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

The National Implementation Plan for the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (NIP) aims at improving the management of all chemicals in the country, and in particular POPs chemicals, in order to protect human health and the environment. This NIP lays down priority targets to: (I) prepare introduce and implement regulation to improve management, tracking and control of imported chemicals; (II) eliminate importation and use of Annex A and B chemicals; (III) reduce or eliminate unintentional production and release of Annex C chemicals; (IV) reduce or eliminate stockpiles and wastes containing chemicals listed in Annex A, B, or C; and (V) raise awareness of POPs among policy and decision makers and educate the public on the dangers of POPs and other chemicals to health and the environment.
A comprehensive legal and administrative system will be established to manage all chemical related issues and eliminate Annex A chemicals in the Solomon Islands. The national management of agrochemicals will be strengthened by establishing an organized and effective national regulatory system for pest and pesticide management. Licensing and certification schemes will be established for pesticide sales and distribution. A national inventory of PCBs and PCB containing equipment will be completed and national PCB guidelines and management guidelines will be developed. Studies will be conducted to explore different malarial control strategies and a national position will be established on the future of DDT use for malaria vector control. Sound management of chemicals will be ensured to minimize and ultimately eliminate risks of POPs to human health and the environment through strengthened institutional capacity for POPs detection and management; safe disposal of hazardous wastes, obsolete chemicals and POPs; prioritization of contaminated sites; remediation of DDT contaminated sites and affected areas; and enforcement of a ban on the unregulated dumping of chemical products. Waste management workers will be provided with guidance and training on long-term management and recycling of PFOS containing wastes. Releases from unintentional production of PCDD/PCDF, HCB and PCBs will be reduced. Nationally-agreed frameworks will be established for long-term prevention and management of uPOPs. Public awareness will be raised on POPs chemicals and their impacts. Information on national POPs and chemical management will be made available to the public. Investment and research will be encouraged in building national capacity for POPs monitoring and assessment to determine effectiveness of the undertakings of Solomon Islands under the Stockholm Convention. Priority monitoring of ambient air, (sea) food items and human breast milk concentrations of POPs and chemicals will be implemented. A national reporting system will be established for NIP implementation activities to meet reporting obligations under the Convention. The existing NIP National Coordinating Committee will be upgraded to a National Chemical Management Committee to guide NIP. A National Chemical Unit will be established within Environment and Conservation Division, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology, as the National Focal Point for chemicals management.