In July 2010, icipe was selected as a regional centre under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), becoming one of the 16 Stockholm and 7 Basel Regional Centres, located in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Central and Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Western Europe, selected on the basis of their expertise and capacity to provided technical assistance and capacity building to the eligible countries. As a Stockholm Convention Regional Centre, icipe works with a range of partners in capacity building and transfer of technology to Africa member states in alternatives to the use of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in management of disease vectors and pests, and biodiversity and environmental conservation.
Background information
- The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) is a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from chemicals that remain intact in the environment for long periods, become widely distributed geographically, accumulate in the fatty tissue of humans and wildlife, and have harmful impacts on human health or on the environment. It has 179 Parties. Currently there are 26 chemicals on the List of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in the Convention (up to May 2015), most of which are pesticides. The List consists of three annexes: Annex A (Elimination): The production and use of chemicals on annex A must be eliminated unless there are specific exemptions; Annex B (Restriction): The production and use of chemicals on annex B must be restricted; Annex C (Unintentional Production): Measures must be taken to reduce the unintentional releases of chemicals on Annex C.
- The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal is the most comprehensive international environmental agreement on hazardous and other wastes and has 183 parties.
- The Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade promotes shared responsibility and cooperative efforts among its 154 Parties.
Useful Links
- http://chm.pops.int/Partners/RegionalCentres/TheCentres/ICIPENairobi,Kenya/tabid/792/Default.aspx
- http://chm.pops.int/default.aspx