Hanoi (VNA) – The PrimeMinister has issued a national plan for the implementation of the StockholmConvention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POP) by 2025 with a vision to2030.

The Stockholm Convention on POP is aglobal treaty, effective from 2004, to protect human health, biodiversity andthe environment from chemicals that remain intact in the environment for longperiods.

Parties to the convention arerequired to prohibit and/or eliminate the production and use of theintentionally produced POPs, and reduce or eliminate releases fromunintentionally produced POPs.

In compliance with the convention’sArticle 7, Vietnam shall develop a plan for the implementation of itsobligations under the convention, review and update the plan on a periodicbasis and transmit it to the Conference of the Parties.

The plan’s overall objectives are toensure strict safety lifecycle management and proper treatment of the POPs andto reduce disposal and eliminate the production and use of the POPs in Vietnamfor the benefit of human health and the environment and towards the sustainabledevelopment.

According to the implementation plan,the government will work to improve institutional capacity and legal frameworkfor the management and elimination of POPs. It will reinforce its expertise inmonitoring, detecting and managing POPs and enhance awareness of the POPs andtheir harmful effects to the environment among involved parties.

The convention will also beintegrated into relevant environmental agreements in response to the UNMillennium Development Goals and the country’s management of waste and chemicalas well as sustainable development strategy.-VNA