National Implementation Plan (including the National Action Plan) for the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants

National Implementation Plan (including the National Action Plan) for the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants Republic of Moldova 2023 1 Contents Executive summary ....................................................................................................................................... 4 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 10 1.1 POPs under the Convention .............................................................................................................. 10 1.2 Initial National Implementation Plan ................................................................................................ 18 1.3 Updated National Implementation Plan ........................................................................................... 19 2. Country baseline ..................................................................................................................................... 20 2.1 Country profile .................................................................................................................................. 20 2.1.1 Geography and population ....................................................................................................... 20 2.1.2 Political profile .......................................................................................................................... 21 2.1.3 Economic profile and economic sectors in the context of the POPs issue ............................... 22 2.1.4 Environmental Overview .......................................................................................................... 24 2.2 Institutional, policy, and regulatory framework ............................................................................... 24 2.2.1 Policy and regulatory framework .............................................................................................. 24 2.2.2 Institutional framework ...................................................................................................... 39 2.2.3 Stakeholders roles ............................................................................................................... 40 2.3 Assessment of the POPs issue in the country ............................................................................. 42 2.3.1 Assessment of POPs pesticides (Annex A, Part I) ................................................................ 43 2.3.2 Assessment of PCBs (Annex A, Part II) ................................................................................ 44 2.3.3 Assessment of POP-PBDEs (Annex A, Part IV and Part V), HBB (Annex A, Part I) and HBCD (Annex A, Part I and Part VII) .............................................................................................................. 50 2.3.4 Assessment of HCBD (Annex A, Part I) ...................................................................................... 58 2.3.5 Assessment of PCNs (Annex A, part I) ....................................................................................... 59 2.3.5 Assessment of PCPs (Annex A, part I) ....................................................................................... 60 2.3.6 Assessment of SCCPs (Annex A, part I) ...................................................................................... 61 2.3.7 Assessment with respect to DDT (Annex B, Part II) .................................................................. 62 2.3.8 Assessment of PFOS, its salts and PFOSF (Annex B, Part III) ..................................................... 63 2.3.9 Assessment of releases of unintentional produced chemicals (Annex C) ................................ 64 2.3.10 Information on the state of knowledge on stockpiles, contaminated sites and wastes, identification, likely numbers, relevant regulations, guidance, remediation measures, and data on releases from sites ............................................................................................................................. 74 2.3.10 Summary of future production, use, and releases of POPs – requirements for exemptions . 88 2.3.11 Existing programmes for monitoring releases and environmental and human health impacts, including findings ............................................................................................................................... 89 2 2.3.12 Current level of information, awareness, and education among target groups; existing systems to communicate such information to the various groups ................................................................. 91 2.3.13 Mechanism to report under Article 15 on measures taken to implement the provisions of the Convention and for information exchange with other Parties to the Convention ............................ 93 2.3.14 Relevant activities of non-governmental stakeholders .......................................................... 94 2.3.15 Overview of technical infrastructure for POPs assessment, measurement, analysis, alternatives and prevention measures, research and development – linkage to international programmes and projects .................................................................................................................. 95 2.3.16 Overview of technical infrastructure for POPs management and destruction ....................... 98 2.3.17 Identification of impacted populations or environments, estimated scale and magnitude of threats to public health and environmental quality, and social implications for workers and local communities ....................................................................................................................................... 98 2.3.18 Details of any relevant system for the assessment and listing of new chemicals .................. 99 2.3.19 Details of any relevant system for the assessment and regulation of chemicals already in the market ................................................................................................................................................ 99 2.4 Implementation status .................................................................................................................... 100 3. Strategy and action plan elements of the national implementation plan ............................................ 105 3.1 Policy statement ............................................................................................................................. 105 3.2 Implementation strategy ................................................................................................................ 106 3.3 Action plans, including respective activities and strategies ........................................................... 108 List of tables Table 1. Overview of chemical products regulated by the Stockholm Convention and the legal framework in the Republic of Moldova ......................................................................................................................... 11 Table 2. Use and regulation of „initial POPs” at national level ................................................................... 15 Table 3. Newly listed POPs in the Stockholm Convention after 2009 ........................................................ 17 Table 4. Annex 6 from the Law on waste no 209/2016 .............................................................................. 27 Table 5. Annex 5 from the Government Decision no. 505/2020 approving the Regulation on export and import of hazardous chemicals ................................................................................................................... 35 Table 6. POPs management stakeholders and related roles ...................................................................... 40 Table 7. PCB equipment / oil in energy sector, 2021 in tons ...................................................................... 46 Table 8. POP-PBDE inventory in the transport sector ................................................................................ 52 Table 9. Inventory of POP PBDEs in EEE...................................................................................................... 53 Table 10. Estimated total HCBD in imported items/products .................................................................... 56 Table 11. Estimated total HCBD in exported items/products ..................................................................... 58 Table 12. Inventory results of PCDD/PCDF emissions in various environments, g TEQ/year .................... 70 Table 13. The results of the PCB emission inventory in various environments, kg/year. .......................... 72 Table 14. Inventory results of HCB emissions in various environments, kg/year. ..................................... 73 Table 15. POPs OPs eliminated from the Republic of Moldova .................................................................. 74 3 Table 16. Stocks of unusable or expired plant protection products and fertilizers on 31.12.2021 ........... 77 Table 17. Data on PCB-contaminated oil and equipment from the energy sector, in tonnes ................... 82 Table 18. Data on PCB waste disposed abroad in 2020, in an environmentally sound manner, equipment, liquids, or other wastes containing greater than 0.005% (50 ppm) (eg transformers, capacitors or other receptacles containing liquid stocks) The import has been done according to provisions of the Basel Convention to which the country is Party. ................................................................................................. 83 Table 19. End of life vehicles and POP-PBDE content ................................................................................. 84 Table 20. Waste electrical and electronic equipment and POP-PBDE content .......................................... 84 Table 21. Relevant activities of non-governmental stakeholders .............................................................. 94 Table 22. The result of the investigation of breast milk ............................................................................. 96 Table 23. Information on previous NIP action plans implementation status ........................................... 100 List of figures Figure 1. Visits to energy supply and distribution companies to check the stored oil and in-use equipment, 2020 ............................................................................................................................................................ 48 Figure 2. Summary of total PCDD/PCDF releases for year 2001 to 2019 in the Republic of Moldova ....... 68 Figure 3. PCB emission estimates to air, by sources, in the Republic of Moldova (kg/y) for selected years .................................................................................................................................................................... 69 Figure 4. HCB emission estimates to Air, by sources, in the Republic of Moldova (kg/y) for selected years .................................................................................................................................................................... 69 Figure 5. Concentration of total POPs in identified contaminated land, mg/kg ........................................ 85 Figure 6. Distribution of lands contaminated with DDT ............................................................................. 86 Figure 7. Distribution of land contaminated with chlordane (left) and toxaphene (right) ........................ 87 Figure 8. The results of breast milk research, carried out by different authors, during the years 1970 - 2007 in the Republic of Moldova ......................................................................................................................... 97 4 Executive summary The National Implementation Plan for the implementation of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (hereinafter the "Plan" or "NIP") is the main national strategic document that should be regularly and compulsorily updated in relation to the fulfilment of the obligations set out in Article 7 of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent organic Pollutants (hereinafter the "Convention"). The aim of all the priorities listed in the Plan is, as quickly as possible, to eliminate or reduce the negative impacts of Persistent Organic Pollutants (hereinafter the „POPs”) on human health and the environment in the Republic of Moldova and thus contribute to faster global achievement of the objectives of the Convention. The present National Implementation Plan is proposing actions for 2023-2030. The chronology for other policy documents are: The first one NIP for SC in the Republic of Moldova (2004) was developed and approved by the Governmental Decision nr. 1155 from 22 October 2004, provided a policy and legal framework, status quo of the initially listed POPs within the country and described concrete interventions within the 5-year period targeted to reach the national objectives and priorities regarding the management of POPs, and to meet the obligations taken by the Republic of Moldova under the Stockholm Convention. The NIP has allowed to define the list of the actions that have been reflected within both policy and regulatory country documents, developed further. Next in 2010, the National Programme on Sound Management of Chemicals for 2010 2020, approved by the Governmental Decision no 973/18.10.2010 included in its Annex 2 the list of activities related to needs and priorities for SC implementation for the period of 2010-2015, including the financial estimates for such actions. Scope of the plan Republic of Moldova has ratified Stockholm Convention on February 19, 2004. After any amendments to the Convention, the NIP plan shall be updated accordingly. This document is the second edition of the NIP for SC for the proposed period of 2023-2030, and it is used to evaluate the fulfilment of previous activities in connection with POPs in the Republic of Moldova and to present action plans for all POPs under the Convention, in particular those newly listed in the Stockholm Convention since 2009, such as: pesticides: Alphahexachlorocyclohexane (alpha-HCH), Betahexachlorocyclohexane (beta HCH), Lindane (gama-HCH), Chlordecone, Technical endosulfan and its related isomers, 5 Dicofol, Hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD), Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), its salts and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride (PFOSF) industrial POPs: Hexabromobiphenyl (HBB), Hexabromodiphenyl ether and Heptabromodiphenyl ether (hexa- and heptaBDE, or c-octaBDE), Tetrabromodiphenyl ether and Pentabromodiphenyl ether (tetra- and pentaBDE or c-pentaBDE), Decabromodiphenyl ether (c-decaBDE), Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) – called collectively POP-PBDE, Hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD), Pentachlorobenzene (PeCB), Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), its salts and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride (PFOSF), Pentachlorophenol, its salts and esters (PCP), Polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCN), Short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCP); Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts and PFOA-related compounds; and unintentional POPs: Hexachlorobenzene (HCB), Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) and Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs)/ Polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), Pentachlorobenzene (PeCB), Polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCN), Hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD). A prior national inventory of new POPs, conducted in 2019-2021, enabled a better setting of priorities and national objectives in POPs management. Republic of Moldova has never produced POPs chemicals. The use of old POPs listed in Annexes A and B has been phased out in the Republic of Moldova since the 1970-80s. The rest of the uses of old POPs remained only in articles that were produced and placed on the market before the ratification of the Convention or specific regulations. As for the new POPs pesticides, none of them are presently included in the register of permitted substances for use in agriculture, forestry, industry and households. Still certain amounts of obsolete pesticides (OPs) are being recorded within the country, approx. 