News Parliament questions on obsolete pesticides

Source John Vijgen
Release date 31/08/2001
Contributor bulanmir

Dear friends,


After many years of work to find awareness and interest on the issue of the problems of obsolete pesticides in Central, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, the 6th international HCH & Pesticides Forum, held from 21-23 March in Poznan, Poland has stated the first extent of these serious problems in the region.

Based on the conclusions of the Poznan Forum, the European Parliament's Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Policy has raised questions on this issue on June 15th to the European Commission. After this discussion the Committee decided that steps had to be taken and has sent the appended letter to the 10 Central and Eastern European Accession countries. The Committee is now waiting for reply.

Further has the Council of the European Union, in its draft common position on the Community's 6th Environmental Action Programme, also called for elimination of stocks of obsolete pesticides in the candidate countries.

So we think that the time is right now for the Central, Eastern Europe and Central Asia countries to report on their situation!

Therefore, we would like to draw your attention to the fact that this moment is now the first time that the problem owing countries are officially questioned to report on this problem. Now is an unique opportunity to put the cards on the table in order to show the real extent of this serious problem and to create options for a possible framework for inventories and solutions to finally eliminate these problems in the long run. We therefore ask you all to help to convince the respective governments of the 10 accession Countries but also the other Eastern European and Central Asia Countries, being part of the EU-related programmes such as the TACIS programme, to report on this issue as detailed as possible.

Also all other organisations having important information, which can or willing to contribute to the requested estimates on obsolete pesticides, in the respective countries are requested to report to the Committee and send us a copy of their findings all in order to collect the best possible information at present available.

Appended are the following files:

  1. Question of the Committee discussed with the European Commission June 15th
  2. Letter to ambassadors sent July
  3. Paragraph on 6th Environmental Action Programme on the elimination of stocks of obsolete pesticides in the candidate countries
  4. Letter from Wallström cabinet.

We hope that your efforts will contribute to future solutions of the problems of obsolete pesticides in the region. Thank you for your efforts and help

Yours

John Vijgen

Book 5th Int. HCH & Pest Forum now available for downloading at IHOBE
website http://www.ihobe.es/publicaciones/seleccion/seleccion_venta.htm

John Vijgen
Elmevej 14
DK-2840 Holte
Ph: +45 45 41 03 21
Fax: +45 45 41 09 04
Email: john.vijgen@get2net.dk
Website http://hjem.get2net.dk/HCH-Pesticides/
Special Forum website www.6thHCHForum.com

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