WWF: Landmark Toxics Treaty Becomes International Law

WASHINGTON, May 17 /U.S. Newswire/ — World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
said today that the entry into force on May 17th of the Stockholm
Convention on persistent organic pollutants (POPs) will significantly
reduce toxic threats to wildlife and people throughout the world.

“WWF applauds the initiative and commitment of the 59 countries
that have joined the treaty and we urge the United States and other
governments to get on board quickly,” said Brooks Yeager, vice
president of WWF’s Global Threats Program and formerly the chief
U.S. negotiator for the POPs treaty. “The Stockholm Convention is a
shining example of how the international community can come together
to address a serious environmental and health threat. Whales, polar
bears, birds of prey, and people throughout the world will benefit
from eliminating the toxic chemicals targeted by this progressive,
new global regime.”

The treaty will ban or severely restrict 12 extremely harmful
chemicals, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxins, and
several pesticides, with provisions to add additional chemicals in the
future. POPs have four key characteristics: they are toxic; they are
persistent, resisting normal processes that break down contaminants;
they accumulate in the body fat of people, marine mammals and other
animals, and are passed from mother to fetus; and they can travel
great distances on wind and water currents. Even small quantities of
POPs can cause nervous system damage, diseases of the immune system,
reproductive and developmental disorders, and cancers.

France became the 50th party on Feb. 17, 2004, triggering a 90-
day countdown for the treaty to become binding international law
for countries that have ratified it. In the three years since the
treaty has been open for ratification, 59 countries have joined the
Convention. The United States is noticeably absent from the list
of Parties. Although the U.S. signed the treaty in May 2001, there
exists considerable disagreement about how to amend existing laws to
implement the treaty. The first Conference of Parties (COP) is slated
to take place in Uruguay from 2 to 6 May, 2005. To participate as
a party at this crucial first meeting, governments need to join at
least 90 days beforehand — by Feb. 1, 2005.

“WWF wants the United States to become a party to the Stockholm
Convention in time to participate in the first COP, but not if that
requires bad legislation,” said Clifton Curtis, director of WWF’s
Global Toxics Program. “The White House is pushing language that goes
way too far in divorcing the Stockholm new chemicals “adding mechanism”
from the domestic process — and then piles on industry-favored baggage
with controversial cost-benefit and sound-science type requirements,
all of which would make it very difficult to regulate any POP added
to the treaty.”

For further information: Tina Skaar: 202-778-9606, 202-487-1181
(mobile) or tina.skaar(At)wwfus.org; Kerry Zobor: 202-778-9509 or
kerry.zobor(At)wwfus.org

Note:

Additional information about the Stockholm Convention is available
at

The 59 parties to the Stockholm Convention are: Antigua and Barbuda,
Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana,
Canada, Chad, Ctte d’Ivoire, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s
Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Egypt, Ethiopia, Fiji,
Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Iceland, Japan, Lebanon, Lesotho,
Liberia, Luxembourg, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Mongolia, Myanmar,
Nauru, Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay,
Philippines, Republic of Moldova, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Senegal,
Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland,
Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United Republic
of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vietnam, Yemen.

Contact: Tina Skaar, 202-778-9606 or tina.skaar(At)wwfus.org, or
Kerry Zobor, 202-778-9509 or kerry.zobor(At)wwfus.org, both of the
World Wildlife Fund

05/17 12:05