The Stockholm Convention On Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) National Implementation Plan (NIP) for Trinidad and Tobago.

The Stockholm Convention On Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) National Implementation Plan (NIP) for Trinidad and Tobago provides a description of the current POPs issues in Trinidad and Tobago and lays down the recommended Key Actions, over the next five (5) years (2014 to 2018, inclusive)to address them. The document also indicates the timing of each action, as well as the estimated budget requirement for each. Moreover the document recognizes that as of 2013, there is no enabling legislation for the Stockholm Convention in Trinidad and Tobago. However, POPs are presently being managed to some extent under the provisions of a number of laws including The Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Act and subsidiary legislation; and the Environmental Management Act and its subsidiary legislation. The import of several POPs is presently regulated by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Investment (MTII) utilising the Negative List. Monitoring of POPs is confined by local laboratories and foreign laboratories with local agents.
Actions include: Enact Local Enabling Legislation for the Stockholm Convention by enacting a new law or amending the Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Act; Amend the Negative List to include other POPs and revise custom regulations consequently; Design and implement a Health Screening program in at-risk communities to investigate the effects of exposure to uPOPs; review the present situation regarding Open Burning, and prepare Appropriate and Modern Guidelines to control Open Burning; establish database on pesticides; knowledge building and training; update waste management and water management rules; leachate Testing at Landfills monitoring air quality; Health Screening program in at-risk communities; Continue research into contamination of plants and animals; Implement Financial Incentives to Farmers and Industries for replacing Mirex-S, substituting Materials and Processes, implementing BAT & BEP and improving Flare Operation; among others.