New Push to Eliminate Food Chain Pollutants

The week of United Nations sponsored talks in Germany is the fourth of five scheduled rounds working towards a treaty to stop the use of so-called ``persistent organic pollutants,'' or POPs.

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Subject:   New Push to Eliminate Food Chain Pollutants---
Date:       Tue, 21 Mar 2000 14:03:31 -0500
From:        Stephen Tvedten <steve@getipm.com>
Organization:     Get Set Inc. (www.getipm.com)

To:     Lyndon Hawkins <hawkins@empm.cdpr.ca.gov>
          Senior Research Scientist
          State of California, Department of Pesticide Regulation
          Integrated Pest Management

Dear Lyndon, I thought you might like to read an article entitled: New push to eliminate food chain pollutants.

BONN, Germany, March 20 (Reuters) - Delegates from more than 100 countries began talks on Monday aimed at eliminating pollutants that build up in the food chain, threatening health and the environment.

The week of United Nations sponsored talks in Germany is the fourth of five scheduled rounds working towards a treaty to stop the use of so-called ``persistent organic pollutants,'' or POPs.

These are chemicals, often from plastics and pesticides, that build up in the bodies of humans and animals, becoming ever more concentrated as they work their way up the food chain.

Research links POPs to serious risks to human health and the environment.

``We have to keep the pressure on,'' said German Environment Minister Juergen Trittin, a member of the ecologist Greens.

Some delegates were confident of signing a treaty in May, but regulations could take at least two more years to implement.

In the meantime there is a push to stop development of new chemicals that could be POPs.

``I believe no new substances should come onto the market that accumulate in living things and that are not degradable. New POPs must not be an option,'' Trittin told delegates.

Another major issue at the talks is how projects can be funded to help developing countries replace POPs with less toxic chemicals.

Klaus Toepfer, head of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), urged greater efforts to launch a common fund to address the issue. Environmental lobby group Greenpeace called on the United States and Canada to give a lead.

Copyright © 2000 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters Limited content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters Limited. Reuters Limited shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.

Well Lyndon, People from all over the world are obviously trying to eliminate the contaminants in their food. Are you going to continue to promote the continued use of POPs and your other "registered" POISONS or will you now "legally" allow the use of safe and effective alternatives to actually control pest problems in California?

Respectfully, Stephen L. Tvedten

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