in their implementation of the Convention. At the same time the Secretariat should fully exploit the synergies with the other conventions.
Switzerland will also request that there should be sanctions for countries that do not make their contributions to the Convention. This has already been done successfully within the framework of the Basel and the Rotterdam PIC Conventions.
- Synergies with other conventions on chemicals and waste management: Switzerland has proposed measures to exploit synergies in the international chemicals regime. It will therefore back acceptance of the synergy package already agreed by the Basel and the PIC Conventions.
- Specification of needs in the developing and threshold countries: Switzerland will ensure that when the needs of the developing and threshold countries are specified, only those concerns will be recognised which are directly connected to the implementation of the Convention (e.g. reduction/elimination of the release of POPs into the environment), but not indirect needs (for example, unemployment allowances for employees of firms that cease production of POPs).
Second International Chemicals Conference (ICCM 2)
At the second meeting of the International Chemicals Conference (see box) discussion will be focussed on the following topics:
- Funding the implementation of a global chemicals strategy: Switzerland will support funding for a global chemicals strategy (Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management SAICM) which is balanced and secure in the long term. In particular it will pursue further the approach it has developed:
o tasks which are primarily in a country's own interest should be supported through the traditional means of developmental cooperation e.g. identifying sustainable chemicals and waste management as a national priority;
o tasks which are within the area of competence of existing international organisations e.g. advancing the implementation of International Labour Organisation (ILO) programmes for work protection measures at a national level, should be supported by these organisations;
o tasks which produce a benefit for the global environment e.g. immediate measures which reduce the global risk to the environment and health from mercury, should be financed by the global environmental fund, GEF.
- Adaptation of the global action plan: Switzerland will give support to the idea of supplementing the global action plan (SAICM Global Plan of Action) by the inclusion of measures in the domain of nanotechnology.
Bruno Oberle, Director of the Federal Office for the Environment FOEN, will represent Switzerland in the ministerial segments of both conferences. During the ministerial round of discussions on the funding of SAICM, which is being organised within the framework of the Second International Chemicals Conference, he will promote Switzerland's interests in his capacity as a member of the discussion panel.
BOX:
The Stockholm Convention came into force on 17 May 2004 and now consists of 162 contracting parties. Switzerland ratified the Convention on 30 July 2003. The purpose of the Convention is to introduce global measures to prevent and reduce the release into the environment of persistent organic pollutants. Amongst other things, an initial 10 substances are subject to prohibitions and restrictions on their manufacture, use, import and export.
The International Chemicals Conference is the decision-taking body of the global chemicals strategy SAICM. Switzerland had a decisive influence on the development of this strategy which was adopted at the First International Chemicals Conference (ICCM 1) in Dubai in 2006. The structure of the SAICM, the institutional framework and important elements of content can be attributed to proposals from Switzerland. The SAICM offers a superordinate political framework for the numerous international instruments which have as their aim the sustainable production and use of chemicals up to the year 2020.
Address for enquiries
Franz Perrez, International Affairs Division, FOEN, +41 79 251 90 15
Georg Karlaganis, Substances, Soil, Biotechnology Divison, FOEN, +41 79 415 99 62
Publisher
Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications
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