Uzbekistan’s accession to the Stockholm Convention: financial resources, technologies and EU preferences

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- An open dialogue was held with media representatives on June 18 on the content and significance of the Law “On ratification of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants” (Stockholm, 22 May 2001).

It was noted at the event that the accession of Uzbekistan to the Stockholm Convention will help improve the protection of the environment and the environment, create favorable conditions for public health and maintain the ecological balance in our country.

The Convention is mandatory and aimed at drastically reducing and preventing the activities of industries polluting the environment with persistent organic pollutants, limiting or eliminating industries that use 12 dangerous combinations of chemical elements (including 26 substances with the subsequent replenishment of this list), which can lead to adverse consequences for human health and ecosystems.

In the Republic of Uzbekistan, within 2 years after the entry into force of the law, a National Action Plan will be developed, envisaging the fulfillment of the obligations assumed to ban, restrict and remove persistent organic pollutants.

According to Tulegen Abdugaziev, head of the Department for the Coordination and Monitoring of Environmental Pollution, the accession of Uzbekistan to the Convention creates the following opportunities:

▪Improving the environmental situation associated with persistent organic pollutants, eliminating possible adverse effects on the environment, plants and animals;

▪Expansion of the geography and scale of exports of national products by joining the EU Generalized System of Preferences (The EU’s Generalized Scheme of Preferences (GSP)).

▪Possibility of obtaining financial resources and technologies for the creation of environmentally friendly industries, provided as support to developing countries with economies in transition to fulfill their obligations under the Convention.

“There are no technologies for the destruction of organic pollutants in Uzbekistan. Joining this international act will help us attract industry technologies, ”commented Tulegen Abdugaziev.

According to the deputy Khayrullo Gaffarov, the accession of Uzbekistan to the Stockholm Convention will not have a negative impact on the development of the chemical industry and agriculture, since its action extends to substances not used on the territory of our country.