Persistent organic pollutants

The committee adopted the report by Pernille FRAHM (EUL/NGL, DK) amending the proposal under the 1st reading of the codecision procedure. The report sought to tighten up the proposed measures and bring the regulation more into line with the Stockholm Convention: - it should be clearly stated that the aim of the regulation is to protect human health and the environment and, as well as banning the production, trade and use of POPs, to eliminate releases and establish provisions for the disposal of such substances; - Member States and the Commission should take steps to prevent the creation of new POPs; - sufficient funding should be provided for the disposal of obsolete stockpiles as waste; - stockpiles of obsolete pesticides containing POPs should be disposed of within 36 months of the regulation's entry into force. Permanent storage should not be permitted; - when considering proposals to construct new facilities or industrial sites that release chemicals, Member States should give priority to alternative processes, techniques or practices which avoid the formation and release of POPs; - a "name and shame" system, updated annually, should be put in place to send out a clear message that breaking the law is unacceptable. Other amendments focused on ensuring greater transparency by making information - such as penalties for infringements - accessible to the public on Internet; - Member States should develop educational and public awareness programmes - targeted especially at women, children and the least educated - on POPs and on their health and environmental effects. They should also ensure public participation in addressing POPs and related problems and implement specific training programmes for workers, scientists, educators and technical and managerial personnel; - Annex II (List of substances subject to restrictions) should be deleted as MEPs considered that the only substance listed in it - HCH, including lindane - should be prohibited right away and therefore moved to Annex I containing the list of substances subject to prohibitions; - Hexabromobiphenyl should be included in Annex IV concerning the substances subject to waste management provisions. The concentration limits for Annex IV should be specified by 31 December 2005.