National Implementation Plan (NIP)

on Stockholm Convention on

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

Gamini Gamage

Additional Secretary (Environment Policy & Planning)

Ministry of Environment

Sri Lanka

The initial 12 POPs

Annex A (Elimination)

●Aldrin ●Chlordane ●Dieldrin ●Endrin

●Heptachlor ●Mirex ●Toxaphene ▲PCBs

●/▲Hexachlorobenzene

Annex B (Restriction)

●DDT

Annex C (Unintentional production)

■Dioxin ■Furan ■Hexachlorobenzene ■PCBs

●Pesticides ▲Industrial chemicals ■By-products

POPs are coming under 3 Annexes

Annex A: Parties must take measures to eliminate the production

and use of the chemicals listed under Annex A. Specific exemptions

for use or production are listed in the Annex and apply only to

Parties that register for them. (Elimination)

Annex B: Parties must take measures to restrict the production and

use of the chemicals listed under Annex B in light of any

applicable acceptable purposes and/or specific exemptions listed in

the Annex. (Restriction)

Annex C: Parties must take measures to reduce the unintentional

releases of chemicals listed under Annex C with the goal of

continuing minimization and, where feasible, ultimate elimination.

(Unintentional production)

Chemical Annex Specific exemption

Alpha

hexachlorocyclohexane●■

A Production: none

Use: none

Beta hexachlorocyclohexane●■ A Production: none

Use: none

Chlorodecone● A Production: none

Use: none

Hexabromobiphenyl▲ A Production: none

Use: none

Hexabromodiphenyl ether and

Heptabromodiphenyl ether▲

A Production: none

Use: Articles in accordance with the provisions of Part

IV of Annex A

Lindane● A Production: none

Use: Human health pharmaceutical for control of head

lice and scabies as second line treatment

Pentachlorobenzene●▲■ A & C Production: none

Use: none

Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid

and Perfluorooctane sulfonyl

fluoride▲

B Production: for the use below

Use: Acceptable purposes and specific exemptions in

accordance with Part III of Annex B

Tetrabromodiphenyl ether and

Pentabromodiphenyl ether

A Production: none

Use: Articles in accordance with the provisions of Part

IV of Annex A

Nine new POPs

●Pesticides ▲Industrial chemicals ■By-products

Activities conducted to implement the

convention at country level:

Development of a National Implementation Plan

(NIP) for the implementation of the Stockholm

Convention. (Article 7)

Major Action Plan Components of National

Implementation Plan

Institutional and Regulatory Strengthening

measures.

POPs Pesticides related activities.

PCBs and Equipment containing PCBs related

activities

Management of unintentionally produced POPs

Byproducts

Monitoring POPs chemicals

Public awareness information dissemination and

training

Action Plan Component 1-

Institutional and Regulatory

Strengthening Measures In the process of inclusion of Harmonized System (HS) codes for

prioritized POPs Chemicals into Imports and Exports Control Act

collaboration with Department of Customs to the Imports and

Exports Control.

In collaboration with the Basel and Stockholm Coordination

Centre for Asia and the Pacific, China (BCRC) and three other

Asian countries (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Pakistan) have conducted

a regional project on Capacity Strengthening and Information

Exchange on PCBs Management in Selected Asia Countries to

strengthen the national institutional capacity on PCBs

elimination and management at regional level. (04 Officers)

Action Plan component 2- POPs

Pesticides related activities Control of Pesticides Act No. 33 of 1980 - Regulation of

imports, restriction and ban of pesticides through

registration and gazette notification (Annex A&B)

Development of the Preliminary Inventory on POPs

pesticide (Annex A & B)

Initiate a Project on Deposit Refund System for empty

pesticide containers

Research/Study on health impacts of POPs chemicals

Establishment of a National Coordinating Committee for the

implementation of the Basel Convention in Sri Lanka.

Basel, Stockholm, Rotterdam conventions and SAICM

related issues are discussed at the meeting

Banding of import of Linden to Sri Lanka

Action Plan component 3-

PCBs and Equipment

Containing PCBs Development of the Preliminary Inventory on PCBs

Technical Advisory Committee Meeting for the

management of industrial Chemicals on Implementation of

the Rotterdam Convention in Sri Lanka

Research/Study on health impacts of PCBs chemicals.

Eg: Welders influenced to stop using PCB contaminated oils in Sri Lanka

Capacity building of stakeholder institutions for the

formulation of national inventories

Enhanced the laboratory facilities at Industrial Technology

Institute

Disposal of some of the existing PCBs stocks at

environmentally licensed cement kilns at Holcim (Lanka)

Limited

Action Plan component 4-Management of

Unintentionally produced POPs BY-products

Development of the Preliminary Inventory on

Dioxin (PCDD) & Furan (PCDF)

Publication of awareness materials on POPs and

related health impacts (05 Leaflets)

National Strategy for Solid Waste Management-

2007

Implementation of Pilisaru Waste Management

project

Implementation of Plastic Waste management

project

Action Plan Component 5-

Monitoring Research/Study on health/environment impacts of

POPs chemicals

Coordinate with relevant stakeholders on updating

POPs chemicals

Information Exchange with Stockholm Convention

Secretariat whenever it is needed

Update & submitting National Status Report to

Stockholm Convention Secretariat on a periodic

basis

Action Plan component 6- Public Awareness,

Information Dissemination and Training

Development and publication of awareness materials on

POPs and related health impacts (Videos, Exhibition

models, Leaflets, Posters, CDs)

Public of awareness on POPs and related

health/environmental impacts

Participation for National & International meeting/

workshops/ seminars/ trainings/ COPs in relation to POPs

management

Joint workshop of the Stockholm and Rotterdam

Conventions for effective participation of Parties in the

work of the POPs Review Committees and Chemicals was

held on 19-21 January 2011, Colombo

Major Constraints/Gaps

Lack of comprehensive inventory on initial POPs-

Preliminary inventories on Pesticides, Dioxin (PCDD)/

Furan (PCDF) & PCBs done in 2006

No inventory has done for 9 New POPs

Lack of Financial resources

Lack of Technical and Human Resources

Lack of Environmental Sound Management of PCB

contaminated equipments/materials

Lack of awareness on health/environment risks of POPs

Lack of sufficient testing facilities for PCBs

Lack of legislation for the effective control of PCBs

Future Activities

GEF Project proposal is being developed to comprehensive

inventory update including Nine New POPs

Regional project on Identification and demonstration of

disposal of PCBs containing electrical equipment and selected

waste in selected Asia Pacific countries was developed and will

be submitted for GEF funding. Project includes;

Upgrading the laboratory

400 PCBs Tons will be disposed

Identifying the contaminated sites

Regional Information Exchange Platform on PCBs

Management will be developed in English and translate into

local languages in collaboration with BCRC-China

Translate POPs Awareness materials into local languages &

Awareness creation on POPs

Thank You