26 August 2010, IHPA requests 5 EU Director Generals to come forward with a plan on Obsolete Pesticides in Eastern European Countries, the Caucasus and Central Asian Countries

IHPA has officially requested 5 EU Director Generals (DG Development Director-General Mr. Fokion Fotiadis, DG Environment, Director-General Karl Falkenberg, DG External Relations: Acting Director-General Karel Kovanda, DG Europe Aid: Director-General Koos Richelle and DG Enterprise: Director-General Heinz Zourek) to come forward with a plan on Obsolete Pesticides in Eastern European Countries, the Caucasus and Central Asian Countries

In the letter IHPA further states :

The increasing number of emergency cases that have come up recently, in Armenia, Kyrgyzstan and Ukraine and which have been presented during the Hearing, urge for a well planned action program in order to firstly obtain a complete overview of the problems in each of the countries, assess the higher and lower risks of the various locations and take fast actions where needed, and invite and urge the countries concerned to develop proper plans in order to deal with the other locations in the long run.

Working on obsolete pesticides over the past 18 years, we conclude that at this moment the combination of urgent cases, proven commitment of local politicians and willingness to join forces in joint approaches create a unique opportunity to accelerate the solving of the problem of obsolete pesticides. But we also realize that is only possible with a substantial support of the EU. We are at the opinion that non-action could be evaluated afterwards as a mistake from as well an environmental as cost point of view.

For further details see appended:

Letter to Development Director-General Mr. Fokion Fotiadis