48 tonnes are classified as unknown and about 150 tonnes still require the intensive laboratory analysis for confirmation of their contents. These OPs are stored around the country within the existing storages. Additional 4000 tonnes of obsolete pesticides remain buried at Cismichioi site burial, but the country has undertaken isolation works to reduce the risks. Industrial POPs remain an issue for some articles, like PCB (present in oils and in used / in-use equipment, such as transformers, switches and capacitors) and POP-PBDEs used as flame retardants in some electric equipment, vehicles, polystyrene, PUR, carpets, cables, and others. As part of this plan, an inventory of POP-BPDEs in cathode ray tube (CRT) and flat screens and vehicles, including their waste, and of HBCD in polystyrene has been carried out. As most of the flame retardants containing POPs have already been restricted and banned internationally and most products no longer contain them, the problem of waste containing flame retardants is of particular importance. An update of the PCB inventory was also done as part of this plan, based on the results of first inventory conducted 2007-2010, conducted in frames of GEF “POPs Stockpiles Management and 6 Destruction Project” (project No. TF055875). The results of the updated PCB inventory shall serve basis for development of a PCB phase out plan at national level in order to ensure compliance with the obligations to the Convention to eliminate the use of PCB in equipment by 2025 and to ensure the environmentally sound waste management of liquids containing PCB and equipment contaminated with PCB by 2028. An attempt to carry out an inventory of PeCB, PCP, PCN and SCCP was done as part of the plan development, but no documented uses have been identified. PFOS, its salts and PFOSF have been assessed as part of this plan. The analysis of FFF, aviation hydraulic fluids, textiles and upholstery, synthetic carpets, toner and printing ink in Moldova revealed that none of them contain PFOS/PFOA. According to official information from National Food Safety Agency this pesticide is banned in Moldova. Republic of Moldova doesn’t report any stockpiles of PFOS. Neither airports, nor fire fighting services report spills or expired stockpiles. As for the unintentional POPs, the largest share of total PCDD/PCDF releases in 2019 resulted from disposal/landfill, followed by heat and power generation and ferrous and non-ferrous metal production and waste incineration. The key source of PCBs in Republic of Moldova is iron and steel production and residential combustion, while for HCB emissions is iron and steel production. National legislation The national policy regarding POPs, which is an integral part of national chemicals and waste management policy, is driven by understanding that a comprehensive chemical safety management system needs to be enforced in the Republic of Moldova. It recognizes the need to apply a precautionary, prevention and polluter pays approach in addressing POPs, and implementing cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation and negative societal, particularly health, impacts. The regulation of POPs and POPs-containing waste in Republic of Moldova is characterized by close interaction between EU and national legislation. Most rules in the POP field in Republic of Moldova have originated through transposition into the Law on waste no 209/2016 of the provisions of the Regulation (EC) No 850/2004 on Persistent Organic Pollutants (the POP Regulation) with subsequent amendments made as a consequence of the addition of new substances. The national legislation generally regulates the use of the intentionally used POPs and regulates the limit values for POPs in waste. For some of the substances, there are some exceptions to the restrictions; it is an ongoing process to assess whether these exceptions are still necessary. The dedicated Regulation on POPs is in process of elaboration. POPs are also regulated in other pieces of legislation on chemicals, waste and water management. 7 Relevance with other strategies The development of NIP is driven also by the aspirations of the Republic of Moldova to join the European Union. The status of a candidate country for EU accession dictates the need to accelerate the harmonization of legislation for chemicals management, including POPs. It shall prioritize the integration of sustainable management of POPs in the relevant areas, by continuing the efforts in implementation of recently adopted legal and regulatory framework. The proposed measures under NIP will provide contribution to achievement of several SDGs, from preventing and combating poverty and ensuring decent livelihoods, to contributing to the fight against climate change and it comes to directly support the implementation of the national strategic development framework reflected in the "Moldova 2030" National Development Strategy1. The NIP will have actions that will contribute to the specific objectives mentioned in chapter 10 "Ensuring the fundamental right to a healthy and safe environment" and will support to track the progress of achieving the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the national level: SDG 1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere; SDG 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all; SDG 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all; SDG 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation; SDG 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns. Structure of the plan The process of the NIP preparation followed the Guidance for Developing a National Implementation Plan for the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, 2017, developed by the Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions. The Ministry of Environment assumed the main responsibility for developing the NIP, with an active participation of all stakeholders (working group formed based on Minister of Environment Decree), including governmental bodies, local communities, consumer groups, the business sector, scientific community, NGOs, etc. The NIP was discussed with all national stakeholders, including the public and the final version of the Plan is acknowledged by the Government of Republic of Moldova. The Plan is structured in three chapters. The first chapter outlines the purpose and structure of the NIP, including a summary of the Stockholm Convention, its aims, and obligations. A summary of the POPs issue provides the context and background outlining the chemicals, their uses, and the problems they cause. 1 https://www.legis.md/cautare/getResults?doc id=134582&lang=ro 8 The second chapter provides an overview of the country baseline, including the country profile; institutional, policy, and regulatory framework for POPs management; assessment of the POPs issue in the country and implementation status of the first NIP. The third chapter is dedicated to describing the strategy and action plan elements of the national implementation plan, including concrete interventions to reach the national objectives and priorities regarding the management of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), and to meet the obligations of the Republic of Moldova under the Stockholm Convention. The NIP seeks to encourage, facilitate and support national and local authorities in their efforts to regulate new POPs, reduce releases on unintentional Pops, as well as to remediate sources of POPs pollution. To this end, a wide range of tools is proposed, including legal, regulatory, remedial, monitoring, enforcement, and research. Measures under the plan Pursuant to the requirements of the Stockholm Convention, the Ministry of Environment and other stakeholders have identified the following strategic objectives: 1. Institutional and regulatory framework strengthened, by amending the relevant legislation to list the new POPs (Dicofol, Decabromodiphenyl ether, Hexabromocyclododecane, Pentachlorophenol and its salts and esters), approve the POPs regulation, amend the PCB legislation to revise the deadlines for the gradual elimination of PCB-containing equipment, as well as develop a national plan for the elimination of PCBs/PCNs, 2. Environment sound management of POPs pesticides ensured, by annual update of obsolete pesticides inventory, ensure adequate storage and identify opportunities for their export for destruction, elaboration of the list of alternatives to POP pesticides, establish a collection and management system for empty plant protection product containers (PPP) and set measures to combat illegal trafficking of banned and counterfeit pesticides, 3. PCBs and equipment containing PCBs production, import and export, use, identification, labelling, removal, storage, and disposal regulated, by ensuring collection of data on PCB quantities (equipment and oil) used in closed applications, keeping records and submitting annual reports on equipment containing PCBs and oils, remediation of PCB contaminated land, ensure replacement and export for sound management of PCB containing equipment, development and implementation of incentives for the energy sector/state companies to replace equipment containing PCBs in operation; 4. HexaBDE, heptaBDE, tetraBDE, pentaBDE, decaBDE, HBB, HBCD and PFOS, its salts and PFOSF, PFOA production, import and export, use, stockpiles, and wastes managed, by periodic update of the inventory of items containing POP-PBDEs and PFOS, its salts and PFOSF, ensure adequate record keeping and reporting of waste containing POP-PBDEs and identify stocks containing PFOS, its salts and PFOSF and PFOA, development of 9 guidelines for the sustainable management of waste containing brominated diphenyl ethers and promote the use of less polluting alternative substances; 5. Releases from unintentional production reduced, by periodic update of uPOPs inventory (PCDD/PCDF, PCB, HCB), monitoring of unintentional POP emissions and promotion of air pollution control technologies and means and implementation of BAT/BEP in the relevant sectors (energy industry, metallurgy, cement production); 6. Stockpiles, waste and articles in use identified and managed, by permanent inventory of stocks and waste, as well as lands contaminated with POPs , adequate collection, transport and storage of waste containing POPs and implementing measures to reduce or eliminate emissions from waste containing POPs; 7. Contaminated sites identified and environmentally sound remediation ensured, by permanent inventory of soils contaminated/potentially contaminated with POPs and remediation of prioritized areas, including development of feasibility studies for remediation actions and development of specific measures to prevent further POP contamination ; 8. Information exchange and stakeholder involvement facilitated, by conducting capacity building in POPs chemical risk assessment and establish a coordination mechanism between the environmental authorities and the customs authorities and improving the traceability of imports of items containing POPs, strengthen capacities of competent authorities and business in registering and reporting POPs, raise awareness of extended producers responsibility (EPR) actors in the management of articles containing POP PBDEs and their waste throughout the product life cycle, 9. Public and stakeholder awareness, information and education activities conducted, by development and dissemination of educational packages, carry out information campaigns and ensure public access to updated information about POPs in Republic of Moldova, 10. Effectiveness evaluation and reporting ensured, by maintaining of mechanism to ensure reporting to the Convention, realization of the evaluation study of the effectiveness of the implementation of the Convention and inclusion and participation in the works of the subsidiary bodies of the Stockholm Convention; 11. Research, development and monitoring capacities enforced, by introduction of POP monitoring in environmental components in human body, increasing the number of accredited laboratories and equipping laboratory to allow the determination of POPs. 10 1. Introduction The Plan and its subsequent updates are designed to assess the situation at the national level for selected chemicals at any given time. It is used to set up priorities for actions in the Republic of Moldova and outline short and long-term challenges arising from the introduction of new measures and procedures or in case they are needed in order to obtain the necessary information or knowledge about the occurrence, use and disposal of POPs initially listed or newly listed in the Annexes A, B or C of the Convention. The Plan was prepared by the Ministry of the Environment, under the supervision and coordination of the National Focal Point of the Stockholm Convention with the support of experts from RECETOX and the Experts Association “Pro Mediu” in 2022. The national working group was formed by representatives of the line ministries and state agencies, economic operators, research and civil society organizations. The aim of all the priorities listed in the Plan is, as quickly as possible, to eliminate or reduce the negative impacts of POPs on human health and the environment in the Republic of Moldova and thus contribute to faster global achievement of the objectives of the Convention. 1.1 POPs under the Convention The Stockholm Convention was adopted in 2001 under the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and entered into force in 2004. It promotes actions aimed at regulating POP chemicals (pesticides, industrial and unintentionally released chemicals), with the overall objective being to protect human health and the environment from their effects. The Convention requires Parties to take measures to eliminate or reduce emissions of POPs into the environment. Annexes A and B to the Stockholm Convention include 31 chemicals or groups of chemicals (see Table 1) that are subject to a ban or restriction on production and use, unless there are generic or specific exemptions. Generic exemptions allow laboratory-level research, use as a reference standard, and the presence of traces of unintended contaminants in chemicals, mixtures, and articles. Articles containing POPs manufactured or already in use before the date of entry into force of the relevant obligation are also subject to an exemption, provided that the Parties submit to the Secretariat of the Stockholm Convention information on uses and a national waste management plan for such articles. With regard to environmental emissions of unintentionally emitted compounds, which are included in the list in annex C to the Convention (see Table 1), the measures are aimed at minimization, with the ultimate goal being total elimination, in cases where it is possible. 