President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko approved the National Implementation Plan for the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants in 2011-2015. The head of state signed relevant decree No.271 on 27 June, BelTA learnt from the press service of the Belarusian leader.
The National Plan is intended to prevent and minimize the negative impact of persistent organic pollutants on the environment and human health. The package of measures to address this issue in the preceding period (2007-2010) was carried out by the Government in accordance with Presidential Decree No. 271 of 12 June 2007.
While carrying out the National Implementation Plan in 2007-2010, Belarus made a survey of the areas contaminated with POPs and cleared them, developed legislation for the management of persistent organic pollutants, installed national systems of environmental and human monitoring, environmentally safe storage and disposal of waste containing persistent organic pollutants.
In 2011-2015 the country is set to implement measures to ensure eco-safe storage and disposal of waste containing POPs (hazardous pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls); monitor health status of the population; reduce POPs emissions in the result of their undeliberate manufacture.
By implementing the aforementioned measures Belarus will honor its international commitments and diminish the harmful impact of POPs on human health and environment.