For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
May 7, 2002
Message to the Senate of the United States
With a view to receiving the advice and consent of the Senate to
ratification, I transmit herewith the Stockholm Convention on
Persistent Organic Pollutants, with Annexes, done at Stockholm, May
22-23, 2001. The report of the Secretary of State is also enclosed for
the information of the Senate.
The Convention, which was negotiated under the auspices of the
United Nations Environment Program with the leadership and active
participation of the United States, commits Parties to take significant
steps, similar to those already taken by the United States, to
eliminate or restrict the production, use, and/or release of 12
specified persistent organic pollutants (POPs). When I announced
that the United States would sign the Convention, I noted that POPs
chemicals, even when released abroad, can harm human health and the
environment in the United States. The Convention obligates Parties to
take measures to eliminate or restrict the production, use, and trade
of intentionally produced POPs, to develop action plans to address the
release of unintentionally produced POPs, and to use best available
techniques to reduce emissions from certain new sources of
unintentionally produced POPs. It also includes obligations on the
treatment of POPs stockpiles and wastes, as well as a science-based
procedure to add new chemicals that meet defined criteria.
The United States, with the assistance and cooperation of
nongovernmental organizations and industry, plays an important
international leadership role in the safe management of hazardous
chemicals and pesticides. This Convention, which will bring over time,
an end to the production and use of certain of these toxic chemicals
beyond our borders, will positively affect the U.S. environment and
public health. All relevant Federal agencies support early
ratification of the Convention for these reasons, and we understand
that affected industries and interest groups share this view.
I recommend that the Senate give prompt and favorable consideration
to the Convention and give its advice and consent to ratification,
subject to the understandings described in the accompanying report of
the Secretary of State, at the earliest possible date.
GEORGE W. BUSH
THE WHITE HOUSE,
May 6, 2002.
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