11 According to Annex C, the Parties must promote and, in accordance with their action plans, enforce the use of the best available techniques for their sources identified by the Convention. The Stockholm Convention provides for the identification and safe management of stocks containing or consisting of POP chemicals. Waste that contains, consists of or is contaminated with POPs must be disposed of in such a way that the POP content is destroyed or irreversibly transformed so that it no longer exhibits POP-specific characteristics. If this approach is not the preferable option from the point of view of environmental protection or if the POP content is low, the waste can be disposed of in another environmentally friendly way. Disposal operations that may lead to the recovery or reuse of POPs are prohibited. Table 1. Overview of chemical products regulated by the Stockholm Convention and the legal framework in the Republic of Moldova Chemicals Annex to the Stockholm Conventio n Product type Year of inclusion in the Convention Relevant legal framework from Republic of Moldova POP produced intentionally Aldrin CAS No: 309-00-2 A Pesticide 2004 Law no. 209/2016 on waste, Annex no. 62 Government Decision no. 505/2020 on import and export of hazardous chemicals, Annex 53. Alpha hexachlorocyclohexane CAS No: 319-84-6 A Pesticide 2009 Law no. 209/2016 on waste, Annex no. 6. Government Decision no. 505/2020 on import and export of hazardous chemicals, Annex no. 5. Beta hexachlorocyclohexane CAS No: 319-85-7 A Pesticide 2009 To be included in Law no. 209/2016 on waste, Annex no. 6 Government Decision no. 505/2020 on import and export of hazardous chemicals, Annex no. 5 Chlordane CAS No: 57 74-9 A Pesticide 2004 Law no. 209/2016 on waste, Annex no. 6 Government Decision no. 505/2020 on import and export of hazardous chemicals, Annex no. 5 Chlordecone CAS No: 143-50-0 A Pesticide 2009 Law no. 209/2016 on waste, Annex no. 6 2 List of Substances subject to provisions on the management of stocks and waste of Persistent Organic Pollutants Section 1. List of substances subject to the provisions regarding the management of Persistent Organic Pollutant Stocks, in Accordance with Article 53(3) Section 2. List of substances subject to the provisions regarding the management of Persistent Organic Pollutant Waste, in accordance with Article 53(4) 3 Chemicals and articles subject to export ban, PART 1, Persistent organic pollutants as listed in Annexes A and B to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants according to the provisions thereof 12 Government Decision no. 505/2020 on import and export of hazardous chemicals, Annex no. 5 Decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) CAS No: 1163-19-5 A Industrial chemical 2017 To be included in Law no. 209/2016 on waste, Annex no. 6 Dicofol A Pesticide 2019 To be included in Law no. 209/2016 on waste, Annex no. 6 Dieldrin CAS No: 60-57-1 A Pesticide 2004 Law no. 209/2016 on waste, Annex no. 6 Government Decision no. 505/2020 on import and export of hazardous chemicals, Annex no. 5 Endrin CAS No: 72-20-8 A Pesticide 2004 Law no. 209/2016 on waste, Annex no. 6 Government Decision no. 505/2020 on import and export of hazardous chemicals, Annex no. 5 Heptachlor CAS No: 76-44-8 A Pesticide 2004 Law no. 209/2016 on waste, Annex no. 6 Government Decision no. 505/2020 on import and export of hazardous chemicals, Annex no. 5 Hexabromobiphenyl (HBB) CAS No: 36355-01-8 A Industrial chemical 2009 Law no. 209/2016 on waste, Annex no. 6 Government Decision no. 505/2020 on import and export of hazardous chemicals, Annex no. 5 Hexabromocyclododec ane (HBCD) CAS number 25637-99 4 1,2,5,6,9,10 Hexabromocyclododec ane CAS number 3194-55-6 A Industrial chemical 2013 To be included in Law no. 209/2016 on waste, Annex no. 6 Hexabromodiphenylet her and Heptabromodiphenylet her CAS No: 68631-49-2 CAS No: 207122-15-4 CAS No: 446255-22-7 CAS No: 207122-16-5 A Industrial chemical 2009 Law no. 209/2016 on waste, Annex no. 6 Government Decision no. 505/2020 on import and export of hazardous chemicals, Annex no. 5 Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) CAS No: 118-74-1 A and C Pesticide, industrial chemical, 2004 Law no. 209/2016 on waste, Annex no. 6 13 unintenti onal POP Government Decision no. 505/2020 on import and export of hazardous chemicals, Annex no. 5 Hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD) CAS No: 87-68-3 A and C Industrial chemical, unintenti onal POP 2015 2017 Law no. 209/2016 on waste, Annex no. 6 Government Decision no. 505/2020 on import and export of hazardous chemicals, Annex no. 5 Lindane CAS No: 58-89-9 A Pesticide 2009 Law no. 209/2016 on waste, Annex no. 6 Government Decision no. 505/2020 on import and export of hazardous chemicals, Annex no. 5 Mirex CAS No: 2385-85-5 A Pesticide 2004 Law no. 209/2016 on waste, Annex no. 6 Government Decision no. 505/2020 on import and export of hazardous chemicals, Annex no. 5 Pentachlorobenzene (PeCB) CAS No: 608-93-5 A and C Pesticide, industrial chemical, unintenti onal POP 2009 Law no. 209/2016 on waste, Annex no. 6 Government Decision no. 505/2020 on import and export of hazardous chemicals, Annex no. 5 Pentachlorophenol (PCP) and its salts and esters CAS No: No: 87-86-5 (Pentachlorophenol) No: 131-52-2 (sodium pentachlorophenate) No: 27735-64-4 (as monohydrate) No: 3772-94-9 (pentachlorophenyl laurate) No: 1825-21-4 (pentachloroanisole) A Pesticide 2015 Law no. 209/2016 on waste, Annex no. 6 Government Decision no. 505/2020 on import and export of hazardous chemicals, Annex no. 5 Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) A and C Industrial chemical, unintenti onal POP 2004 Law no. 209/2016 on waste, Annex no. 6 Government Decision no. 81/2009 for approval of Regulation on polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) Polychlorinated Naphthalenes (PCNs) CAS No: 70776-03-3 A and C Industrial chemical, unintenti onal POP 2015 Law no. 209/2016 on waste, Annex no. 6 Government Decision no. 505/2020 on import and export of hazardous chemicals, Annex no. 5 Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), A Industrial chemical 2019 Law no. 209/2016 on waste, Annex no. 6 14 its salts and related compounds with PFOA CAS 335-67-1 Short Chain Chlorinated Paraffins (SCCP) CAS No. 85535-84-8 ; CAS No. 68920-70-7; CAS No. 71011-12-6; CAS No. 85536-22-7; CAS No. 85681-73-8; CAS No. 108171-26-2. A Industrial chemical 2017 Law no. 209/2016 on waste, Annex no. 6 Government Decision no. 505/2020 on import and export of hazardous chemicals, Annex no. 5 Technical endosulfan and its related isomers CAS No: 115-29-7 alpha-endosulfan CAS No: 959-98-8 beta-endosulfan CAS No: 33213-65-9 A Pesticide 2011 Law no. 209/2016 on waste, Annex no. 6 Government Decision no. 505/2020 on import and export of hazardous chemicals, Annex no. 5 Tetrabromodiphenylet her and pentabromodiphenylet her CAS No: 5436-43-1 CAS No: 60348-60-9 A Industrial chemical 2009 Law no. 209/2016 on waste, Annex no. 6 Government Decision no. 505/2020 on import and export of hazardous chemicals, Annex no. 5 Toxaphene CAS No: 8001-35-2 A Pesticide 2004 Law no. 209/2016 on waste, Annex no. 6 DDT (1,1,1-trichloro 2,2-bis (4 chlorophenylethane) CAS No: 50-29-3 B Pesticide 2004 Law no. 209/2016 on waste, Annex no. 6 Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, its salts and fluoride of sulfonyl perfluorooctane (PFOSF) CAS No: 1763-23-1 CAS No: 307-35-7 CAS No: 2795-39-3 CAS No: 29457-725 CAS No: 29081-56-9 CAS No: 7022514-8 CAS No: 56773-42-3 CAS No: 251099-16-8 B Pesticide, Industrial chemical 2009 Law no. 209/2016 on waste, Annex no. 6 15 POPs produced unintentionally Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) C uPOP 2004 Law no. 209/2016 on waste, Annex no. 6 Polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) C uPOP 2004 Law no. 209/2016 on waste, Annex no. 6 Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) CAS No 118-74-1 C uPOP 2004 Law no. 209/2016 on waste, Annex no. 6 Pentachlorobenzene CAS No 608-93-5 C uPOP 2009 Law no. 209/2016 on waste, Annex no. 6 Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) CAS No 1336-36-3 and others C uPOP 2004 Law no. 209/2016 on waste, Annex no. 6 Polychlorinated naphthalene (PCN) CAS No 70776-03-3 and others C uPOP 2015 Hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD) CAS No 87-68-3 C uPOP 2017 Law no. 209/2016 on waste, Annex no. 6 POPs regulated before 2009 ("initial POPs"). The term "initial POPs" refers to the 12 chemicals listed in the Stockholm Convention or the UNECE Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP) Protocol on Persistent Organic Pollutants (UNECE POPs Protocol) before 2008, i.e. before new POPs were listed in the Stockholm Convention or the UNECE POPs Protocol in 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2019 (according to Table 1). Initially POPs mainly refer to pesticides, and they are not manufactured in the Republic of Moldova. The use of initially POPs listed in Annexes A and B has been phased out in the Republic of Moldova since the 1970s. The rest of the uses of initially POPs remained only in articles that were produced and placed on the market before the ratification of the Convention or specific regulations. A summary of initially POPs use and restriction in Republic of Moldova is presented in the table below. Table 2. Use and regulation of „initial POPs” at national level Chemical Remarks on regulation at national level Aldrin CAS No. 309-00-2 Aldrin has been banned since 1972. It is not included in the official register of substances allowed for use in agriculture, including individual farms, forestry and household use. No import or sale allowed. Chlordane CAS No. 57-74-9 It is not included in the official register of substances allowed for use in agriculture, including individual farms, forestry and household. No import or sale allowed. 16 Dichloro-diphenyl trichloroethane (DDT) CAS No. 50-29-3 DDT and preparations based on it have been banned since 1970. It is not included in the official register of substances allowed for use in agriculture, including individual farms, forestry and household use. No import or sale allowed. Dieldrin CAS No. 60-57-1 It is not included in the official register of substances allowed for use in agriculture, including individual farms, forestry and household. No import or sale allowed. Endrin CAS No. 72-20-8 It is not included in the official register of substances allowed for use in agriculture, including individual farms, forestry and household. No import or sale allowed. Heptachlor CAS No. 76-44-8 Heptachlor and its mixtures with TMTD and hexachlorobenzene have been banned since 1986. They are not included in the official register of substances permitted for use in agriculture, including individual farms, forestry and household use. No import or sale allowed. Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) CAS No. 118-74-1 Hexachlorobenzene is not included in the official register of substances permitted for use in agriculture, including individual farms, forestry and household use. No import or sale allowed. Mirex CAS No. 2385-85-5 It is not included in the official register of substances allowed for use in agriculture, including individual farms, forestry and household. No import or sale allowed. Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) Government Decision for the approval of the Regulation on polychlorinated biphenyls, no. 81/20094. This act was published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Moldova, no. 27-29 of February 10, 2009. The production and placing on the market of PCB as such, in preparations or constituents of articles is prohibited. Also, imports into Republic of Moldova are prohibited. Toxaphene CAS No. 8001-35-2 Toxaphene has been banned since 1991. It is not included in the official register of substances allowed for use in agriculture, including individual farms, forestry and household use. No import or sale allowed. POPs regulated starting with 2009 ("newly listed POPs") Newly listed POPs are substances that have been listed in the Stockholm Convention at the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th meetings of the Conference of the Parties (COP) held in May 2009, April 2011, May 2013, May 2015, May 2017, May 2019, June 2022 respectively, and the UNECE POPs Protocol at the 27th meeting of the Executive Body of the LRTAP Convention held in December 2009. A summary of the new POPs listed in the Convention after 2009 is presented in the Table below. 4https://www.legis.md/cautare/getResults?doc id=119567&lang=ro# 17 Table 3. Newly listed POPs in the Stockholm Convention after 2009 COP Date POPs added 4 4 – 8 May 2009  Alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane – listed in Annex A without specific exemptions (decision SC-4/10)  Beta-hexachlorocyclohexane – listed in Annex A without specific exemptions (decision SC-4/11)  Chlordecone – listed in annex A without specific exemptions (decision SC-4/12)  Hexabromobiphenyl (HBB) – listed in Annex A without specific exemptions (decision SC-4/13)  Hexabromodiphenyl ether and Heptabromodiphenyl ether – listed in Annex A with specific exemptions (decision SC-4/14)  Lindane – listed in Annex A without specific exemptions (decision SC-9/1)  Pentachlorobenzene (PeCB) – listed in Annex A without specific exemptions and in Annex C (decision SC-4/16)  Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS, its salts and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride (PFOSF) – listed in Annex B with acceptable purposes and specific exemptions (decision SC-4/17; SC-7/1; SC-9/1 and SC-9/4)  Tetrabromodiphenyl ether and pentabromodiphenyl ether – listed in Annex A with specific exemptions (decision SC-4/18) 5 25 – 29 May 2011  Technical endosulfan and its related isomers – listed in Annex A with a specific exemptions (decision SC-5/3) 6 28 April – 10 May, 2013  Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) – listed in Annex A with specific exemptions (decision SC-6/13) 7 4 – 15 May 2015  Hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD) – listed in Annex A without specific exemptions (decision SC-7/12)  Pentachlorophenol (PCP), its salts and esters – listed in Annex A with specific exemptions (decision SC-7/13)  Polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) – listed in Annex A with specific exemptions and in Annex C (decision SC-7/14) 8 24 April 5 May 2017 · Decabromodiphenyl ether (commercial mixture, c-decaBDE) – listed in Annex A with specific exemptions (decision SC-8/10) · Short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) – listed in Annex A with specific exemptions (decision SC-8/11) · Hexachlorobutadiene (HBCD) – listed in Annex C (decision SC-8/12) 9 29 April – 10 May 2019 · Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts and PFOA-related compounds – listed in Annex A with specific exemptions (decision SC-9/12) · Dicofol – listed in Annex A without specific exemptions (decision SC-9/11) 10 6 – 17 June 2022 · Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), its salts and PFHxS-related compounds listed in Annex A without specific exemptions (decision SC-10/13) Overall, most POPs are neither produced nor imported into the Republic of Moldova. It should be noted that POPs like HBCD, POP-PBDE and PFOS, unlike the other new POPs, shall be considered particularly, as it will be difficult to manage waste streams in the future due to the 18 long lifetime of the main product groups that contain them (e.g. vehicles, electrical equipment and electronics, polystyrene used as thermal insulator), but also because they are contained in products that are still in use in the Republic of Moldova. 