Antigua and Barbuda National Implementation Plan for the management of Persistent Organic Pollutants.

The National Implementation Plan for the management of Persistent Organic Pollutants provides the basis for an effective POPs management system in Antigua and Barbuda to secure human health and provide environmental protection from the threats and undesirable consequences posed by POPs and POPs-like chemicals. It covers the period between 2006 and 2015.
This Plan addresses the environmental and health effects of POPs in air, water, soil, food, terrestrial and aquatic animals and humans. Legal measures will be taken to prohibit the production, use, import and export of POPs pesticides, with the exception of export for environmentally sound disposal. Administrative measures will be taken to prohibit the import and export of (polychlorinated biphenyls) PCBs and PCB-containing equipment. Measures will be undertaken to reduce releases from anthropogenic sources of the chemicals listed in Annex C of the Convention, with the goal of continuing minimization and, where possible, elimination. Emphasis will be given on the reduction of POPs emissions arising from burning of municipal and household wastes. The use of Best Available Technology and Best Environmental Practice will be required for existing and new facilities that can potentially be a source of POPs. Source inventories and release estimates will be developed and maintained to identify stockpiles, products and articles in use and waste consisting of, containing or contaminated by POPs chemicals and characterize releases of unintentional POPs. An air quality monitoring Unit will be established within the Environment Division. The effectiveness of the measures taken to reduce releases of unintentional POPs will be reviewed and their success will be evaluated. The releases from the stocks of POPs chemicals or equipment or materials containing or contaminated with POPs, or wastes will be reduced or eliminated. Stockpiles, when identified, will be managed in a safe, efficient and environmentally sound manner. Moreover, wastes will be handled, collected, transported and disposed in an environmentally sound manner. Exported hazardous waste or other waste will be packaged, labeled and transported appropriately in accordance with the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Waste and their Disposal. Obsolete pesticides will all be collected, labeled and stored in one place until appropriate measures can be taken to have them destroyed. Public awareness programs on POPs and other toxic chemicals will be conducted, targeting specific audiences, including agricultural workers, smallholders, and household users of pesticides. Training and certification program will be developed and implemented to educate the public about the hazards associated with POPs pesticides, and with the inappropriate use of pesticides in general.