Updated national action Plan for the management of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the Republic of Bulgaria, 2012-2020.

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) represent organic substances which have toxic properties; they persist for a long time in the environment; accumulate in the biosphere; have the ability for long-range transboundary atmospheric transfer over distances and are deposited far from their sources of release. They represent potential threat to the environment and human health and global action is necessary in order to eliminate their production, use as well as reducing emissions into the environment. Bulgaria signed the Stockholm Convention on POPs (SC) on 23 May 2001. The Convention is further ratified by a national Law (promulgated in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Bulgaria 89/12 October 2004), in force from 20 March 2005. Competent national authority for the fulfillment of the obligations of the country under The Stockholm Convention is the Ministry of Environment and Water (MOEW). Bulgaria as a member of the European Union (EU) and a party to the Stockholm Convention has an obligation to fulfill its obligations under the Convention. Obligations to implement the convention have been introduced into European law through related regulations (such as Regulation 850/2004 on POPs).
A strategic goal of this Plan is to reduce the risk to people's health and environment from the harmful effects of POPs, and the main goal is to improve the POPs management system, which will be achieved through a number of operational objectives. The text consists of an introduction, four main parts and 4 Annexes. In Part I. "Basic data for Bulgaria" it contains general data for the country (the geographical position, territory, relief, climate and natural resources, population after last census from February 2011, the political system and administrative-territorial division of the country). Economic profile by sectors and main economic indicators are updated until the year 2010. The ecological situation is reflected in the country in terms of air, surface and underground pollution levels, including waters, soils as well as the generated amounts of household and hazardous waste as of 2010. Part II. “Institutional and Legislative Framework” describes in detail the policies for environmental protection and sustainable development, signed and ratified international conventions, presents an overview of the current European and national legislation for the management of POPs, including and for the new 10 POPs by the end of 2011, among other mechanisms and voluntary initiatives, administrative penalties and sanctions. Part III. "Assessment of the state of POPs in Bulgaria" includes a detailed assessment of the status of the first 12 POPs and the new 10 POPs – POP pesticides (15), industrial POPs chemicals (PCBs, HBBs, PBDEs, PFOS) and POPs emissions [dioxins/furans (PCDD/PCDF), PCBs, HCB, PeCB, PAH); existing monitoring programs; informing, awareness and educating the public; NGO activities; laboratory infrastructure; systems for chemical management. Part IV "Implementation Strategy and updated Action Plan for implementation of the designated rules and objectives” describes the national commitments made in the implementation of the above mentioned Stockholm Convention regarding 22 POPs (also listed in this text see page 2), the priorities determined by national importance (8 priorities, of which 5 with high priority), the principles and strategy for implementation of the set goals and priorities, planned measures and activities among specified expected results.
The main priorities of national importance for the management of POPs are arranged by importance of problems. The following 8 priorities of national importance have been identified, 5 of which with high priority: 1. Ensuring conditions for effective implementation of legislation in the field of POPs and exercise of control. 2. Disposal outside the country of the available stored POP pesticides (DDT, heptachlor and other), of the remaining available equipment containing POPs and of the available fire extinguishing foam containing the same; 3. Improvement of the laboratory infrastructure for testing and monitoring of new POPs in environmental components, products and waste and in raw materials, products and foods of plant and animal origin. 4. Monitoring of POPs in soils, surface and underground waters, products and waste, raw materials and products of plant and animal origin and in foods of plant and of animal origin placed on the market. 5. Inclusion of conditions in combustion plants, metallurgical plants, chemical plants and plants for the production of cement for prevention/restriction of POP emissions, including emission limits); and 3 more with medium priority: 1. Prevention and reduction of the formation of hazardous waste containing new POPs and increasing the percentage of recycled and recovered waste; 2. Reduction and/or prevention of total accidental releases of POPs during certain production processes; 3. Increasing public awareness of the impacts of new POPs on human health and environment and ensuring public access to information on related risks. The strategy for the implementation of these goals and priorities includes: 1. Application of an integrated approach to problem solving in the coordinating role of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications by actively involving the ministries and institutions with responsibilities under relation to the policy related to the management of POPs. 2. Use of diverse and effective measures for realization and support of planned activities – legislation and control, information and training, economic measures, use of existing structures. 3. Carrying out environmental and health monitoring. 4. Prioritizing activities that can have a positive impact on health of the population. 5. Engagement of NGOs in the process of informing the public about the impact of new POPs on human health and environment in general. 6. Ensuring public access to information about POPs through the Internet page of Ministry of Education and Culture. 7. Coordination of POPs management activities through enforcement cooperation of the Stockholm, Rotterdam and Basel Conventions.