1.2 Initial National Implementation Plan Republic of Moldova ratified Stockholm Convention on February 19, 2004, by Parliament Law no 40/20045. The national strategy on the reduction and elimination of POPs and National Implementation Plan of the Stockholm Convention (NIP) have been approved by the Government decision no 1155/20046, in a highly participatory manner, supported by Global Environment Facility (GEF) funds. The initial NIP was transmitted to the Secretariat of the Convention on 28 August 2005. The initial NIP of 2004 was focused mainly on the twelve (12) persistent organic pollutants, so called "dirty dozen", compounds that are listed in the Annexes of the Convention since its entry into force in 2004. This initial NIP covered action plans and measures the years 2004-2010. Pursuant to paragraph 4 of Government Decision no 1155/2004, the Ministry of Environment was responsible for implementation and control, being assigned the function of coordinator for the implementation of the Strategy and Plan, systematization of information and annual presentation of information synthesized to the Government. The institutions responsible, within the limits of their competence, for carrying out the planned actions are: Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Defense, Civil Protection and Exceptional Situations Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Academy of Sciences of Moldova, Ministry of Education National Statistics Office, Customs Service of the Ministry of Finance and local public authorities. In order to reduce the impact of POPs on the environment and public health, the Strategy and the first NIP provided the priority directions of state, as follows: Strategic Direction 1. Evaluation the effectiveness and improving the legal framework in the field of sound management of toxic chemicals; Strategic Direction 2. Identification and evaluation of primary and secondary sources of emissions of POPs and other toxic chemicals that may be included in the POPs list; assessing the harmful effects of these sources of POPs on the health of the population and the environment and developing action plans to prevent these effects; Strategic Direction 3. Elaboration and implementation of research-development and monitoring programs of POPs in the sectors of the national economy; 5 https://www.legis.md/cautare/getResults?doc id=132931&lang=ro# 6 https://www.legis.md/cautare/getResults?doc id=27330&lang=ro 19 Strategic Direction 4. Elaboration and implementation of training, awareness and education programs for different categories of population regarding POPs and their effects on the environment and human health; Strategic Direction 5. Active public participation in addressing and solving POP issues; Strategic Direction 6. Elaboration of plans for the implementation of international treaties in the field of POP; coordination of national activities with developed countries and international bodies, parties to international treaties, in order to facilitate the exchange of information and technology, attracting financial means to reduce the impact of POPs. 1.3 Updated National Implementation Plan This document is the second version of the NIP, and it is used to evaluate the fulfilment of previous activities in connection with POPs in the country and to present action plans for substances that were newly listed in the Stockholm Convention since 2009. There were several issues identified that delayed the NIP update: 1. The internal process for the acceptance of the SC Convention amendments is a difficult one, due to the fact that the Law on Ratification of the Stockholm Convention (Law No 40-XV from 19.02.2004) mentions that "in accordance with Article 25 paragraph 4 of the Convention, any amendment to Annexes A, B or C shall enter into force for Republic of Moldova after the deposit of its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession to the amendment.", therefore whenever a new amendment is adopted by the Stockholm Convention Conference of Parties (COP) this needs to be ratified at national level; 2. In order to ratify at national level any new amendment adopted there is a need for conducting inventories of the newly listed POPs that are subject to the respective amendment as to understand the baseline situation and the implications of the ratification that cannot be done without incremental funding provided by GEF which rules is to have the amendments ratified in order to be eligible for funding thus creating a vicious circle. The present update of the NIP covers the following POPs: pesticides: Alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane, Beta-hexachlorocyclohexane, Lindane, Chlordecon, Technical endosulfan and its related isomers, Dicofol, Hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD), industrial POPs: Hexabromobiphenyl (HBB), Hexabromodiphenyl ether and Heptabromodiphenyl ether (hexa- and heptaBDE), Tetrabromodiphenyl ether and Pentabromodiphenyl ether (tetra- and pentaBDE), Decabromodiphenyl ether (c decaBDE), Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) – called collectively POP-PBDEs, Hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD), Pentachlorobenzene (PeCB), Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), its salts and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride (PFOSF), Pentachlorophenol its salts and esters (PCP), Polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs), Short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs); and 20 unintentional POPs: Hexachlorobenzene (HCB), Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) and Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs)/ Polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), Pentachlorobenzene (PeCB), Polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs). 2. Country baseline 2.1 Country profile 2.1.1 Geography and population The Republic of Moldova (RM), covering an area of 33,846 square km, is located in Central Europe, in the northwestern Balkans. The RM’s capital city is the municipality of Chisinau (mentioned in the historical records for the first time in 1436) with a population of approximately 820.5 thousand people (NBS, 2017). The RM borders on Ukraine in the North, East and South and on Romania in the West, with the Western borderline going along the river Prut (Figure 1-1). The total length of the RM’s national border is 1,389 km, including 939 km of the border with Ukraine and 450 km of the border with Romania. The RM is situated at longitude 28˚50’ East and latitude 47˚ North. The exact location of the extreme points on the RM’s territory is as follows: the northernmost point is Naslavcea (latitude 48˚ 21’ North and longitude 27˚ 35’ East); the southernmost point is Giurgiulesti (latitude 45˚ 28’ North and longitude 28˚ 12’ East) which is also RM’s sole location on the bank of the Danube; the westernmost point is Criva (latitude 48˚ 16’ North and longitude 26˚ 30’ East); the easternmost point is Palanca (latitude 46˚ 25’ North and longitude 30˚ 05’ East). The distance between the extreme points is about 350 km from Naslavcea to Giurgiulesti and only 120 km from the West to the East at the latitude of the municipality of Chisinau. The RM is a Black Sea region country. Its southern border extends almost as far as the Black Sea coast, and the access to the Black Sea is open for RM through the Dniester estuary and the Danube. There are two administrative-territorial units in the Republic of Moldova: the Administrative Territorial Unit Gagauzia (ATU Gagauzia) and the administrative-territorial units on the left bank of the Dniester (ATULBD). The area of ATU Gagauzia is approximately 3000 km2 (162.0 thousand people), while the area of ATULBD is respectively about 4163 km2 (475.7 thousand people). At 01.01.2022, the present population of the Republic of Moldova (right bank) was 2604,0 thousand inhabitants, its density is about 74 inhabitants/ km2. In terms of distribution in the territory, the population of the Republic of Moldova has a pronounced level of realization, continuing to be the country with the lowest degree of urbanization in Europe. In recent decades, 21 demographic processes have been marked by a negative dynamic, manifested by the instability of demographic indicators and phenomena such as birth rate reduction, increased mortality, demographic ageing, de-population and others. According to the demographic forecast for 2015 20357, the annual population decrease will be about 1.1-2%. The female population, as in previous years, is dominant. The estimated number of the population with habitual residence in the Republic of Moldova at the beginning of 2022 still reveals the aging trend of the population, by increasing the proportions of adults and the elderly, while the proportions of children and adolescents are continuously decreasing. 2.1.2 Political profile The Republic of Moldova is a parliamentary republic with a president as head of state and a prime minister as head of government. The Republic of Moldova is a member state of the United Nations, the Council of Europe, Partnership for Peace, World Trade Organization, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, GUAM Organization for Democracy and Economic Development is a regional organization of four post-Soviet states: Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, and Moldova, Community of Independent states, Black Sea Economic Cooperation and other international organizations. The Republic of Moldova has implemented the first 3-year Action Plan within the European Neighborhood Policy. The Parliament of the Republic of Moldova is a unicameral one and has 101 seats (the simple majority, according to the Constitutional Court, being 52 votes), and its members are elected by popular vote every 4 years. According to the provisions of the Rules of Procedure of the Parliament, the President of the forum is elected during the term of office by secret ballot of the majority of the elected deputies, at the proposal of the parliamentary factions. The Vice Presidents of the Parliament are elected by open vote of the majority of the elected deputies, at the proposal of the President of the Parliament, after consulting the parliamentary factions. The working body of the Parliament - the Permanent Bureau - is formed taking into account the proportional representation of the factions in the Legislature. The President of the Parliament and the Vice-Presidents are part of it ex officio. The number of members of the Permanent Bureau shall be determined by a decision of Parliament. The Government of the Republic of Moldova ensures, according to the Constitution, the realization of the internal and foreign policy of the state and exercises the general management of the public administration. The government is organized and operates in accordance with the constitutional provisions, based on a government program previously accepted by parliament. It is made up of a leader named prime minister, a first deputy prime minister, deputy prime ministers, ministers and other members established by organic law. 7 The study "Analysis of the demographic population in the Republic of Moldova", developed by the Center for Demographic Research at the decision of the National Commission for Population and Development based on the Global Methodology of the United Nations Population Fund on Population Analysis, https://moldova.unfpa. org / sites / default / files / pub-pdf / PSA RO.pdf 22 The government ensures the accomplishment of the internal and foreign policy of the state, exercises the general management of the public administration and is accountable before the parliament. The government is formed in the following composition: the prime minister, the first deputy prime minister, the deputy prime ministers, the ministers and other members established by law. Members of the government may be only persons who hold the citizenship of the Republic of Moldova and are domiciled in the country. 2.1.3 Economic profile and economic sectors in the context of the POPs issue The country’s economy was in decline even before 1991, but the separation from the USSR has accelerated that process considerably. Gross Domestic Product levels were decreasing continuously during the period from 1990 to 1999 inclusively, when it fell down to as little as 34 per cent of the 1990 level. The only exception was year 1997, when a slight increase by 1.6 per cent versus the previous year was registered due to the excellent agricultural yields as result of the very favorable weather. The reasons for the economic collapse were multiple. First, the Republic of Moldova had been integrated completely in the USSR economic system, and the independence resulted, among other things, in the cessation of any subsidies or cash transfers from the centralized government. Second, the end of the Soviet Era with its well-established commercial links has resulted in the emergence of multiple obstacles for free movement of products, and in access restrictions introduced by the emerging markets. Third, the lack of domestic energy resources and raw materials in the RM has contributed considerably to the nation’s strong dependence on other former Soviet Republics. Certain internal reasons should be mentioned as well, such as transition from a centralized economy to a market economy; loss of the industries located in ATULBD; frequent droughts; and the civil conflict. The considerable GDP growth achieved since 2000 seems to indicate that the economy is finally developing in the correct direction, although it should be remembered that in 2016 the GDP reached only 72.1 per cent of the 1990 level. In 2021, the Gross Domestic Product, according to preliminary data, was 241.9 billion lei (12.7 billion US), current (market) prices. Compared to 2020, in real terms, GDP in 2021 increased by 13.9%, against the background of the reduction of the indicator in question in 2020 compared to 2019 by 8.3%. Thus, compared to the level of the pre-crisis year, 2019, GDP in 2021 increased by 4.5% in real terms. Total gross added value on the economy, with a weight of 85.8% in GDP formation, contributed 11.7% to GDP growth in 2021 compared to 2020, with the VAB volume increasing by 13.5% (see Table A4 in the appendix). The following activities mainly contributed to the 13.9% increase in GDP in 2021 compared to 2020: • Agriculture, forestry and fishing (+4.2%) with a weight of 10.4% in GDP formation and an increase in GVA on the respective activities by 45.0%; 23 • Wholesale and retail trade; maintenance and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (+2.2%), with a share of 14.9% in GDP formation and an increase in GVA on the respective activities by 14.5%; • Transport and storage (+1.6%) with a 4.2% share in GDP formation and a 45.9% increase in GVA on the respective activities; • Information and communications (+1.2%), with a weight of 5.5% in GDP formation and an increase in GVA on the respective activities by 24.3%; • The production and supply of electricity and thermal energy, gas, hot water and air conditioning (+0.9%) with a weight of 2.1% in GDP formation and an increase in GVA on the respective activities by 46.6%; • Art, recreation and leisure activities (+0.5%) with a weight of 1.0% in GDP formation and an increase in GVA on the respective activities by 66.3%. • Net product taxes, with a share of 14.2% in GDP formation, contributed 2.3% to the increase in GDP, their volume increasing by 17.1%. Construction sector had a negative impact on the change in GDP (contributing to the attenuation of GDP growth by 1.6%), with a share of 8.2% in GDP formation and a reduction in GVA by -16.0%. Agriculture is a basic segment of the economy of the Republic of Moldova, and the development of this sector should be a prerogative of the State, according to the National Strategy of agricultural and rural development for the years 2014-2020, approved by GD no. 409/20148. The importance of the agricultural sector for the economy is confirmed by the share in GDP of 10.2%, the employment rate of 40.0% of the total employed. The Republic of Moldova produces a narrow range of chemicals, largely oriented for the domestic market, namely pharmaceuticals, dyes, paints and varnishes, perfumery products. Since the spectrum of chemicals produced in the country is not vast, most of the chemicals used in the branches of the national economy are being imported. Meanwhile, the statistical information shows that significant quantities of chemicals are exported from the country, which can be explained by the fact that part of the imported chemicals are re-exported. The main chemical substances imported into the country were petroleum products, fertilizers, pesticides, diverse raw materials, products and substances for the manufacturing industry and for other industries. 8 https://www.legis.md/cautare/getResults?doc id=110039&lang=ro 24 2.1.4 Environmental Overview Current national priority actions in the environmental sphere are national legal and normative framework adjustment to EU standards and international treaties requirements to which the Republic of Moldova is a Party in order to mutually contribute to the reduction of impact on environment at regional and international level. 