Mercury ban agreed – Global treaty to control neurotoxin
Global treaty to control neurotoxin
OVER 120 nations have agreed to have legally binding measures to control the pollution by mercury, a neurotoxin. Formal negotiations for the treaty will begin in 2010.
The agreement, reached at the 25th session of the Governing Council of the UN Environment Programme (unep) in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, is a change from previous years, when major powers, including the US, China and India, sought voluntary reductions. On February 18, they agreed to consider the binding treaty.
Some countries, including India, had earlier said a legally binding agreement is not necessary for unintentional mercury emissions. It was supported by China and Indonesia.
“Switzerland agreed that different mechanisms were necessary for unintentional and intentional emissions, but stressed that all mercury emissions must be addressed under the legally binding measures,”
said Prashant Pastore of Toxic Link, Delhi-based non-profit, who attended the meeting. Continue reading »
Filed under Environment, News, Pollution | Tags: Developing Countries, European Union (EU), India, Kenya, Mercury, Pesticides And Toxins | Comment (0)[India] Asbestos, endosulfan escape blacklist
India blocked export restrictions on them at Rotterdam Convention.
India yet again played spoilsport by preventing chrysotile asbestos and endosulfan from being included in Annex III of UN’s Rotterdam Convention that brands them hazardous. Had the two been included in Annex III, it would have made mandatory for countries to take a Prior Informed Consent, or PIC, before exporting them to other countries.
Of the three substances listed for PIC at the fourth meeting of the Conference of Parties (cop-4) to the Rotterdam Convention, only tributyltin was listed at the meeting held from October 27 to 31 in Rome. While seven countries opposed asbestos from being blacklisted, in case of endosulfan only India was responsible for its exclusion.
“India was put in a spot when country after country joined in accusing it for its entrenched position of not allowing the listing of endosulfan, a highly toxic pesticide,”
said Madhumita Dutta of Chennai-based advocacy group The Other Media. Continue reading »
Filed under Environment, India, Pollution | Tags: Asbestos, Endosulfan, Exports, Hazardous Products, Health Effects, India, Pesticides And Toxins, Trade | Comment (0)