The Bahamas National Implementation Plan for the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.

The National Implementation Plan (NIP) will serve as a guidance document to the country in implementation of the Stockholm Convention. The timeframe of this NIP is 10 years between 2020 and 2029. The priority areas of this NIP are: (I) strengthening and/or development of the policy and regulatory framework for chemicals management, including POPs management; (II) conducting in-depth inventories of POPs pesticides, industrial chemicals and unintentionally produced POPs; (III) management and disposal of POPs stockpiles and wastes; (IV) promotion of the implementation of Best Available Techniques and Best Environmental Practices for industrial chemicals still in use or in wastes and unintentionally produced POPs; (V) training and capacity-building for persons and agencies involved in the management and regulation of POPS as well as private sector organizations; (VI) pursuit of bilateral, regional and multilateral funding for implementation of the NIP; (VII) technology and knowledge transfer opportunities; (VIII) data management; (IX) public information, awareness and education; and (X) private sector engagement.
This Plan addresses the environmental and health effects of POPs in air, land, water, food, animals and humans. It underlines that food, particularly animal products, is the major source of exposure for humans, and uPOPs accumulate in the fatty tissues of animals. Therefore, it stresses on the importance of a well-balanced and low-fat diet with adequate amounts of fruits and vegetables. Institutional and regulatory strengthening measures will be taken through training and capacity building for public sector agencies tasked with management and regulation of POPs and private sector organizations involved in POPs use and management. Access to technology and knowledge transfer will be enabled through business partnerships between public and private sectors. Chemical emergency preparedness will be included in national environmental plans and strategies. Measures will be undertaken to reduce or eliminate releases from intentional production and use. In-depth inventories of POPs pesticides, industrial chemicals, dioxins and furans, PCB-containing equipment and unintentional produced POPs will be conducted. The application and the introduction of Best Available Techniques and Best Environmental Practices will be identified and promoted for sectors which are main sources of POPs in use or to be disposed. Control and monitoring systems will be implemented for POPs sources. The national system will be developed for tracking Annex A POPs pesticides imported, exported, in use or stockpiles/disposed. The sustainable use of pesticides and where feasible, the use of alternatives, including Integrated Pest Management and organic agriculture, will be promoted. The import and export, use, identification, labelling, removal, storage and disposal of PCBs/PCNs in closed and open applications will be assessed and their environmental sound management will be ensured. The criteria will be established for assessment and selection of specific exemptions and/or acceptable purposes for chemicals listed under Annex A or B. Measures will be taken to reduce releases from unintentional produced POPs, such as introduction of Best Environmental Practices for main producing sectors. Hazardous waste management will be strengthened for the destruction and management of POPs.
POPs information system will be established and a national database will be created to facilitate the free exchange and repurposing of laboratory chemicals. Education on safe handling of hazardous chemicals will be provided involving all sectors of the society, including the agriculture sector. The Bahamas will participate in regional and international arrangements for effectiveness evaluation with respect to comparing monitoring data on presence of POPs as well as their regional and international transport. Reporting mechanisms will be strengthened in accordance with the Article 15 of the Convention. Research will be conducted on sources and releases of POPs into the environment, as well as on presence, levels and trends for POPs in humans and the environment. The Chemicals Coordination Unit will be established to carry out day-to-day activities and support the National Chemicals Advisory Committee.