2.2 Institutional, policy, and regulatory framework 2.2.1 Policy and regulatory framework Policy Framework National Programme on Sound Management of Chemicals in the Republic of Moldova, (Government Decision no. 973/20109) is the main document of long-term strategic planning, which determines the objectives of the sound chemicals management system until 2020. The Programme has been approved in order to reduce and eliminate the impact of chemicals on environment and human health by developing an integrated management of chemicals, technically, economically, socially and environmentally efficient and implementation of international treaties concerning chemical substances to which the Republic of Moldova is Party, as well as in line with the SAICM. National Waste Management Strategy 2013-2027 (Government Decision no. 248/201310) establishes the strategic vision of waste management until 2027 as an integrated system, economically efficient and ensuring protection of human health and environment. Inter alia, the Strategy aims to promote separate waste collection and treatment for each type of waste, particularly toxic and hazardous waste. National Environmental Strategy for 2014-2023 (Government Decision no. 301/201411) being elaborated on base of provisions established by the Government Program “European Integration: “Freedom, Democracy, Welfare” is the main document of long-term strategic planning which establishes the strategic framework on the environment protection, including protection of human health and the environment from adverse effects caused by chemicals, their stocks and waste. 9 https://www.legis.md/cautare/getResults?doc id=114309&lang=ro 10 https://www.legis.md/cautare/getResults?doc id=114412&lang=ro 11 https://www.legis.md/cautare/getResults?doc id=114539&lang=ro# 25 The National Development Strategy "European Moldova 2030" (approved by Law no. 315/202212) shall be the strategic reference document for all policy documents at national, regional and local level, based on the principle of the human life cycle, its rights and quality of life and includes four pillars of sustainable development (sustainable and inclusive economy, robust human and social capital, honest and efficient institutions, healthy environment), with 10 corresponding long-term goals. Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Moldova, of the other part (ratified by Law no. 112/201413) covers activities related to transposition of European Union legislation on environment protection, chemicals and waste into national legislation and insurance of its implementation. Legal framework Law on environmental protection, no. 1515/199314 constitutes the legal basis for drafting special legal acts and instructions on issues apart from the environmental protection in order to ensure each person’s right to a healthy and aesthetically pleasant environment, including environmental protection against chemical pollution, restoration of ecosystems and their components, affected by anthropogenic activities or natural disasters. Law on chemicals no. 277/201815 embraces the key EU directives and regulations, such as Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), Regulation ((EC) No 1272/2008 on Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) , Regulation (EU) 649/2012 concerning the export and import of hazardous chemicals (PIC), Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 concerning the making available on the market and use of biocidal products (BPR), Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market and repealing Council Directives 79/117/EEC and 91/414/EEC (PPP), and Directive 2004/9/EC on the inspection and verification of good laboratory practice and Directive 2004/10/EC on the harmonisation of laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to the application of the principles of good laboratory practice and the verification of their applications for tests on chemical substances (GLP). The law regulates the obligations of individuals and legal persons that produce or place on the market substances or mixtures; prohibitions and restrictions on the manufacture, marketing, import, export and use of hazardous chemicals and mixtures; conditions for classification, packaging and labeling of 12 https://monitorul.gov.md/ro/monitor/2579 13 https://www.legis.md/cautare/getResults?doc id=83489&lang=ro 14 http://lex.justice.md/index.php?action=view&view=doc&lang=1&id=311604 15 http://lex.justice.md/md/379245/ http://lex.justice.md/index.php?action=view&view=doc&lang=1&id=311604 http://lex.justice.md/md/379245/ 26 chemical substances and mixtures; creating and maintaining the registry of chemicals; chemical products reporting procedure; authorization of hazardous chemicals; reporting obligations; control and other issues related to chemical substances and mixtures. Chapter IV Prohibitions and Restrictions provide in para (2) that in order to protect human health and environment, some particularly hazardous chemicals may be prohibited or restricted for manufacture, placing on market and use by individuals and legal persons, such a mercury in measuring devices (medical thermometers, manometers, barometers, sphygmomanometers) and other products (plant protection products, biocidal products, cosmetics, dental amalgams). Also, the same chapter, para (5) provides that requirements on the use of hazardous chemicals, including POPs, mercury, lead, cadmium, tin organic compounds, hexavalent chromium, phthalates, substances depleting the ozone layer, including hydrochlorofluorocarbons in electric and electronic equipment (EEE), vehicles, batteries, packaging or components of packaging and other items or devices or products placed on market shall be regulated by the specific legislation. In addition, Art. 25 Authorization granting and extension provisions, provides that authorization mentioned shall not granted if plant protection or biocidal product consists of or contains: a) mercury and/or its compounds; b) persistent organic pollutants. Law on waste no. 209/201616 transposes the Waste Directive and establishes the legal bases, the state policy and the measures necessary to protect the environment and health of the population by preventing and reducing adverse effects caused by waste production and management, by reducing the overall effects of resource using and by making their use more efficient. As a priority order in waste prevention and management legislation and policy, the waste hierarchy shall be applied. The chapter VIII regulates the waste import and export. The producers and holders of hazardous waste may export such waste only for final disposal purposes to countries that ratified the Basel Convention and that have the appropriate technologies and accept to perform such operations. Waste shall be transported from the Republic of Moldova to other countries only if the export or transit notification is approved by the competent authorities designated by the importing country, in compliance with the regulations on waste transfers approved by the Government. The Art. 53 on Persistent Organic Pollutants stocks and waste para (1) prohibits marketing and using substances listed in the in Annex 6 (see table below), either individually or in preparations or as constituents of articles, in order to protect human health and the environment, and prevent the formation of hazardous waste. Para (2) contains provisions related to management of POPs waste. It should be noted that the article represents a general background for transposition of 16 http://lex.justice.md/md/368030/ http://lex.justice.md/md/368030/ 27 the EU POPs Regulation. The Annex 6 needs to be updated in accordance with the latest version of the Regulation 2019/1021 of 20 June 2019 on persistent organic pollutants (the annex shall be supplemented with Decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) present in commercial decabromodiphenyl ether, Hexabromocyclododecane, Dicofol, Pentachlorophenol and its salts and esters). Table 4. Annex 6 from the Law on waste no 209/2016 Annex 6 LIST of substances subject to provisions on the management of stocks and waste of persistent organic pollutants Section 1 LIST of substances subject to the provisions regarding the management of persistent organic pollutant stocks, in accordance with Article 53(3) Substance CAS Number CE Number Specific exemption regarding intermediate use or other specification Substances included in the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants and/or the Protocol on Persistent Organic Pollutants to the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution: Tetrabromodiphenyl ether C12H6Br4Oa) 1. By way of derogation from Article 53(1) – producing, making available on the market and using the following shall be allowed: a) without prejudice to b) – articles and preparations showing concentrations of tetrabromodiphenyl ether below 0.1% by weight, produced (partly or wholly) on the basis of recycled materials or waste materials prepared for reuse; b) electrical and electronic equipment, according to the requirements referred to in Article 53(3). 2. Articles containing tetrabromodiphenyl ether as a constituent of these articles already in use shall remain in use until 2025. 28 Pentabromodiphenyl ether C12H5Br5Oa) 1. By way of derogation from Article 53(1) – producing, making available on the market and using the following shall be allowed: a) without prejudice to b) – articles and preparations showing concentrations of pentabromodiphenyl ether below 0.1% by weight, produced (partly or wholly) on the basis of recycled materials or waste materials prepared for reuse; b) electrical and electronic equipment, according to the requirements referred to in Article 53(3). 2. Articles containing pentabromodiphenyl ether as a constituent of these articles already in use shall remain in use until 2025. Hexabromodiphenyl ether C12H4Br6Ob) 1. By way of derogation from Article 53(1) – producing, making available on the market and using the following shall be allowed: a) without prejudice to b) – articles and preparations showing concentrations of hexabromodiphenyl ether below 0.1% by weight, produced (partly or wholly) on the basis of recycled materials or waste materials prepared for reuse; b) electrical and electronic equipment, according to the requirements referred to in Article 53(3). 2. Articles containing hexabromodiphenyl ether as a constituent of these articles already in use shall remain in use until 2025. Heptabromodiphenyl ether C12H3Br7Ob) 1. By way of derogation from Article 53(1) – producing, making available on the market and using the following shall be allowed: a) without prejudice to b) – articles and preparations showing concentrations of heptabromodiphenyl ether below 0.1% by weight, produced (partly or wholly) on the basis of recycled materials or waste materials prepared for reuse; b) electrical and electronic equipment, according to the requirements referred to in Article 53(3). 2. Articles containing heptabromodiphenyl ether as a constituent of these articles already in use shall remain in use until 2025. Perfluorooctane sulfonates (PFOS)c) , Perfluorooctane 1. For purposes of this entry: a) Article 53(2)(b) shall apply to concentrations of PFOS less than or equal to 10 mg / kg (0.001 percent by mass) present in substances or preparations; 29 sulfonic acid, its salts, including: perfluorooctanesulfony l fluoride; potassium perfluorooctanesulfona te; ammonium perfluorosulfonate; diethanolammonium perfluoroethanesulfon ate; tetraethylammonium perfluorooctanesulfona te; didecyldimethylammon ium perfluorooctanesulfona te. (b) Article 53(2)(b) applies to PFOS concentrations in semi-finished products or articles or components thereof, if the PFOS concentration is less than 0.1 weight percent, calculated in relation to the mass of structurally or microstructurally distinct components containing PFOS or textiles or other coating materials, where the PFOS is less than 1 μg/m2 of coating material. 2. Articles already in use containing PFOS as a constituent of these articles may continue to be used. When dealing with such articles, the operator shall notify without undue delay the central environmental authority of the public administration of the presence of PFOS in the managed articles Aldrin 309-00-2 206-215-8 Chlordane 57-74-9 200-349-0 Chlordecone 143-50-0 205-601-3 Dieldrin 60-57-1 200-484-5 DDT (1,1,1-trichlor-2,2 bis(4 chlorophenyl)ethane) 50-29-3 200-024-3 Endosulfan 115-29-7 959-98-8 33213-65 9 204-079-4 Endrin 72-20-8 200-775-7 Heptachlor 76-44-8 200-962-3 Hexabromobiphenyl 36355-01 8 252-994-2 Hexachlorobenzene 118-74-1 200-273-9 Hexachlorocyclohexane , including lindane 58-89-9 319-84-6 319-85-7 608-73-1 200-401-2 206-270-8 206-271-3 210-168-9 30 Mirex 2385-85-5 219-196-6 Pentachlorobenzene 608-93-5 210-172-5 Toxaphene 8001-35-2 232-283-3 Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) 1336-36-3 and others 215-648-1 and others Without prejudice to the Regulation on Polychlorinated Biphenyls, it shall be permissible to use articles already in use at the time of the entry into force of this Law. Hexachlorobutadiene 87-68-3 201-765-5 Chloroalkanes C10-C13 (short-chain chlorinated paraffins – SCCPs)d) 85535-84 8 287-476-5 1. By way of derogation from Article 53(1), producing, making available on the market and using as substances or as constituents of other substances or in mixtures in concentrations of less than 1% by weight shall be allowed. 2. By way of derogation from Article 53(1) – producing, making available on the market and using the following shall be allowed in the following cases: (a) flame retardants in rubber, used in conveyor belts in the mining industry; (b) flame retardants for sealing. Polychlorinated naphthalenes e) Section 2 LIST of substances subject to the provisions regarding the management of persistent organic pollutant waste, in accordance with Article 53(4) Substance CAS Number CE Number The cut-off value of the concentration in waste regulated by Article 53(3) 1 2 3 4 Tetrabromodiphenyl ether C12H6Br4O The sum of the concentrations of tetrabromodiphenyl ether, pentabromodiphenyl ether, hexabromodiphenyl ether and heptabromodiphenyl ether: 1000 mg/kg Pentabromodiphenyl ether C12H5Br5O Hexabromodiphenyl ether C12H4Br6O Heptabromodiphenyl ether C12H3Br7O Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid and its derivatives (PFOS) C8F17SO2X, [X = 50 mg/kg 31 OH, metal salt (O-M+), halide, amide and other derivatives including polymers] Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/PCDF) 15 μg/kg 1) Aldrin 309-00-2 206-215-8 50 mg/kg Chlordane 57-74-9 200-349-0 50 mg/kg Chlordecone 143-50-0 205-601-3 50 mg/kg Dieldrin 60-57-1 200-484-5 50 mg/kg DDT (1,1,1-trichlor-2,2-bis(4 chlorophenyl)ethane) 50-29-3 200-024-3 50 mg/kg Endrin 72-20-8 200-775-7 50 mg/kg Heptachlor 76-44-8 200-962-3 50 mg/kg Hexabromobiphenyl 36355-01-8 252-994-2 50 mg/kg Hexachlorobenzene 118-74-1 200-273-9 50 mg/kg Hexachlorocyclohexane, including lindane 58-89-9 319-84-6 319-85-7 608-73-1 210-168-9 200-401-2 206-270-8 206-271-3 50 mg/kg Mirex 2385-85-5 219-196-6 50 mg/kg Pentachlorobenzene 608-93-5 210-172-5 50 mg/kg Toxaphene 8001-35-2 232-283-3 50 mg/kg Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) 1336-36-3 and others 215-648-1 50 mg/kg 2) PCDD TEF OCDD 0.0003 2,3,7,8-TeCDD 1 PCDF TEF 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD 1 2,3,7,8-TeCDF 0.1 1,2,3,4,7,8-HxCDD 0.1 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDF 0.03 1,2,3,6,7,8-HxCDD 0.1 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF 0.3 1,2,3,7,8,9-HxCDD 0.1 1,2,3,4,7,8 HxCDF 0.1 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDD 0.01 PCDD TEF 1,2,3,7,8,9-HxCDF 0.1 1,2,3,6,7,8 HxCDF 0.1 2,3,4,6,7,8-HxCDF 0.1 1,2,3,4,7,8,9 HpCDF 0.01 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDF 0.01 OCDF 0.0003 32 Notes: 1) Limits are calculated in PCDD and PCDF according to Toxic Equivalency Factors (TEF). 