`Persistent Organic Pollutants' Signing Noted

May 25, 2001

The Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of State have issued a joint statement on the U.S. signing of the Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, claiming the treaty will "rid the world of these highly toxic chemicals and pesticides." EPA Administrator Christie Whitman signed the convention on behalf of the United States in Stockholm, Sweden. Ministers from more than 90 countries joined the U.S. in signing the treaty.

In her address to the diplomatic conference, Whitman said the United States is committed to eliminate organic pollutants. She noted that the United States has donated $22 million to POPs-related assistance since 1997, including a planned $3.5 million for this fiscal year. The United States worked closely with other countries to reach a broad consensus on an ambitious interim work plan that will focus on ways to quickly address the 12 chemicals targeted in the treaty. Once in force, the convention's provisions permit the addition of other POPs chemicals.

Due to their unique characteristics, POPS, which include substances such as DDT, PCBs and dioxins, are chemicals of both local and global concern. POPs are toxic, persist in the environment for long periods of time, and accumulate as they move up the food chain.

The Administration plans to move swiftly to submit the treaty for the advice and consent of the U.S. Senate. A global agreement is necessary, urgent and in the national interest because POPs released abroad can affect the health and environment of all Americans. The U.S. has already banned or severely restricted the production, use, sale and/or release of these chemicals. However, many countries have taken little or no action.