Tuvalo National Implementation plan for Persistent Organic Pollutants.

The NIP has been developed in accordance with the guidelines of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), with an emphasis on provision of background information regarding POPs in Tuvalu to set the context for management of these pollutants into the future. Tuvalu does not have a chemical production industry and as such, does not produce any of the POPs listed in Annex A, Part 1 of the Plan. Tuvalu has no intention to deliberately import any of these POPs chemicals into the country for use, and there is enough generic legislation in place that would control or prohibit the deliberate importation of these chemicals into the country into the future. The pesticide DDT has previously been used for malaria control in Tuvalu, but is not currently used, or known to be present. It has been detected in GMP air and breast milk samples collected in Tuvalu in 2010-2011, and its presence should continue to be routinely monitored for under the GMP. A contemporary inventory of PCB-containing oil and equipment is required to assess remaining potentially PCB-contaminated oil in decommissioned transformers, along with a work-based education and awareness programme for power sector employees. It is likely that POP-PBDEs and HBCD have entered the country in manufactured articles, while improved solid waste and e-waste management will minimise the risk to Tuvalu from these chemicals into the future. Management of HCB, HCBD, PeCB, PCDDs, PCDFs, PCBs and PCNs will be made through a national management programme for unintentionally produced POPs (uPOPs) including a national community education and awareness programme.
The Plan is designed in 5 Chapters and starts with introduction (1). In Chapter (2) country baseline are covered including environmental conditions, institutional, policy and regulatory framework and an assessment of POPs in Tuvalu. Chapter (3) provides for gender dimension relevant to NIP implementation such as exposure to chemicals and occupational exposure. Chapter (4) lays out for socio-economic assessment and describes that a transparent socio-economic analysis can help inform decision makers and stakeholders of what will be involved in terms of positive and negative effects, both across social groups and across the economy. Chapter (5) provides for the strategy and action plan for different POPs, contaminated sites, public awareness, monitoring and technical and financial assistance. The text contains 7 Annexes.