2) Where applicable, the calculation method set out in the European standards EN 12766-1 and EN 12766-2 shall apply. Law on phytosanitary products and fertilizers no 119/200417 establishes the legal bases and state policy in the field of activity with phytosanitary products and fertilizers, regulates their conditions of research, testing, experimentation and state approval, manufacture, import, transport, storage, marketing and use harmless to humans, animals and the environment, the relations related to the state surveillance and control over the observance of the legislation in force, determine the rights and obligations of enterprises, institutions, organizations and citizens, the powers of the competent authorities in the field, the facts that constitute violations Law on plant protection and phytosanitary quarantine no 228/201018 is harmonized some articles of Directive 2000/29/EC, Directive 98/22/EC, Directive 2004/103/EC, Directive 93/50/EC, Directive 77 /93/EEC, Regulation (EC) no. 1756/2004, Directive 2000/29/EC. The purpose of the law is to strengthen the legal and institutional framework, in creating economic-legal conditions suitable for the organization and conduct of plant protection and plant quarantine protection, to ensure: a) preventing the mass spread of harmful organisms, avoiding the loss of crops and obtaining a high agricultural production, especially organic ones; b) protection of the territory of the country against the introduction, spread and/or migration, including from other countries, of harmful organisms. In accordance with the Law, the competent authority keeps records of permitted PPP included in the State Register of plant protection products and fertilizers allowed for use in the Republic of Moldova. Law on control of risks of major accidents involving dangerous substances no 108/202019 transposes Directive 2012/18/EU on the control of major-accident hazards involving dangerous substances and lays down rules for the prevention of major accidents which involve dangerous substances, and the limitation of their consequences for human health and the environment, with a view to ensuring a high level of protection throughout country. Law on industrial emissions no 277/202220 transposes Directive 2010/75/EU on industrial emissions and establishes a normative framework for prevention and pollution control of industrial and economic activities, with a view to reducing emissions in air, water and soil, 17 https://www.legis.md/cautare/getResults?doc id=107644&lang=ro# 18 http://lex.justice.md/md/336925/ 19 https://www.legis.md/cautare/getResults?doc id=133049&lang=ro 20 https://www.legis.md/cautare/getResults?doc id=133705&lang=ro https://www.legis.md/cautare/getResults?doc id=107644&lang=ro http://lex.justice.md/md/336925/ 33 promoting the development of technologies through the application of the best available techniques (BAT), as well as preventing the generation of waste, to achieve a high level of environmental protection. The law provides for creation of an integrated environmental authorization/permitting system, establishment of procedure for applying the best available techniques and generally binding rules for operators, as well as system for compliance monitoring. As for the industrial chemicals, only hazardous industrial substances are supervised by the central specialized bodies through the mechanisms established by the Law on industrial security of dangerous industrial objects, no. 803/200021. At the same time, the regulation of chemicals used in the industrial sector is limited to the issue of import licenses for chemicals. Law on water no. 272/201122 transposes several water related European directives, but mainly the Directive 2000/60/EC establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy. It provides for creation of a normative framework for monitoring, evaluation, management, protection and effective use of surface water and groundwater based on public participation in evaluation, planning and decision-making. Regulatory framework The Regulation on polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) (Government Decision no. 81/200923), creates the legal framework regarding the environment sound management of polychlorinated biphenyls, establishing provisions regarding the production, placing on the market, use and storage of PCBs, as well as for the inventory, storage, decontamination and liquidation of equipment containing PCBs. The purpose of the Regulation consists in approximating the legislation of the Republic of Moldova to the European Union legislation on controlled disposal PCBs, decontamination or disposal of equipment containing PCBs and/or disposal of PCBs used for the purpose, their complete liquidation under the provisions of Directive 96/59/EC on the elimination of polychlorinated biphenyls and polychlorinated terphenyls (PCB/TPC), as well as for the implementation of the provisions of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants and the Protocol on Persistent Organic Pollutants of the 1979 Convention on long distance transboundary air pollution for PCBs. The regulation shall be amended in order to extend till 2025 the phase-out of PCB containing equipment (art. 7). Additional measures for centralized storage and neutralization of unusable and prohibited pesticides established by Government Decision no. 1543/200224 were aimed at selection of a site 21 http://lex.justice.md/index.php?action=view&view=doc&lang=1&id=311429 22 https://www.legis.md/cautare/getResults?doc id=121479&lang=ro 23 http://lex.justice.md/index.php?action=view&view=doc&lang=1&id=330614 24 http://lex.justice.md/document rom.php?id=6236EA84:584C8EF8 http://lex.justice.md/index.php?action=view&view=doc&lang=1&id=311429 http://lex.justice.md/index.php?action=view&view=doc&lang=1&id=330614 http://lex.justice.md/document rom.php?id=6236EA84:584C8EF8 34 for storage of unusable and prohibited pesticides in agreement with the Ministry of Defense and activities for repackaging, transporting and storing them until disposal. Government Decision no. 960/202025 establishes the State Service "State Centre for Certification and Approval of Products for Phytosanitary Use and Fertilizers", which is the competent authority for the organization, coordination of research-testing-experimentation, approval and registration of products for phytosanitary use and fertilizers. The procedure for the approval of plant protection products is laid down in the Government Decision no. 1307/200526 on the approval of the Regulation on the State certification and approval of plant protection products and fertilizers for use in agriculture and forestry. The Regulation is partially harmonized with the European Union Directive 91/414/EEC of 15 July 1991 concerning the placing of phytopharmaceutical products on the market. The Regulation lays down the procedure for the attestation and state homologation of plant protection products and fertilizers. The procedure for approval of plant protection products, fertilizers, as well as fertilizers marked „EC fertilizer” is done through the procedure for recognition of authorizations issued by a Member State of the European Union, which was developed and approved by Government Decision No 710/201527 on modification of on the approval of the Regulation on the State certification and approval of plant protection products and fertilizers for use in agriculture and forestry. According to the provisions of the Law on chemicals no. 277/2018 after the establishment of the Chemicals Agency, plant protection products and fertilizers will be registered and authorized through the Automatic Information System Registry of chemicals placed on the Moldovan market, approved by GD no. 535/202028. Draft Regulation on persistent organic pollutants, is based on the provisions of the international environmental treaties to which the Republic of Moldova is a party, in particular the Stockholm Convention on persistent organic pollutants and the Protocol on persistent organic pollutants at the 1979 Convention on long-distance transboundary air pollution. The Regulation on export and import of hazardous chemicals approved by Government Decision no. 505/202029 transposes the Regulation (EU) No 649/2012 of the European Parliament and of 25 https://www.legis.md/cautare/getResults?doc id=124941&lang=ro 26 https://www.legis.md/cautare/getResults?doc id=114144&lang=ro 27 Amending the decision was done based on recommendations of experts from the EU Member States in the framework of the Twinning Project Support for Moldova in the field of food safety norms and standards for products of plant origin D10/ENP PCA/AG/06, 28 https://www.legis.md/cautare/getResults?doc id=122470&lang=ro 2929 https://www.legis.md/cautare/getResults?doc id=122468&lang=ro https://www.legis.md/cautare/getResults?doc id=124941&lang=ro https://www.legis.md/cautare/getResults?doc id=114144&lang=ro 35 the council concerning the export and import of hazardous chemicals. The Annex 5 contains the list of chemicals and articles the use of which is prohibited for the protection of human health or the environment, and that shall not be exported (see table below). Table 5. Annex 5 from the Government Decision no. 505/2020 approving the Regulation on export and import of hazardous chemicals Annex 5 Chemicals and articles subject to export ban PART 1 Persistent organic pollutants as listed in Annexes A and B to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants according to the provisions thereof. Description of chemicals/article(s) subject to export ban Additional details, where relevant (e.g. name of chemical, EC No, CAS No, etc.) Aldrin EC No 206-215-8, CAS No 309-00-2, CN code 2903 52 00 Chlordane EC No 200-349-0, CAS No 57-74-9, CN code 2903 52 00 Chlordecone EC No 205-601-3 CAS No 143-50-0 CN code 2914 70 00 Dieldrin EC No 200-484-5, CAS No 60-57-1, CN code 2910 40 00 DDT (1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis (p chlorophenyl) ethane EC No 200-024-3, CAS No 50-29-3, CN code 2903 62 00 Endosulfan EC No 204-079-4 CAS No 115-29-7 CN code 2920 30 00 Endrin EC No 200-775-7, CAS No 72-20-8, CN code 2910 90 00 Heptabromodiphenyl ether C12H3Br7O EC No 273-031-2 CAS No 68928-80-3 and others CN code 2909 30 38 36 Heptachlor EC No 200-962-3, CAS No 76-44-8, CN code 2903 52 00 Hexabromobiphenyl EC No 252-994-2 CAS No 36355-01-8 CN code 2903 69 90 Hexabromocyclododecane EC No 247-148-4, 221-695-9 CAS No 25637-99-4, 3194-55-6, 134237-50-6, 134237-51-7, 134237-52-8 and others CN code 2903 89 80 Hexabromodiphenyl ether C12H4Br6O EC No 253-058-6 CAS No 36483-60-0 and others CN code 2909 30 38 Hexachlorobenzene EC No 200-273-9, CAS No 118-74-1, CN code 2903 62 00 Hexachlorobutadiene EC No 201-765-5 CAS No 87-68-3 CN code 2903 29 00 Hexachlorocyclohexanes, including lindane EC No 200-401-2, 206-270-8, 206-271-3, 210 168-9 CAS No 58-89-9, 319-84-6, 319-85-7, 608-73-1 CN code 2903 51 00 Mirex EC No 219-196-6, CAS No 2385-85-5, CN code 2903 59 80 Pentabromodiphenyl ether C12H5Br5O EC No 251-084-2 and others CAS No 32534-81-9 and others CN code 2909 30 31 Pentachlorobenzene EC No 210-172-5 CAS No 608-93-5 CN code 2903 69 90 Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) EC No 215-648-1 and others, CAS No 1336-36-3 and others, CN code 2903 69 90 Polychlorinated naphthalenes EC No 274-864-4 CAS No 70776-03-3 and others CN code 3824 99 93 Articles containing concentrations at or above 0,1 % of tetra-, penta-, hexa- or heptabromodiphenyl Tetrabromodiphenyl ether EC No 254-787-2 and others CAS No 40088-47-9 and others CN code 2909 30 38 Pentabromodiphenyl ether EC No 251-084-2 and others CAS No 32534-81-9 and others 37 ether by weight when produced partially or fully from recycled materials or materials from waste prepared for re-use CN code 2909 30 31 Hexabromodiphenyl ether EC No 253-058-6 and others CAS No 36483-60-0 and others CN code 2909 30 38 Heptabromodiphenyl ether EC No 273-031-2 and others CAS No 68928-80-3 and others CN code 2909 30 38 Short-chain chlorinated paraffins EC No 287-476-5 CAS No 85535-84-8 CN code 3824 99 92 Tetrabromodiphenyl ether C12H6Br4O EC No 254-787-2 and others CAS No 40088-47-9 and others CN code 2909 30 38 Toxaphene (camphechlor) EC No 232-283-3, CAS No 8001-35-2, CN code 3808 50 00 The Sanitary regulation regarding the establishment of market conditions for biocidal products (Government Decision no. 564/200930), establishes the procedure for registration and placing on the market for the use of biodistructive products in accordance with the provisions of the Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council no. 98/8/EC of 16 February 1998 on the commercialization of biodistructive products. The National register of biodistructive products31, held by the Ministry of Health, contains registered biocidal products allowed to be placed at national market. The Regulation on Pollutant Release and Transfer Register, approved by Government Decision no. 373/201832 transposes Regulation (EC) no. 166/2006 establishing a European register of emissions and the transfer of pollutants and establishes the institutional framework necessary for the establishment and regulation of the National Pollutant Release and Transfer Register in order to encourage public participation in decision-making regarding environmental issues, as well as the contribution to the prevention and reduction of environmental pollution. The national register is designed as a publicly accessible electronic database that contains data on pollutants emitted or transferred from a variety of sources that may have a potentially harmful effect on the environment. 30 http://lex.justice.md/index.php?action=view&view=doc&lang=1&id=332300 31 http://ansp.md/index.php/registrul-national-al-produselor-biodistructive/ 32 https://www.legis.md/cautare/getResults?doc id=103021&lang=ro http://lex.justice.md/index.php?action=view&view=doc&lang=1&id=332300 38 The Regulation on waste shipment was recently approved by Government Decision no. 411/202233. It transposes the Regulation (EC) No 1013/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2006 on shipments of waste. The objective of the draft Regulation is to: establishing control procedures and regimes for waste transfers, according to the origin, destination and route of the transfer, the type of waste transferred and the type of treatment that applies to the waste at the destination ensuring compliance with the requirements on ecological security in the field of export, transit and disposal of waste establishing the mechanism for implementing the provisions of the Basel Convention. Regulation on environmental quality requirements for surface waters approved by Government Decision no 890/201334 partially transposes Annex V and Annex X to Directive 2000/60/EC establishing a policy framework community in the field of water and constitutes a work tool necessary for water management and environmental protection authorities in their activity of qualitative assessment of water resources, which provides for the establishment of temperature, acidity/alkalinity, dissolved oxygen, chemical and microbiological parameters. The regulation sets limit values of the parameters for each quality class, including for the following POPs - Aldrin, Dieldrin, Endrin, DDT, Endosulfan, HCB, HCBD, PentaBDE, PCP, PeCB. 2.2.1.1 The status of implementation of measures to POPs in the Republic of Moldova Obligations that the Parties have to fulfil with respect to POPs, arise from the text of the Convention and the decisions adopted by the Conferences of the Parties of the Stockholm Convention (COP). Measures may be general, identical for all listed POPs. These include compliance with the rules of inventory management, waste management, reporting on POPs and prevention of releases into the environment or monitoring of POPs content in the prescribed environmental components. Other measures for certain substances are based on the Annex where they are listed (A or B or C, it is possible to include the substance in two annexes i.e. A and C). Simply said, the substances listed in Annex A are prohibited, substances in Annex B are subject to restrictions. For substances in Annexes A and B the production, use, export, import is prohibited/restricted. For substances listed in Annex C, i.e. substances not produced directly, but released into the environment unintentionally by human activities e.g. by incomplete combustion, the main aim of the measures adopted is to minimize such releases or completely remove them. Summary of POPs listed in Annexes A, B or C of the Stockholm Convention and the national legal act regulating them is shown in Table 1. 