]]
Chemicals management
Most publications are available as PDF files. Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view PDF files.
If you are unable to access a publication, please contact us to organise a suitable alternative format.
Links to another web site
Opens a pop-up window
The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants came into force on 17 May 2004, with Australia ratifying the Convention on 20 May 2004 and becoming a Party on 18 August 2004.
The Convention aims to protect human health and the environment from the effects of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) with a range of control measures to reduce and, where feasible, eliminate POPs releases, including emissions of unintentionally produced POPs such as dioxins. The Convention also aims to ensure the sound management of stockpiles and wastes that contain POPs.
There are currently twelve POPs listed in Annexes to the Convention. These are:
The Convention recognises that there are other chemicals that could pose similar hazardous threats to human health and the environment, therefore other chemicals may be added in the future.
Australia is well advanced in meeting the measures agreed under the Convention. Production, import and use of aldrin, chlordane, DDT, dieldrin, HCB, heptachlor, endrin, and toxaphene are not permitted in Australia. Production and import of PCBs are also not permitted in Australia, with phase-out of existing PCBs being managed under the National Strategy for the Management of Scheduled Waste. This strategy also addresses how Australia will manage HCB waste and organochlorine pesticides (change the webpage link for organochlorine pesticides to: http://www.environment.gov.au/settlements/chemicals/scheduled-waste/ocp.html). At the time of ratifying the Convention, Australia registered an exemption for the continued use of the pesticide mirex, which was used under licence in small quantities in the Northern Territory to control giant termites. Since 1 February 2007, the use of mirex became illegal. An alternative pesticide (fipronil) has been developed, and permits have been issued by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority. The Northern Territory Government has collected all remaining mirex for safe destruction. Australia will proceed to withdraw its exemption for the use of mirex under the Convention. How will Australia implement its obligations? Article 7 of the Stockholm Convention requires each Party to develop, and endeavour to put into practice, a plan setting out how it will implement its obligations under the Convention. Australia is well positioned in implementing its obligations under the Stockholm Convention, with much of the work already done or under way. The Australian Government has developed Australia's National Implementation Plan (NIP), which outlines the actions that Australia: " has undertaken to date in reducing the presence of POPs " will undertake in the future to meet its obligations under the Convention. The NIP also sets out the roles and responsibilities of Australian governments, the Environment Protection and Heritage Council (EPHC) and other ministerial councils in the management of chemicals in Australia. The Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts led the development of the NIP, in consultation with other Australian Government agencies including the Departments of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry; Health and Ageing; Foreign Affairs and Trade; and Industry, Tourism and Resources, as well as state and territory environment protection agencies. Non-government environment and industry organisations were also consulted in the preparation of the NIP. The Australian Government has established two forums to consult with stakeholders: " Stockholm Intergovernmental Forum - comprises representatives from Commonwealth, State and Territory government agencies with an interest in POPs, and was established in September 2004 " Stockholm Reference Group - was established in December 2004 and includes representatives from industry, environment, primary producers and health sectors and any other groups, companies or individuals with an interest in POPs. Under the chair of the Department of the Environment and Heritage, the Stockholm Reference Group assisted in the development of Australia's NIP and aims to: o assist in the implementation of the NIP o provide an information conduit for non-government organisations with an interest in persistent organic pollutants and to act as a resource for the sharing of knowledge and experience between organisations o assist with the development of educational and information material relevant to Australia's National Implementation Plan and the National Action Plan for Dioxins. Australia submitted its NIP to the Stockholm Convention Secretariat on 9 August 2006. The NIP will be updated as necessary to reflect decisions made by the Australian Government, or by the Conference of the Parties of the Convention. These may include amendments to the Convention or its annexes, such as the addition of chemicals to Annexes A, B or C, or the adoption of guidance or guidelines. Download the plan This plan is available as a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer to view the PDF file. " Download Australia's National Implementation Plan - (stockholm-nip.pdf - 407 KB) If you cannot access this document, please contact us to organise a suitable alternative format. To order hard copies of the above publication please contact our Community Information Unit via email ciu@environment.gov.au or Freecall 1800 803 772 (Australia only). Australia's action on the 12 POPs listed under the Convention POP Description Production, use and importation restrictions Aldrin, Cas no. 309-00-2 Pesticide Final registration cancelled 1992 and importation prohibited Dieldrin, Cas no. 60-57-1 Pesticide Final registration cancelled 1988 and importation prohibited DDT (pp'- DDT), Cas no. 50-29-3 Pesticide Final registration cancelled 1987 and importation prohibited Endrin, Cas no. 72-20-8 Pesticide Final registration cancelled 1987 and importation prohibited Chlordane, Cas no. 57-74-9 Pesticide Final registration cancelled 1997 and importation prohibited Hexachloro-benzene (HCB), Cas no. 118-74-1 Pesticide, Industrial By-product Final registration cancelled 1980 and importation prohibited. National strategy for HCB waste provides for management and destruction of stockpile. Mirex, Cas no. 2385-85 Pesticide Final registration cancelled 2007. Prohibited import. Toxaphene, Cas no. 8001-35-2 Pesticide Final registration cancelled 1987 Heptachlor, Cas no. 76-44-8 Pesticide Final registration cancelled 1997 and importation prohibited Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) Industrial By-product Importation of PCBs is banned unless explicit permission is granted by the Minister for Customs. National strategy proposes to remove and destroy all PCBs by end 2009. Polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and dibenzofurans By-product No federal emission standards but most states have some regulations. Reporting under National Pollutant Inventory. Minutes of the Stockholm Reference Group meetings The minutes are available as PDF files. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer to view the PDF files. " Download Minutes of 4th meeting 7 April 2006 (meeting-4.pdf) " Download Minutes of 3rd meeting 22 November 2005 (meeting-3.pdf - 171 KB) " Download Minutes of 2nd meeting 21 July 2005 (meeting-2.pdf - 211 KB) " Download Minutes of 1st meeting 23 February 2005 (meeting-1.pdf - 51 KB) " Download Record of National Implementation Plan Seminar 1 December 2004 (seminar-1.pdf - 60 KB) If you cannot access the minutes, please contact us to organise a suitable alternative format.