CELA LETTER TO CANADIAN MINISTER ENDORSED BY IICPH

In May, 2009 in Geneva Switzerland, the Fourth Conference of the Parties under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, (COP4), an important decision was made to add nine new Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) to the list of chemicals to be reduced or eliminated.

Theresa McClenaghan of the Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA) sent a letter to Environment Minister Prentice asking the Canadian Government to endorse the addition of the nine named POPs to this list.

They are: Pentabromodiphenyl ether (Penta BDE); Octabromodiphenyl ether (OctaBDE); Hexabromobiphenyl (HBB); Lindane; Alpha hexachlorocyclohexane (Alpha HCH); Beta hexachlorocyclohexane (Beta HCH); Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS); Chlordecone; and Pentachlorobenzene (PeCB).

As Theresa mentioned, in the letter, Canada and particularly the northern region, receives POPs from domestic and international sources. The COP4 decisions could provide significant benefits towards protecting the Canadian public and the environment from the impacts of POPs.

“To complement these efforts, we are seeking your official support on the addition of the nine new POPs to the Stockholm Convention … it is our understanding that Canada must inform the depositary within a year of the decision made at COP4 that they agree with the listing of these new POPs. As organizations that work on chemical safety issues, we are particularly interested in efforts that promote the elimination mandate under the Stockholm Convention and the commitment made by over 165 Parties under the Convention, to protect human health and the environment from POPs. The letter also urges the Minister to urge the government to submit the required written documents to inform them of Canada’s agreement to the listing and to prepare and release a work plan that outlines the development of action plans for the elimination of the POPs and a public engagement component for this undertaking.”

The letter concluded by saying, “As the first country to ratify the Stockholm Convention in 2001, we feel certain that Canada will confirm its commitment to its environment and to protecting the health and safety of Canadians and the global community from the impacts of POPs. We look forward to the news that Canada has submitted the required legal documents in support of the Stockholm Convention’s recent listing of the nine POPs.

The complete letter can be found on our website.