33 https://www.legis.md/cautare/getResults?doc id=133366&lang=ro 34 https://www.legis.md/cautare/getResults?doc id=48703&lang=ro 39 2.2.2 Institutional framework The administrative system for environmental management and protection includes at the highest level: (i) the President, who is responsible for the state of the environment in the country in front of the global community; (ii) the Parliament, responsible for approving general environmental policy principles and adopting laws; and (iii) the Government, responsible for the implementation of national environmental policy. The Parliament has a Commission on Environment and Regional Development. The main governmental bodies involved in chemicals management issues are: Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Food Industry and Agriculture, Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development, Ministry of Health, National Food Safety Agency, Customs Service and General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations. The Ministry of Environment (MoE) of the Republic of Moldova is the state authority responsible for the following areas: environmental protection; climate change; sustainable management of natural resources. The main responsibilities of the Ministry are: elaboration of ex ante analyses, policy documents, draft normative acts in collaboration with relevant representatives of civil society, academia and business community; collaboration, in accordance with national legislation, with international specialized institutions; monitoring the score and position of the Republic of Moldova within the international indicators and rankings in the related fields and developing proposals for their improvement; monitoring the perception of citizens, civil society, academia and business community regarding public policies, normative acts and state activity in the Ministry's and developing proposals for its improvement; monitoring the quality of public policies and normative acts in the relevant fields of activity, including in collaboration with civil society, academia and business community; implementation of national normative acts and international treaties; examination and approval of draft normative acts developed by other authorities. Since 1991, Republic of Moldova began to actively participate in international, regional and bilateral environmental cooperation, signing 17 and ratifying 16 international conventions, including the following: Montreal Protocol on Protection of Ozone Layer, adhered by the Parliamentary Decision no. 966/ 199635; 35 https://www.legis.md/cautare/getResults?doc id=60767&lang=ro 40 Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal was ratified by the Republic of Moldova on June 2nd, 1998 according to the Parliament of Republic of Moldova Decision no. 1599/199836; Rotterdam Convention on Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade was ratified by the Republic of Moldova according to Law no 389/200437; Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants was ratified by the Republic of Moldova by Law no. 40/200438; UNECE Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution, adhered by Republic of Moldova by Parliament Decision no. 299/199539; UNECE Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution Protocol on Persistent Organic Pollutants, approved by Parliament Law no. 1018/200240; Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers (PRTR) of Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters - signed by Republic of Moldova on 9 August 1999 and ratified by Law no. 99/201341; Minamata Convention on Mercury, ratified by the Law no. 51/2017. 2.2.3 Stakeholders roles The roles of various stakeholders in the management of POPs in Republic of Moldova are presented in the table 6 below. Table 6. POPs management stakeholders and related roles Stakeholder Role Ministry of Environment Coordinates the implementation of the treaties and international agreements related to waste and chemicals to which the Republic of Moldova is a party. It also contributes to the collection and dissemination of the information about waste and chemicals management, including the cross-border context, and ensure the public access to information 36 https://www.legis.md/cautare/getResults?doc id=63659&lang=ro 37 https://www.legis.md/cautare/getResults?doc id=132963&lang=ro 38 https://www.legis.md/cautare/getResults?doc id=132931&lang=ro 39 https://www.legis.md/cautare/getResults?doc id=8729&lang=ro 40 https://www.legis.md/cautare/getResults?doc id=132802&lang=ro 41 https://www.legis.md/cautare/getResults?doc id=22250&lang=ro 41 Environmental Agency participate in the implementation of the international treaties and agreements regarding waste management and their cross-border transportation issues notification documents regarding the cross border transportation of waste, according regulations approved by the Government; ensure the set up of targets for the separate collection and recycling of product waste under the extended producer responsibility; is the owner of Waste Management Information System and shall maintain it is the owner of Pollutant Release and Transfer Register and shall maintain it. Environmental Protection Inspectorate Implements state policy in the field of environmental protection and rational use of natural resources, to exercise state control and surveillance, to prevent and counteract violations in the areas of competence, in order to ensure a high level of supervision and protection. environment, public interests, ecological security of the state and other values protected by legislation. It has competencies in the fields of waste and chemicals management. National Agency for Regulation of Nuclear, Radiological and Chemical Activities (to be established by the end of the year 2024) As a part of proposed new mandate, the National Agency for Regulation of Nuclear, Radiological and Chemical activities in the sphere of chemicals management shall perform the following tasks: implement international treaties and agreements in the field of integrated management of substances and chemicals to which the Republic of Moldova is a party establish and maintain of System and inventory of classification and labelling in accordance with the Regulation on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures; create and maintain the automated information system "Register of chemicals placed on the market of the Republic of Moldova; is the ”designated national authority” responsible for administrative tasks related to the 42 implementation and management of Rotterdam Convention. Ministry of Health, Labour and Social Protection authorize biocidal products, by using the single authorization platform of hazardous chemicals; monitor, record, report and investigate cases of poisoning with hazardous chemicals, and take measures to prevent them; cooperate, through the National Agency for Public Health, with the central public environment authority in the implementation of international environmental treaties related to this law; develop and implement regulatory acts for clinical waste management National Food Safety Agency performs the supervision and control of the production, import, marketing, use and storage of plant protection products in accordance with the legislation in the field of plant protection. Customs Service of the Ministry of Finance controls and admits import/export of consumer goods, chemicals and waste on the territory of the Republic of Moldova on the basis of permissive acts and cooperates with environment authorities in the process of implementing the international environmental treaties. General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations provides specialized assistance to the Customs Service and other authorized institutions in the fight against trafficking and illicit use of hazardous chemicals and mixtures cooperates with the national authorities in the process of implementing the international environmental treaties related to Law on Chemicals and other acts 2.3 Assessment of the POPs issue in the country This subchapter contains specific information on POPs listed under the three annexes of the Stockholm Convention, including historical, current, and projected future production, use, import, export and waste management, and existing policy and regulatory framework. 43 The detailed inventories of POPs pesticides, PCB, POP PBDE, PFOS and uPOPs are available at: https://www.pro-mediu.md/review-and-update-of-the-national-implementation-plan-for-the republic-of-moldova-under-the-stockholm-convention-on-persistent-organic-pollutants-pops/ 2.3.1 Assessment of POPs pesticides (Annex A, Part I) The Convention initially listed 12 POPs, eight of which are pesticides. In 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2019 the COP adopted amendments to Annexes A, B, and C to the Stockholm Convention to list nineteen new POPs, seventeen of which are pesticides. The pesticides listed in the Convention are aldrin, alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane, beta-hexachlorocyclohexane, chlordane, chlordecone, dicofol, DDT, dieldrin, technical endosulfan and its related isomers, endrin, heptachlor, lindane, mirex, perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), its salts and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride (PFOSF), pentachlorobenzene, pentachlorophenol and its salts and esters, and toxaphene. Production The Republic of Moldova has never had and does not currently have pesticide producing enterprises or factories; all agrochemicals for plant protection permitted for use in the country have been and are imported from abroad. The National Agency for Food Safety has confirmed that pesticides containing POPs are not used in the Republic of Moldova, as they are not included in the State Register of phytosanitary products and fertilizers allowed for use in the Republic of Moldova and their import is not allowed. All the POPs pesticides, except of Dicofol, are listed in the Annex 6, Section 2 of the Law on waste no. 209/2016 (see Table 4), therefore are prohibited for marketing and using, either individually or in preparations or as constituents of articles, in order to protect human health and the environment, and prevent the formation of hazardous waste. Section 2 of the same Annex, sets the minimum levels of POPs, which means below this limit the waste can be treated as household waste, above this limit, it must be handled so as to irreversibly destroy or convert POPs in waste. Several POPs pesticides (Aldrin, Dieldrin, Endrin, DDT, Endosulfan) are regulated in the water legislation, specifically it is classified as a priority hazardous substance in the Regulation on environmental quality requirements for surface waters approved by Government Decision no. 890/201342 and the country shall take measures to cease or phase out emissions, discharges and leakages of priority hazardous substances. Environmental quality standards for analysis and evaluation of measurement results for these chemicals are set in Regulation regarding the conditions for discharge of wastewater into water bodies Government Decision no. 802/201343. Import 42 https://www.legis.md/cautare/getResults?doc id=114535&lang=ro 43 https://www.legis.md/cautare/getResults?doc id=114418&lang=ro 44 According to the information presented by National Agency for Food Safety, the import and sale of phytosanitary products and fertilizers containing POPs is not certified. Insignificant quantities are imported for laboratory purposes. Use In the 1950-1990s an estimated total amount of 560,000 tonnes of pesticides were used in Republic of Moldova, including 22,000 tonns of persistent organochlorinated compounds (OCPs). Pesticides use registered a peak between 1975-1985, but reduced dramatically in ‘90s (from 38,300 tonnes in 1984 to some 2,800 tonnes in 2000, as active ingredient). The share of persistent OCPs also decreased, in favor of other pesticide groups. Still certain amounts of obsolete pesticides (OPs) are being recorded within the country. The current amount of OPs is around 200 tonnes, out of which, approx. 48 tonnes are classified as unknown and about 150 tonnes still require the intensive laboratory analysis for confirmation of their contents. These OPs are stored around the country within the existing storages. 2.3.2 Assessment of PCBs (Annex A, Part II) Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were produced worldwide on a large scale between the 1930s and 1980s. Due to their extraordinary chemical stability and heat resistance, they were widely used as components in electrical and hydraulic equipment and lubricants. They were generally used in two types of applications: 1) closed applications: dielectric fluids in electrical equipment such as transformers, capacitors (large industrial capacitors, but also small capacitors in household appliances), heat transfer systems and hydraulic systems. 2) open uses: sealants, copy paper, industrial oils, paints, adhesives, plastics, flame retardants. In the 1970s, due to concerns about their human toxicity, suspected carcinogenicity, and persistence in the environment, several countries restricted the use of PCBs. Given the recognition of PCBs as an environmental problem of global proportions, with numerous studies detecting PCBs in various environmental compartments and remote areas, it was included in the Stockholm Convention as one of the twelve old POPs. All remaining uses of PCBs (eg transformers, capacitors or other containers containing liquids) must be phased out by Parties to the Persistent Organic Pollutants Convention by 2025. Apparently, no control of the quality of dielectric oils exists at national borders related to the concentrations of PCBs. The major sources of environmental pollution with polychlorinated 45 biphenyls in the Republic of Moldova are the emissions from the energy sector and industry. The main pathways of environmental pollution are the PCB oil spills and leaks from electric equipment, heat exchangers and hydraulic systems, evaporation from different technical installations, and discharges of industrial liquid waste. Production PCBs have never been produced in the Republic of Moldova, all of them being imported either as a PCB containing oil, or a part of the equipment, particularly capacitors.. Import PCB was imported in the Republic of Moldova along with the articles that contain it, in most cases transformers and capacitors. Export of PCB containing equipment for environmental sound disposal The Republic of Moldova does not have PCBs containing waste disposal facilities. In the 2009 2010 Republic of Moldova exported for disposal operations equipment and oils containing PCBs from 13 stations - a total of 934 tonnes of equipment containing PCBs, including oil containing PCBs - approx. 