Despite Indian Government’s non-ratification of Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), the Convention entered into force on 17 May 2004. The Stockholm Convention is a global treaty to protect human health and the environment POPs. Indian Government, which has signed the treaty on 14 May 2002 but is yet to ratify the treaty, is working towards developing a National Implementation Plan (NIP) on POPs. On 5th July 2004 a meeting was held in pursuance of the NIP process.

Groups working on environment and health feel this NIP process to be a half-hearted effort to combat birth defects among human beings and animals due to chemicals. As the name POPs implies, once introduced into the environment, either intentionally by industry, as an agrochemical, or unintentionally as a by-product, these chemicals remain in the environment. These chemicals can be atmospherically transported to sites far distant from the site of initial introduction.

As per the treaty, POPs also called `dirty dozen' chemical pollutants are aldrin, chlordane, DDT, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, mirex, toxaphene, polychlorinated biphenols (PCBs), hexachlorobenzene, dioxins and furans. The control measures apply to an initial list of 12 chemicals, a POP Review Committee is yet to consider additional chemicals for the POP list on a regular basis to ensure that the treaty is responsive to new scientific findings.

At the 5th July meeting of the National Experts Committee on POPs for " Preliminary assessment to identify the requirements for developing a national implementation plan in India as a first step to implement the Stockholm Convention on POPs" conducted its deliberations as part of the Global Environment Facility (GEF)-United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) funded project. This meeting was boycotted by the chemical industry.

China and India are the two countries that had specially requested that before the formulation of NIP a preliminary assessment be done considering the diversity and vastness of the countries. China has come out with its preliminary study but India is still at the first draft stage. The fact that Indian draft was referred to as Zero draft manifests the poor quality of its report. Dr. P. K Seth who is the National Coordinator of GEF-UNIDO Project and Dr. K. P Singh gave a presentation on the draft.

After pressurizing Indian Government to refrain from ratifying the Stockholm treaty the Indian Chemical Manufacturers Association (ICMA) has now started boycotting the process underway for a national implementation plan in India. Earlier the Rs 125, 000 crore chemical industry had publicly asked the government not to ratify the treaty.

“Ratifying the treaty immediately will ensure that the Indian people will be safer from dangereous chemicals and also show that the Indian chemicals industry cannot trade public health for profits. The industry should see the writing on the wall and join the international call for a less toxic globe, rather than live in the past.” said Ravi Agarwal, director, Toxics Link.

At a time when there is a need for a committed collaboration and mutual support to upgrade capacities in the areas of cleaner production, elimination of persistent toxic substances, POPs, and a stockpile of several hundred thousand widely scattered tonnes of obsolete pesticides which is formidable, the approach of our government leaves a lot to be desired which appears hand in glove with the chemical industry.

Environmental groups which are part of the International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN) have called for disclosure of the information and public participation at all stages of the NIP process especially the participation of farmer groups because they have information on the adverse effect of pesticides on environment and on humans and animals. “The gravity of the impact of POPs especially women and children is still not acknowledged,” said Papiya Sarkar while releasing Toxics Link’s comprehensive study on POPs in South Asia Region to ensure an informed NIP. At the meeting small-scale industries producing POPs were included as an area of concern.

But the fact remains any effort with regard to POPs without the participation of the chemical industry is an exercise in futility. It is about time Indian Government took a firm decision in favour of public health by ratifying the treaty instead of pandering to the whims and fancies of the industry.

POPs Status in India

Chemical Category Status

Aldrin- Pesticide- Banned
Chlordane- Pesticide- Banned
DDT-Pesticide Restricted- Use
Dieldrin- Pesticide- Banned
Endrin- Pesticide- Banned
HCB -Pesticide -Not Registered
Heptachlor- Pesticide -Banned
Mirex -Pesticide -Not Registered
Toxaphene- Pesticide- Banned
PCBs -Industrial -Banned
Dioxins- By-Product -Unintentional
Furans -By-Product -Unintentional

Source: Industrial Toxicology Research Centre