National Implementation Plan For the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.

This National Implementation Plan For the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (NIP) is prepared to meet Eritrea’s obligations under the Stockholm Convention (SC) on POPs (Article 7). In this regard the NIP aims to achieve the following objectives: 1) To demonstrate the commitment of the Government of Eritrea to SC objectives and to achieve compliance with the obligations; 2) To provide a national policy instrument and framework within which POPs issues are to be addressed as a part of national policies on chemicals management, environmental protection, public health and sustainable development; 3) To present a baseline and associated analysis supporting the development and implementation of effective Action Plans and Strategies; 4) To provide an operational and institutional framework for eligibility for financial assistance; 5) To provide a basis for monitoring the country’s progress; 6) To facilitate public awareness, education and participation; 7) To facilitate ongoing efforts in dealing with broader environmental issues; 8) To facilitate the country’s overall efforts in coordinating national approaches to other chemicals-related regional and international agreements and international processes on chemicals management, specifically, the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International 20 Trade; the Basel Convention on the Control of Trans-boundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal; and Strategic Approach for International Chemicals Management.
Several legal instruments that are in draft form or have been promulgated deal with pesticides and environmental protection; these include: Environment low 2012, NEMP-E 1997, Eritrean National Code of Conduct for Environmental Security 1995, National Environmental Assessment Procedures & Guidelines 1999, Regulations for the Issuance of Permit for the Importation or exportation of Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) and ODS Based Equipment or Products 2010, Agriculture Agricultural Sector Policy And Strategy Framework 2002, Plant Quarantine Proclamation, N0.156/2006, Legal Notice N0 114/2006, Regulation for Importation, Handling, Use, Storage and Handling and Disposal of Pesticides 2006, etc. Moreover many ministries and agencies have responsibilities to manage chemicals or address their impacts on human health and the environment in Eritrea. The main agencies with respect to the POPs issue are: Ministry of Land, Water and Environment (deals with direct and indirect effects of chemicals released into the environment); Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) (deals with use of agricultural chemicals as an option for securing food supplies while ensuring a high level of safety); Ministry of Health (MoH) (deals with short- and long-term human health impact of chemical usage, and with vector control management); etc.
Activities and measures to reduce or eliminate releases from intentional production and use: 1) Production, Import and Export, Use, Stockpiles and Wastes of Annex A PoP Pesticides (Annex A, Part 1 Chemicals): prepare chemicals legislation (part of environmental law); finalize the drafted pesticide legislation and regulation taking into account the national pesticide list; prioritization of safeguarding stores; training in risk assessment, safe working methods; prepare health, safety and environmental management plan; undertake safeguarding; identify appropriate storage sites; establishing of a disposal mechanism for POPs pesticides, contaminated containers and packing materials; establishing mechanism for disposal of contaminated sites. 2) Capacity Building of Human Resources. 3) Dispose all Annex A POP Pesticide Stockpiles and Waste in an Environmentally Sound Manner: establishing a disposal mechanism from contaminated containers and packaging, etc. 4) Production, Import and Export, Use, Identification, Labeling, Removal, Storage and Disposal of PCBs and Equipment Containing PCBs (Annex A, Part II chemicals): Codification and labeling the PCB containing equipments; collecting used PCB-containing oil; identifying and selecting options for safe disposal of PCB- containing oil and waste. 5) Production, Import and Export, Use, Stockpiles, Wastes and Releases of DDT (Annex B Chemicals). 6) Register for Specific Exemptions and the Continuing Need for Exemptions: conduct periodic reviews on the continueing need to use DDT for malaria vector control in the country