Stockholm POP Convention
Responding to the growing concern and calls for action on POPs, the United Nations Environment Programme's (UNEP) Governing Council provided a mandate for an intergovernmental negotiating committee (INC) to prepare a legally binding global treaty on POPs. Various negotiation sessions resulted in the 'Stockholm POP Convention' (May 2001).

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are toxic substances composed of organic (carbon-based) chemical compounds and mixtures. They include industrial chemicals like PCBs and pesticides like DDT. They are primarily products and by-products from industrial processes, chemical manufacturing and resulting wastes. The existence of POPs is relatively recent, dating to the boom in industrial production after World War II.[151] POPs are extremely toxic, accumulate in body fat, do not readily degrade in the environment, and have the ability to travel great distances.

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is calling on governments to ratify the Stockholm POPs Convention within the next year, prior to the World Summit on Sustainable Development (Rio +10) in September 2002. The treaty requires ratification by 50 countries before it can enter into force.[152]

Greenpeace is also calling on companies to obey to the regulations of the Stockholm Convention. In October 2001 Greenpeace announced that its efforts to contain a stockpile of highly toxic obsolete pesticides in Nepal had been successful and were nearing completion. Greenpeace called on the pesticide manufacturers to remove the toxic waste from Nepal and to ensure it is disposed of safely. The pesticides were exported to the country by multinationals such as Bayer, Sumitomo, Sandoz, Shell, Rhone Poulenc, Du Pont, Union Carbide (Dow) and Monsanto and abandoned there after they reached their expiry date or were banned.

The most dangerous substances found at the Nepalese site, located on the outskirts of Kathmandu, originate from Bayer. These include highly toxic chlorinated organomercury compounds, banned for use in the European Union since 1988. Despite requests to Bayer for help from the Royal Nepalese Government, the company has refused any support.[153] "These stockpiles of obsolete pesticides are ecological time bombs," said Greenpeace toxic waste expert Andreas Bernstorff. "For these companies to abandon these toxic poisons with a total disregard for the health of local people and the environment is shameful. This would not be allowed to happen in the West, " he added.[154]

151 http://www.worldwildlife.org/toxics/progareas/pop/ (source: WWF, date viewed: 18.12.01)
152 http://www.worldwildlife.org/toxics/progareas/pop/ (source: WWF, date viewed: 18.12.01)
153 http://www.greenpeace.org/pressreleases/toxics/2001oct17.html (source: Greenpeace, date viewed: 19.12.01)
154 http://www.greenpeace.org/pressreleases/toxics/2001oct17.html (source: Greenpeace, date viewed: 19.12.01)