MALTA SIGNS CONVENTION ON PERSISTENT ORGANIC POLLUTANTS (POPS)

The Minister for the Environment, Francis Zammit Dimech today signed the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). The Minister for the Environment is attending a Conference of Plenipotentiaries for the adoption of the Stockholm Convention on POPs which is being held at the Swedish capital.

Minister Francis Zammit Dimech in an address to the Conference said that "this Convention represents the most ambitious effort by the global community, to date, to rein in and ultimately halt the proliferation of toxic chemicals. In fact as seen from the text of the Convention one can notice that it is designed to eliminate or severely restrict production and use of a pernicious group of pesticides and industrial chemicals; ensure environmentally sound management and chemical transformation of POPs waste; and prevent the emergence of new chemicals with POPS-like characteristics."

He added that "this Convention sets out control measures covering the production, import, export, disposal, and use of POPs." He said that "now it is our task to promote the best available technologies and practices from eliminating existing POPs while preventing more damage to the human health and the environment. This can be done first of all by signing and ratifying the Convention which will serve as a framework convention to draw up adequate national legislation, and develop action plans which will help us in carrying out our commitments under the Convention."

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Mr. Chairman, Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen

Allow me at the very outset to thank the Government of the Kingdom of Sweden for its meticulous preparations for this Conference. I would also like to express our appreciation for the attention and hospitality extended to us by the Swedish Government during the course of our stay in Stockholm to participate in this Conference of Plenipotentiaries for the adoption of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. In particular I would like to thank the Prime Minister of Sweden, Goran Persson, for making the time to be with us at the opening of this Conference and offering us an inspiring speech wherein he appealed to us ‘to help make our planet healthier and cleaner', as well as the Swedish Minister for the Environment, Kjell Larsson for his personal dedication and commitment.

Yesterday evening, we could see how even after 330 years, commitment and strong well led to the liberation of the Vasa from below the waves. What we are seeking to do through this Convention is to liberate our very ecosystems which sustain our way of life and health.

A word of gratitude also goes to all those who took part in the negotiating process, including the NGOs who proactively work for a better environment.

We have come a long way since the Rio Conference of 1992 and before that from 1987 when the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) created a set of London Guidelines for the Exchange of Information on Chemicals in International Trade. As we prepare for the Johannesburg Summit also referred to as Rio+10, I think it is appropriate if we also think of it in terms as Stockholm+30. In this respect as we seek to approach Jonannesburg with this Convention brought into force since by then it is up to ensure that there will be the necessary number of ratifications, I think it has been highly appropriate that we choose Stockholm as a connecting point.

This Convention represents the most ambitious effort by the global community, to date, to rein in and ultimately halt the proliferation of toxic chemicals. In fact as seen from the text of the Convention one can notice that it is designed to eliminate or severely restrict production and use of a pernicious group of pesticides and industrial chemicals; ensure environmentally sound management and chemical transformation of POPs waste; and prevent the emergence of new chemicals with POPs-like characteristics. This Convention sets out control measures covering the production, import, export, disposal, and use of POPs. Now it is our task to promote the best available technologies and practices from eliminating existing POPs while preventing more damage to the human health and the environment. This can be done first of all by signing and ratifying the Convention which will serve as a framework convention to draw up adequate national legislation, and develop action plans which will help us in carrying out our commitments under this Convention.

In this regard I would like to note that Malta through its national legislation has already banned the importation and use of most of the 12 POPs enlisted in the Convention, mainly by the Pesticide (Control of Importation, Sale and Use) Act enacted in 1966 and lastly amended in 1999. The Mirex, toxaphene, PCBs, dioxins and furans, are banned from entering our country either by order of the Pesticide Advisory Board or through other legislation namely the Factories (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations of 1986.

As noted earlier POPs tend to travel long distances and are persistent chemicals, so unfortunately I have to stress on the fact that despite the fact that the 12 POPs banned under the Convention, seem to be very well controlled in Malta yet certain POPs may still be present in the Maltese environment. In fact since we are in the middle of the Mediterranean we may receive DDT through air movement and the problem is that the impact will not be quantified. Moreover the same persistent organic pollutant was widely used in the late 40s and 50s in Malta and so a study is needed to quantify the impact if any. Similar studies are intended on dioxins and Furans. It is our intention to evaluate such POPs through a Joint Chemical and Industrial Risk Section and the Air Monitoring Section. The study is being currently drafted for presentation to UNEP.

This convention will serve as a framework to take adequate national measures and to formulate the necessary legislation in order to cater for these problems. We can assist each other in carrying adequate studies to establish ways for the disposal of the existent POPs wastes. Wide spread participation in this Convention is needed since POPs have now become omnipresent pollutants threatening the environment worldwide.

Participation by a Member State to this convention means the observance of certain key elements occuring in the treaty provisions, which have been negotiated between the present participants through these last three years. These key elements are a classical example of the implementation of emerging principles of international environmetnal law namely :

• The application of the precautionary principle as the guiding principle including transparency and public participation.

• Common but differentiated responsibility with the need for participating States, especially developed countries to commit themselves to provide new and additional financial resources to developing country parties, and parties with economies in transition.

• The preventive principle to ensure for the elimination of byproducts of POPs.

• The need to provide environmentally sound management and disposal of POPs wastes including stockpiles, products, articles in use and materials contaminated with POPs.

Overall one can arrive at the conclusion that before us we have a convention which will guide us to safeguard our environment and ensure the well-being of the peoples of the world. Effective implementation of the POPs treaty will require hard work, wisdom and resources from governments, industry, NGOs and other stakeholders. Although many challenges lie ahead, it is gratifying to start off the new millennium knowing that a solid foundation has been put in place, on which further reforms can be made in the ongoing effort to protect and conserve life on Earth. The signing and ratification of this convention, means another further step by each and every State in its work to manage the environment in a sustainable manner. The Rio + 10 World Summit on Sustainable Development is very near and it would be of great satisfaction to each and every participant in this Conference including our good selves to announce that we have ratified this global treaty. Furthermore it would be even better and satisfactory if, through our consensus and the formal acceptance of this Convention, this new Stockholm Convention enters into force before this important World Summit takes place.

Being here in Stockholm, offers an auspicious start to such efforts. In fact we are being hosted by a country which ranks as one of the world's leaders in advancing policies that substitute safe alternatives in place of toxic chemicals, hold corporations accountable for the pollution they create, and advocate precaution where scientific evidence suggests toxic threats to wildlife or people.

Further more the Swedish Presidency within the European Union ensures that even the European Union and its Member States will be encouraged to commit themselves to the effective and rapid implementation of this Convention, and for the adoption of other strategic plans and policies for the elimination of toxic chemicals. Evidence of this is already being shown by the adoption of a White Paper on 13th February 2001, by the European Commission, setting out the strategy for a future Community Policy for Chemicals. The main objective of the new Chemical Strategy is to ensure a high level of protection for human health and the environment, while ensuring the efficient functioning of the internal market and stimulating innovation and competitiveness in the chemical industry.

Finally Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank you and all our colleagues for the opportunity given to me to address this Conference and at the same time to assure you that we intend to co-operate with you so that the scope and aims of this Convention are adopted. I augur that this Convention enters into force in the near future and that we will be in a position to work together to achieve its objectives in order to assure sustainable management of a healthy environment in favour of this generation and of future generations alike.