National Plan for the implementation of the Stockholm Convention (Republic of Serbia).

This National Plan for the implementation of the Stockholm Convention (or NIP) is developed in accordance with the Article 7 of the Stockholm Convention and a guidance document prepared by UNEP –"Guidelines for Developing a NIP for the Stockholm Convention". The NIP gives a set of measures aimed to enable further restriction of production, trade and use of new POPs, reduce releases of unintentionally produced POPs, provide safe storage of obsolete pesticides, as well as gradual replacement of PCB-containing equipment.
The Plan defines all activities aimed to prepare the Republic of Serbia for fulfilling the obligation under the provisions of the Stockholm Convention. NIP is comprised of two parts. The first part provides general information on the Republic of Serbia, information on Serbian legislation in the fields of environmental protection and chemicals, with special consideration given to POPs and their estimated quantities based on the preliminary inventory compiled. The second part of the Plan contains a strategy for Convention implementation, as well as appropriate action plans. The following actions plans have been developed: Action plan for dealing with the obsolete pesticides (pesticide waste); Action plan for dealing with PCB; Action plan for dealing with uPOPs (PCDD/PCDF, PCB and HCB); Action plan considering institutional and regulatory measures aimed at Stockholm Convention implementation and reporting; Action plan considering monitoring; Action plan for contaminated areas; Strategy for public informing, awareness raising and education and action plan for strategy implementation. Resulting from a decision of the Republic of Serbia to join the EU, a series of specific activities have been carried out. Above all, a set of new laws harmonized with the related EU regulations have either been adopted or prepared, providing new principles of regulation in different fields. During the process, importance of the field of environmental protection has been recognized, leading to activities aimed to systematically regulate the field specified, not only through adoption of new laws but through preparation for implementation of international conventions and development of strategic documents as well. NIP was prepared as a realistic and comprehensive document, providing a solid base for determining further activities on implementation of the provisions of the Stockholm Convention. In addition, the POPs project was methodologically carried out in a manner which had ensured involvement of large number of interested parties and competent organizational units within the ministry responsible for environmental protection. The most valuable feature of the project is appropriate involvement of key individuals and institutions, ensuring allocation of planned activities and introduction of issues of POPs management into new regulations, education plans and other plans necessary for fulfilment of obligations under the Stockholm Convention.