Niue: National implementation plan for the Stockholm convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants

Abstract

The objective of the Stockholm Convention is to protect human health and the environment from persistent organic pollutants (POPs). The convention currently covers the following twelve chemicals: aldrin, chlordane, DDT, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, mirex, toxaphene, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, and polychlorinated dibenzofurans. The first nine of these are pesticides. HCB is also classed as an industrial chemical, as are PCBs, while the dioxins and furans are formed as unintentional by-products in combustion processes and some industrial activities. These chemicals are to be controlled through various actions, including prohibiting future production and use of most of the pesticides and industrial chemicals, and the application of a range of measures for the reduction of releases of the unintentional POPs.