UNEP Chemicals and four partner organisations are moving to centrally coordinate their activities involving obsolete and/or unwanted stocks of pesticides and so protect human health and the environment.
Tens of thousands of tons of old pesticides are stored throughout the developing world, usually in inadequate or even dangerous conditions.   Preliminary estimates show that persistent organic pollutants (POPs) comprise about 30 percent of these stocks.
In response, UNEP Chemicals together with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN, the Secretariat of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, the World Health Organization, and the Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development have formed a Coordinating Group on Obsolete Stocks. It will function under the auspices of the Interagency Organization for the Management of Chemicals.

Its objectives are to raise awareness about the disposal problem, develop and propose effective responses, and ensure that limited resources are coordinated for maximum result. 
Initial steps will include a baseline study describing the nature and extent of the problem, possible solutions, and current activities, with release expected in late 2000.

Toxics Assessment

UNEP Chemicals is soon to launch a two-year, US$5 million project to assess persistent toxic substances on a regional basis.  This Global Environment Facility project has received more than US$1.6 million from donors, and additional co-funding is expected.  Paul Whylie from Jamaica has been appointed project manager.

Workers in Madagascar move hazardous chemicals to internationally authorized containers during GTZ's dieldrin disposal operation in 1993.

Inside this issue:

Successful conclusion of negotiations is expected at the upcoming fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to develop a global treaty on persistent organic pollutants (POPs), in Johannesburg, South Africa from 4-9 December 2000.
Setting the stage for this negotiation is the progress achieved at the previous session of the INC held in Bonn from 20-25 March 2000 where a draft text was developed for most of the convention, including a draft article on technical assistance.  However, unfinished business remains on financial resources and mechanisms and how to specify the obligations for bans and restrictions on production and use of the 10 intentionally produced POPs.
To facilitate discussion on financial issues at the fifth session of the INC, the Chair, John Buccini (Canada) convened, at the INC's request, a meeting of one

Sandton Convention Centre -- planned venue for INC-5

representative from each of 18 countries in Vevey, Switzerland, 19-21 June 2000.   The group discussed possible performance criteria and the current proposals for a financial mechanism and identified a number areas of common ground that should prove useful in reaching consensus in Johannesburg.