Indonesia to ratify Stockholm Convention on May 12
Adianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Mon, 05/04/2009 3:46 PM
Indonesia is expected to ratify the International Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) next week.
"I hope it will be ratified on May 12 as it is for the sake of public health," State Minister for the Environment Rachmat Witoelar said after the meeting with House Commission VII overseeing environmental affairs on Monday.
The Stockholm Convention on POPs attempts to curb the production and use of hazardous chemicals and pesticides around the world.
POPs originate largely from pesticides, from by-products of industrial processes, from carcinogenic dioxins released from industry and from chlorine from waste incinerators.
Indonesia signed the Stockholm Convention in 2001.
The convention bans 12 chemicals, known as the “dirty dozen”, because they do not break down easily in the natural environment.
To date164 countries have signed the Convention, which was enacted internationally in May 2004.
Indonesia, Brunei and Malaysia are the only Asian nations to have not ratified the convention so far.
Once signed, the convention entitles Indonesia to receive technical and financial assistance for implementing measures to meet the terms of the agreement.
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