The IPEN Arusha Declaration on the elimination of
Persistent Organic Pollutants in African Countries

Tanzania | Arusha | Jul 19, 2002 . We, the under-mentioned participants of the International Pops Elimination Network (IPEN) Skillshare and Workshop on Ratifying and Implementing the Stockholm Convention in Africa held in Arusha, Tanzania from July 15 to 19, 2002, recognizing and affirming the content of the Stockholm NGO declaration on POPs wish to further build on that declaration by articulating challenges, commitments, and calls to action reflecting the serious environmental and health concerns of African peoples.

We note the following challenges:

· The serious and persistent health impacts that POP?s and other persistent toxic substances can cause, both in local areas, and by water and air transport to surrounding African counties, and to the rest of the world.

· Successful implementation of the Stockholm Convention and elimination of POPs and other persistent toxic pollutants will require the participation of African NGOs as effective stakeholders in joint activities involving government, industry groups, international agencies, educational institutions, scientific centres, and others.

· The initial list of twelve POPs identified under the Stockholm Convention is only a starting point. Future expansion of the list is needed in order to incorporate other toxic and persistent substances of global concern that harm ecosystems and human health.

· Malaria ravages the African population and there is an urgent need for effective prevention and curative measures. Nevertheless, the continuing reliance on DDT for the control of malaria vectors is not viable in the long term, as DDT has known and harmful impacts on human heath in the environment.

· African stockpiles of POPs require urgent attention, and the expertise of African NGOs is required to assist governments in ensuring that the hazards represented by these stockpiles are adequately addressed.

· Waste incineration of various types emits over 100 different chemical pollutants, including dioxins, furans, and mercury, which pose a threat to human health and the environment.

· Without significant financial and technical assistance, African countries are largely lacking the capacity required to effectively implement the Stockholm convention.

We affirm our commitment to work towards:

· Creating a global community in which POP?s and other persistent toxic chemical substances no longer pollute our environments or degrade our health ultimately contributing towards a sustainable future generation.

· Setting in place sustainable process, products and practices, while phasing out processes, products and practices that generate or lead to the generation of POPs and other persistent toxic substances, including waste incineration.

· Supporting the Polluter Pays Principle under which the producer is responsible for cleanup and ultimate elimination of obsolete POPs stockpiles.

· The complete destruction of obsolete pesticide stockpiles in Africa and prevention of their reoccurrence; and full inclusion of African NGOs in the destruction and implementation of the Africa Stockpiles Programme.

We call on governments to:

· Fulfil their obligations under the Stockholm Convention by taking the required steps to ratify the Convention, by putting in place action plans and time frames for the phasing out and ultimate elimination of dioxins and furans, and by compiling an inventory of all POPs sources and stockpiles.

· Vigorously pursue and promote the development of effective and safe alternatives to DDT as a method of vector control for malaria.

· Forcefully pursue and promote the development of safe and sustainable alternatives to the use of pesticides in agriculture.

· Quickly secure and isolate African POPs stockpiles in such a manner as to prevent their release to the environment, as a prelude to their safe disposal.

· Phase out incineration as a method of dealing with wastes as soon as possible, preferably within four years of the Stockholm Convention entry into force and give priority to destruction technologies that;

- can accomplish effectively total destruction of POPs in compliance with the aim of the Stockholm Convention to reduce ?total releases? to all channels with the purpose of ?their continuing minimization and where feasible their ultimate elimination"

- operate in essentially closed systems where uncontrolled releases of POPs and other toxic substances of concern can be avoided and all residues from the destruction processes can be contained, scrutinized, and if necessary, further processed prior to release to ensure that no residues contain detectable levels of chemicals of concern or other harmful constituents.

· Develop and effectively enforce policies, laws and regulations that require monitoring of releases of toxic substances to air, water or land and that will result in the prevention and ultimate elimination of these substances and their sources.

· Urgently implement clean production as ?best available techniques? in manufacturing and food production systems to ensure safe and sustainable processes and products.

· Acknowledge issues related to chemicals, health and environment that are addressed by the Stockholm Convention, governments and extend their actions by also ratifying the Basel, Rotterdam and Bamako and other relevant conventions.

We call upon donor governments to ensure the timely and transparent flow of funds and technical assistance required to effectively implement the provisions of the Stockholm Convention;

Correspondingly, we call on the recipient governments to ensure that the appropriate and necessary steps are taken to trigger the flow of funds and technical assistance in a timely and appropriate manner.

We also wish to announce the formation of the IPEN African Working Group, to continue and build upon the work begun at this meeting.