Regional Workshop on the on the Environmentally Sound Management persistent organic pollutants (POPs)

Venue: Hilton Alexandria Corniche

Address: 544 El-Gaish Rd, Alexandria Governorate 21611

Background: Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants is an international environmental treaty, signed in 2001 and effective from May 2004, that aims to eliminate or restrict the production and use of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are toxic chemicals that adversely affect human health and the environment around the world. Because they can be transported by wind and water, most POPs generated in one country can and do affect people and wildlife far from where they are used and released. They persist for long periods of time in the environment and can accumulate and pass from one species to the next through the food chain.

Working Language: English &Arabic

Organizer: BCRC-Egypt with the assistance of BRS Secretariat 

Meeting Objectives:

• Explain the importance of synergies between the three conventions, the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions
• The analysis POPs and the identification of new POPs.
• The social and economic impact of POPs.
• The National plans for monitoring POPs.

Target Audience:  The workshop targeted the National technical officials responsible for or involved in hazardous Waste Management. There were 8 participants from 7 Arab countries which were: Republic of Djibouti, Arab Republic of Egypt, Kuwait, Kingdom of Morocco Palestinian Authority, Lebanese Republic, and the Republic of Sudan.

Outcome:

• Exchange of information on the current status of POPs management in the Arab countries 
• Exchange of success stories of some of the Arab countries in implementing a national plan 
• The participants emphasized the importance of the availability of specialized labs to analyze POPs and the need to rely on expertise in this field
• The participants are completely aware of the many topics related ESM of POPs.

Recommendations: 

• The importance of having labs that are specialized in dealing with POPs and are internationally certified with the latest technologies that would service the whole region
• To have periodic inventory of the food products coming into the region and measure the percentage of pollution with POPs.
• The importance of regularly analyzing the animal’s food coming from abroad in certified labs to make sure it meets international standards
• Conducting a training session specialized on environmental legislations concerning hazardous waste
• Awareness programs for children and youth to inform them about the international legislations that deal with POPs, the definition of POPs and how to deal with them as well as its health hazards

Conclusive Remarks

Meeting Documents

Photo Gallery