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Chemicals

 

1. Specific Chemical issues

The Government is addressing current concerns about issues relating to specific chemicals or groups of chemicals.

1.a Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) entered into force on 17 May 2004. It is a global treaty signed by 151 Countries with the objective to protect human health and the environment from a range of chemicals known as persistent organic pollutants. The UK ratified the treaty on 17 April 2005.

POPs are a group of chemicals which persist in the environment, may bioaccumulate in food and human tissues and are toxic. These chemicals also have the potential to be transported long distances and deposited far away from their place of release including pristine environments such as the Arctic.

There are 12 POP chemicals listed in the Convention. The 12 POPs fall into three broad categories: pesticides (aldrin, chlordane, dieldrin, endrin, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), heptachlor, mirex, toxaphene and DDT), industrial chemicals, polychlorinated biphenyls - (PCBs) and unintentionally produced by-products of combustion and some industrial and non industrial processes (dioxins, furans, HCB and PCBs).

The 10 pesticides and industrial chemicals listed in the Convention have all been banned in the UK for several years. Therefore we have no further obligation to control them other than if they enter the waste stream. In the UK they would all be classified as hazardous waste and controlled under relevant legislation.

The two remaining POPs (known collectively as dioxins) have never been produced intentionally but may be formed as a by-product during combustion or some industrial processes.


1.b Dioxins and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

In the UK, dioxins have been recognised as chemicals requiring action for many years and significant action has already been taken to reduce exposure to them. Overall UK environmental emissions reduced by around 70% between 1990 and 2005. The major route of human exposure to dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs is through the food chain. Over the past 10 years, there has been approximately a 70% reduction in levels of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs in food. The Food Standards Agency continues to monitor the UK food supply and animal feeds for dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs to further reduce human exposure.


1.c Consultation on the UK National Implementation Plan for the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

As Party to the Stockholm Convention the UK developed a National Implementation Plan. The consultation on the UK National Implementation PlanonPersistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) was carried out by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs together with the Devolved Administrations for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Views were sought on the draft UK National Implementation Plan. The National Implementation Plan sets out how the UK implement it’s obligations under the Stockholm Convention.

As part of this work, the UK developed a Dioxins Action Plan in consultation with the UK Dioxins Strategy Group. The Dioxins Action Plan summarises actions taken so far to control unintentional emissions of dioxins, PCBs and HCB and human exposure via food. It also outlines future research and initiatives that will be taken forward over the next five years to address further unintentional emissions these substances.

The UK National Implementation Plan was finalised after a period of public consultation and submitted to the Secretariat of the Stockholm Convention on 17 April 2007. The consultation closed on 19 March 2007.

 

2. Research

In addition to the large amount of research that has already been done to improve our knowledge about the hazards and risks associated with chemicals, a considerable amount of research is now in progress and plans for future projects are in development.

 

3. UK Coordinated chemical risk management programme

This programme was launched in 2005 to take forward the hazard and risk assessment and risk management of chemicals in the UK in the lead up to REACH.

 

4. Other chemicals issues

Defra also provides detailed information on chemicals issues, some of which may be of particular concern to members of the public. These include:

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Page last modified: 30 May 2007
Page published: 4 December 2002

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs