UN TREATY TALKS ON ELIMINATION OF TOXIC CHEMICALS UNDERMINED

25 March 2000

BONN - As the fourth round of international negotiations on a UN treaty to eliminate persistent organic pollutants (POPS) drew to a close in Bonn, Germany today, Greenpeace expressed concern that progress towards an effective treaty was severely damaged this week by the U.S., Australia and Canada.

"It is depressing that the countries of the world with the greatest resources to solve the POPs problem are proving the biggest obstacle to global solutions that will protect the environment and the health of future generations," said Kevin Stairs of Greenpeace.

After a week of negotiations, no consensus was reached on key issues that will put an end to the production and use of all POPs, including a ban on the production of new POPs and the elimination of unintentionally produced POPs, such as dioxins, that are by-products of industrial and combustion processes.

Whilst a vast majority of countries, including the EU, most African, Asian, and Arab States, are attempting to instigate a strong, effective treaty that will eliminate all POPs, a few countries, led by the U.S., are trying to protect their polluting industries by insisting on loopholes and exemptions that weaken the treaty.

"These obstructionist measures to sabotage an effective treaty are indefensible. Although global support for a strong treaty that will eliminate these highly toxic chemicals is increasing, the U.S. is aiming to undermine the entire aim of the negotiations by insisting on measures that may actually increase the release of toxic dioxins into the environment," added Stairs.

Even a consensus to stop the production of new chemicals that have POPs characteristics was not reached at the negotiations. "If countries are taking the POPs negotiations seriously, it is alarming that they can not even agree to stem the tide of new POPs that are flowing into the environment on a daily basis," said Stairs.

The world is also polarised on the issue of who will finance the elimination of POPs. Developed countries are insisting that no new financial funding mechanisms should be established and that contributions should be on a voluntary basis alone. However, all developing countries are calling for financial support from developed countries to implement the treaty based on mandatory contributions.

"To protect future generations from exposure to these poisons, the few countries that have blocked agreements this week must reconsider their positions and agree with the majority of states to ban all POPs at the next negotiation round in December in South Africa," added Stairs.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

- Wytze van der Naald, Greenpeace International +31 62503 1011
Matilda Bradshaw, Greenpeace International press desk +31 6535 04701.

INC4 treaty negotiations on the web: www.greenpeace.org/~toxics/toxic_2.html

Many POPs are highly toxic and are very resistant to natural breakdown in the environment. They accumulate in the fatty tissues of animals and humans. Of particular concern are the effects of POPs on young children and on the developing foetus.

The next round of the negotiations will be in South Africa in December 2000. If agreement on the draft treaty is reached, the international POPs treaty will be adopted in Stockholm in 2001.

A survey by the International POPs Elimination Network INC4 showed that over 70 countries support the elimination of dioxins while only 17 are opposed. Some countries have not yet disclosed their positions. The survey is available from www.ipen.org/matrix.html