National Implementation Plan for management of persistent organic pollutants in Papua New Guinea.

The National Implementation Plan for management of persistent organic pollutants lays down actions for the management and disposal of POPs in compliance with the requirements of the Stockholm Convention to protect human health and the environment. This Plan will be implemented over 5 year period between 2006 and 2011.
The legislative and administrative measures will be established to prohibit use and import of POPs Chemicals under Annex A Part I and other such chemicals for future inclusion in the Stockholm Convention. Existing mechanisms and regulations will be reviewed, and a technical working committee will be established to prepare appropriate guidelines. A nationwide awareness campaign and training programmes will be conducted in chemical use and management in the agriculture and livestock sector and policy implications. This Plan addresses the environmental and health effects of POPs in air, water, soil, food, animals and humans. A comprehensive registration system for pesticides and hazardous substance regulation will be established for monitoring of pesticide and hazardous substances and improving their management. Institutional capacity building will bve enhanced for monitoring and enforcement of Regulations under the Environmental Act 2000, and the provisions of the Stockholm Convention on POPs. Poisons Information Centres will be established in major town hospitals in consultation with the Department of Health and provincial hospital boards. Current environmental legislation will be reviewed relating to the prohibition of imports of equipment containing PCBs and oils and management of their usage. Specific policies and supporting regulations will be developed to prevent or control illegal trade, reuse or recycling of contaminated oils obtained from retro-filling. Awareness on the risks of PCBs on human health and the environment will be raised at all levels, and their impacts will be regularly monitored in terms of toxicology and eco-toxicology. Training programmes will be carried out for awareness raising and education on chemical risks and hazards. The inventory of PCB oil and equipment will be updated to ensure their proper storage and safe disposal. Appropriate legislative framework, policy guidelines and codes of practice will be established and implemented to ensure effective management of PCBs and stockpiles. The management and disposal of obsolete DDT stockpiles will be strengthened and a well coordinated and integrated programme will be implemented for effective control of malaria and other vector borne diseases. Emissions of unintentional POPs from major sources will be reduced by employing best available technology; establishing proper system to monitor and dispose medical wastes; and training the personnel engaged in waste management. Improper incineration of hazardous wastes, including PCBs, will be prohibited. A registration and monitoring system and a database will be established for stockpiles and releases of DDT, PCB and other pesticides and empty containers of hazardous substances. Safe management of contaminated sites will be ensured through Site Identification Study of contaminated sites and strengthened legislative and policy framework. An integrated programme will be established for research and development of environmentally friendly alternatives and integrated pest management techniques. Data collection on chemical imports and exports, usage by sectors or industries, distribution and handling and disposal and management constraints, will be strengthened. The Chemical Information Exchange Network will be established for networking with all stakeholders for coordinating information dissemination. Clear procedures will be set up for registration, licensing and approval of POPs and POPs-like chemicals and for monitoring stockpiles, and assessing environmental and social impacts.