Enabling Activities to Review and Update the national Implementation Plan the Stockholm Convention on persistent organic Pollutants (POPs) in the Republic of Liberia.

This revised National Implementation Plan (NIP) for Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) has been prepared by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Liberia to review and update the country 2006 National Implementation Plan and assess the country level of compliance with the Convention, given that 9 new chemicals have been added to the list of chemicals covered by this Convention. The goals of this 5-year NAP is to develop comprehensive legislation to support an integrated approach to POPs/chemicals management and to mainstream gender in POP National Implementation Plan. The update has been developed by surveying the following thematic areas of research (i) on old and new unintentional POPs; (ii) research on old and new POPs pesticides; (iii) research on old and new industrial POPs; (iv) research on legal aspect; and (v) research on socio-economic assessment.
To make agriculture more productive and sustainable, the NAP envisages to reinforce the role of the Ministry of Agriculture in carrying out its tasks of (i) determining acceptable and prohibited pesticides and fertilizers for use in Liberia; (ii) having strategic importance in responding to plans for POPs in the agricultural sector; (iii) executing, administrating, managing, and supervising agriculture programs and providing extension services; (iv) training local farmers in improved cultural practices; and (v) supplying to farms inputs to enhance food security.
The resilience of livelihoods to disasters shall be increased through (i) the development of a National Program for the management of medical waste; (ii) reduction of emissions of Dioxins and Furans from medical facilities; (iii) the development of a plan for reduction of open garbage burning with provision for alternatives in areas without garbage collection; (iv) the reduction of uncontrolled combustion processes consequent to waste burning and accidental fires; (v) raising public awareness of the importance and application of old and new industrial chemicals.
As for Governance, main issues are (i) strengthen and enforce the existent institutional policies and regulations on chemicals and chemical related materials; (ii) promote intersectoral cooperation and coordination amongst institutions dealing with chemicals.