220 tonnes. In 2020, a single economic agent in the energy sector ensured the dismantling of equipment and oil containing PCBs, exporting to Germany for final decontamination and disposal of 20.04 tonnes of oils containing PCBs, the contaminated equipment being sent for initial decontamination in Romania. Currently, 10,000 tonnes of dielectric oil are centralized, repackaged, awaiting export for disposal outside the country. This data doesn’t include the PCB quantities (oil and out-of-use/ in-use PCB containing equipment in transnistrian region) Use It is estimated that most of PCBs in the Republic of Moldova are concentrated in the electricity sector. This sector has to be primarily targeted to solve the problem of PCBs in the Republic of Moldova. Another large use of PCB equipment are the railroad, that hasn’t been modernized and final consumers (small scale enterprises and public entities that have the transformers either in use or out of use, spread all around the country). Updated PCB inventory The main purpose of the updated PCB inventory in the Republic of Moldova is update the existing information to identify the status of remaining PCB products, the major actions on eliminating 46 and phase-out of use of identified PCB equipment in 2009, the list of major PCB holders and industries and places used, and the level of implementation of the PCB regulation, with particular focus on Art. 7 of the regulation that sets operating deadlines for PCB-contaminated equipment. The need to update the PCB inventory was determined by issues related to PCB management, in particular finding the quantity of the PCB equipment still in use and setting the final steps needed to achieve environmentally sound waste management of PCB containing liquids and equipment contaminated with PCB. Some of the key challenges occurred while updating the PCB inventory in 2020 were as follows: Lack of annual data submission on PCB reports/annual PCB inventory development, according to Art 9 of PCB Regulation approved by Government Decision no. 81/2009; Restructuration of big energy supply companies (the process that implied the change of staff, infrastructure and selling of assets); Individual companies included in 2009 inventory under the Consumers component show a lack of knowledge regarding the PCB equipment or lack of interest to engage in inventory process; PCB inventory didn’t not take into account the informal sector, however the certain share of potential PCB equipment is present there as well; Lack of accredited national laboratory to undertake laboratory testing of the PCB content of oil, thus the concentration indicated for the equipment was the one from 2009 screening results, that could actually vary if the laboratory analysis would have been performed at present. Almost all the companies reported the cases of adding the oil / changing and cleaning up the oil during the last 10 years; The present inventory has only considered PCB in some closed applications: dielectric fluids in electrical equipment such as transformers, capacitors and circuit breakers. No data was identified for open applications. According to PCB inventory for 2021, in the Republic of Moldova the largest holder of equipment with PCB content remains the energy sector in the country (ÊCS "Premier Energy", S.A. "Moldelectrica", S.A. “Red Nord", ÎS “Hydroenergetic Node Costești"), which according to the data presented, owns 191 units of equipment containing approximately 85 tonnes of oil. Table 7. PCB equipment / oil in energy sector, 2021 in tons Name of Company PCB contaminated equipment, in units PCB contaminated oil, in tonnes ICS Premier Energy 14 units (circuit breakers 35Kv) 3,535 Moldelectrica 161 (circuit breakers and transformers) 47,526 RedNord 3 (transformers) 0.641 47 Nodul Hidroenergetic Costesti 13 (12 circuit breakers (630/A/110kV, 1 racord) 32,450 Total 191 84,152 After the energy sector another large holder remains State Enterprise "Railway", which did not benefit from investments in infrastructure during the last years, old transformers with potential PCB content still being used. The preliminary data shows existence of 75 transformers (mainly the small size ones) with a total amount of oil of 2,9 tonnes. Data on the inventory of equipment contaminated with PCBs, as well as on stocks of oil with PCB content among the final consumers (SMEs, public institutions) in the country show there are 307 units (transformers) with a total amount of 108,594 tonnes. As total for Moldova (excluding transnistrian region)r the approximate quantity is 600 units of equipment containing 200 tonnes of potential PCB containing oil. In so-called “Transnistrian region44” the partial PCB inventory was conducted in 2019, under the OSCE mission to the Republic of Moldova. It comprises only a part of the region and was done based on the request of electricity supply operator “SUE Dnestrenergo”. The PCB inventory included seven electrical substations from Bender, Grigoriopol, Hirtop, Dubasari, Ribnita (two) and Camenca localities. As a result of the inventory, 2,194 capacitors of different capacities were detected. The estimated quantity of PCBs is 44 tonnes of oil and a total capacitors amount of 111 tones. Over 10% of inventoried capacitors were leaking. The worst situation was found in Bender, where capacitors lied on the surface of the soil and about 30% of the capacitors had obvious signs of leakage. The effect of PCBs on the environment can be noticed at the Hirtop electrical substation, where the chestnuts withered from the immediate vicinity of the platform on which the capacitors are located. Similar situations can be seen at other electrical substations as well, where the grass under the platforms was yellowish and much weaker, compared to the neighboring territories. 44 separatist region of Transnistria or Trans-Dniester - a narrow strip of land between the Dniester river and the Ukrainian border broke away from Moldova in 1990 48 Figure 1. Visits to energy supply and distribution companies to check the stored oil and in-use equipment, 2020 Main findings: The PCB contaminated equipment assessment, conducted in September 2020-January 2021 concluded with the following findings as regards to the PCB regulation enforcement status: Art. 7 Deadlines for operation of PCB-contaminated equipment Finding: most of PCB contaminated equipment holders informed that will not be able to comply with the deadline set in Regulation Art. 7(2) the use of the equipment, indicated in paragraph (1), with PCB content between 0.005% and 0.05% is allowed until December 31, 2020; Possible action: 49 addendum of the regulation and setting the new deadline as per 2025. requesting the biggest PCB holders to provide with the business plan and calculation of costs for sound storage, treatment and disposal. Art. 8 Holders of PCBs and equipment containing PCBs must take into account the following restrictions in the application of PCBs 1) the separation of PCBs from other substances for the purpose of PCB reuse is prohibited; 2) filling the transformers with PCB is forbidden; 3) until the moment of decontamination, decommissioning and / or disposal in accordance with point 12, the maintenance of transformers containing PCBs may continue only for the purpose of ensuring the maintenance of PCBs containing them according to technical standards or dielectric quality specifications and the condition that the transformers are in good technical condition and have no leaks; 4) the equipment used is periodically checked in order to ensure the timely liquidation of leaks; 5) the equipment containing leaking PCBs will be taken out of use and will be managed according to the provisions of point 11; 6) it is forbidden to mix or dilute the liquid containing PCBs, solid PCBs or substances with PCBs with any other substances. Finding: Some visited / interviewed business operators have pointed out the lack of internal rulebook on manipulating with the PCB contaminated equipment, based on regulation procedures. Possible action: elaboration of the template of the rulebook, training of relevant staff on conducting of PCB inventory and management/ manipulation procedures. Art. 16 PCB analyzes are performed in accredited laboratories according to the provisions of Law no. 235/2011 on accreditation and conformity assessment activities. When performing the analyzes, the provisions of the Reference Methods for the PCB analysis must be taken into account. Finding: currently the country lacks the accredited laboratory to perform the PCB analysis, nor at state level (Environmental Agency), neither at private laboratory. The only option on performing the analysis is abroad. Possible action: Inclusion of the PCB analysis within the tender documents for PCB contaminated equipment / oil repackaging and disposal. 50 2.3.3 Assessment of POP-PBDEs (Annex A, Part IV and Part V), HBB (Annex A, Part I) and HBCD (Annex A, Part I and Part VII) 2.3.3.1 Polybrominated biphenyl ethers Polybrominated biphenyl ethers are a family of products chemicals (tetrabromodiphenylether, pentabromodiphenylether, hexabromodiphenylether, heptabromodiphenylether, decabromodiphenylether and hexabromobiphenyl) that have been used as flame retardants in a wide range of household products such as plastics, textiles, furniture, adhesives, sealants, coatings and inks since the 70. Polybrominated biphenyl ethers were produced with three different degrees of bromination and were marketed as c-PentaBDE, c-OctaBDE, and c-DecaBDE. The homologs of c-PentaBDE are tetrabromodiphenylether (tetraBDE), pentabromodiphenylether (pentaBDE), while of and c-OctaBDE are hexabromodiphenylether (hexaBDE) and heptabromodiphenylether (heptaBDE) - generically referred to as POP-PBDE - are listed in annex A to the Convention, and their production and use must eliminated by the Parties, subject to the specific exemptions allowed by the Convention. Hexabromobiphenyl (HBB) is listed in Annex A to the Convention without specific exemptions. C-decaBDE is a synthetic substance with no known natural occurrence that is used as a flame retardant (FR) in many applications worldwide, primarily in plastic polymers and textiles. The main manufacturing sectors that used POP-PBDEs are the following: electrical and electronic industry; transport industry; the furniture industry; textile and carpet industry; construction industry; recycling industry. Production Republic of Moldova is not producing and has never produced POP-PDBEs. TetraBDE, pentaBDE, hexaBDE and heptaBDE are included in Annex no. 6 to Law 209/2016, being allowed to produce, make available on the market and use in a) articles and preparations with concentrations of POP-PBDE below 0.1% by weight, produced (partially or fully) based on recycled materials or materials obtained from waste prepared for reuse; b) electrical and electronic equipment and articles containing POP-PBDE as a constituent element of these articles already in use shall continue to be used until 2025. HBB is included in Annex 6 to Law 209/2016 without any specific derogation. DecaBDE is to be included in Annex 6 to Law 209/2016, with the establishment of exemptions and targets for critical thresholds of PBDEs in waste. Art. 12, paragraph (3) of Law no. 209/2016 on waste 51 restricts the use of polybrominated biphenyl ethers in electrical and electronic equipment, batteries and accumulators and vehicles. Art. 50, para (3) of Law no. 209/2016 on waste prohibits putting on market electrical and electronic equipment that exceed the maximum weight concentration values of 0.1% for mercury, lead, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls and ethers of polybrominated diphenyl and 0.01% for cadmium, with the exception of equipment for which exemptions are established. Import/export POP-PDBEs can be imported in the Republic of Moldova along with the articles that contain them: vehicles, EEE and others. As a pure chemical, it is imported in insignificant quantities for laboratory purposes. Use The main products in which POP-PBDEs have been used as a flame retardant agent is electrical and electronic equipment, vehicles, furniture, textiles and carpets, construction materials, including the recycling sector of all these products. Between 90% and 95% of the pentaBDE is believed to have been used to treat polyurethane foam (PUR), which was used primarily in automobiles and upholstery. Other minor uses were textiles, printed circuit boards, insulating foam, cables, conveyor belts, varnishes and possibly drilling oils. The main use of octaBDE (95%) was in acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) polymers, which was used for the housings of electrical and electronic equipment, especially cathode ray tube (CRT) housings and office equipment such as machines copiers and printers. Other minor uses were high impact polystyrene (HIPS), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) and polyamide polymers. Hexabromobiphenyl has been used as a flame retardant in three products: thermoplastic ABS (plastic for building the casing of industrial machines and electrical appliances (eg radio and TV parts), PUR foam for automotive upholstery and in coatings and varnishes. Inventory of POP-PBDEs in the Republic of Moldova The inventory was based on UNEP Guidance for the inventory of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) listed under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants45. The Republic of Moldova does not produce flame retardants. They reach the market by being incorporated into articles. There have been investigated articles put on market that may contain flame retardants, as follows: vehicles and cases of computers and televisions with cathode ray 45 http://www.pops.int/Implementation/IndustrialPOPs/BDEs/Guidance/tabid/5374/Default.aspx http://www.pops.int/Implementation/IndustrialPOPs/BDEs/Guidance/tabid/5374/Default.aspx 52 tube and flat screens. Inventory of the mentioned products covered three stages of their life cycle: • Imports / production; • Stocks in use or stored; • Products entering the waste stream. For each of the above products, the potential content of flame retardants at each stage of the life cycle was estimated. The results are shown in the tables below. A. Transport Sector Table 8. POP-PBDE inventory in the transport sector Total POP-PBDE content in imported vehicles The year Total annual import of articles/products containing POP PBDEs (vehicles/year) Estimated total polymer fraction containing POP PBDEs in imported articles/products (tonnes/year) PUR foam containing POP PBDE in articles/products in use (tonnes/year) Estimated total POP PBDE content of imported articles/products (tonnes/year) 2019 36754 5863 0.92 0.88 2020 33030 5368 0.82 0.78 Total POP-PBDE content in articles in use Total quantity of items/products containing POP PBDEs in use (vehicles/year) Estimated total polymer fraction containing POP PBDEs in articles/products in use (tonnes/year) PUR foam containing POP PBDE in articles/products in use (tonnes/year) Estimated total content of POP-PBDEs in articles/products in use (tonnes/year) 2019 2,830,805 460062.42 71.1 148.42 2020 3,891,777 632491.59 97.70 209.67 To be added: Calculation of c-pentaBDE and decaBDEin end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) Calculation of c-pentaBDE and decaBDE in wastes disposed from end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) until 2020 53 B. Electric and Electronic Equipment Sector Please add some introductory text here as well Table 9. Inventory of POP PBDEs in EEE Estimated total POP-PBDE in article produced Year Type of article containing POP-PBDEs Countries of origin Total annual import of item containing POP-PBDE (tonnes/year) Estimated total POP PBDE content of imported and produced items (tonnes/year) 2001 CRT Moldova 15.8 0.02 2002 CRT Moldova 65.8 0.08 2003 CRT Moldova 85.8 0.11 2004 CRT Moldova 104.1 0.13 2005 CRT Moldova 97.5 0.12 Estimated total POP-PBDE in article imported 2001 CRT European countries, China 230.3 0.0004 2004 CRT European countries, China 904.1 0.0016 2008 CRT European countries, China 3622.8 0.0063 2012 CRT European countries, China 4.4 0.0000 2016 CRT European countries, China 0.3 0.0000 2018 CRT European countries, China 1.6 0.0000 2019 CRT European countries, China 2.3 0.0000 2020 CRT European countries, China 0.4 0.0000 2001 Flat screen European countries, China 179.0 0.0002 2004 Flat screen European countries, China 155.5 0.0002 2008 Flat screen European countries, China 1237.6 0.4794 2012 Flat screen European countries, China 1725.1 0.0018 2016 Flat screen European countries, China 1080.1 0.0011 2018 Flat screen European countries, China 477.3 0.0005 2019 Flat screen European countries, China 619.5 0.0006 2020 Flat screen European countries, China 523.2 0.0005 Estimated total POP-PBDE content of EEE items in use/stock at consumer level Year Type of article containing POP-PBDEs Total amount of POP-PBDE containing articles in use (tonnes/year) Total estimated polymer Estimated total content of POP-PBDEs in items in 54 fraction containing POP-PBDEs in articles in use/in stock (tonnes/year) use/in stock (tonnes/year) 2001 CRT 26075,6 7822,7 0,045 2004 CRT 19218,4 5765,5 0,033 2008 CRT 28078,9 8423,7 0,049 2012 CRT 28567,8 8570,4 0,049 2016 CRT 5000,0 1500,0 0,009 2018 CRT 500,0 150,0 0,001 2019 CRT 100,0 30,0 0,000 2020 CRT 13,8 4,1 0,000 2001 Flat screen 0,0 0,0 0,000 2004 Flat screen 4164,0 1540,7 0,004 2008 Flat screen 2251,3 833,0 0,002 2012 Flat screen 5074,7 1877,6 0,005 2016 Flat screen 16979,5 6282,4 0,017 2018 Flat screen 21484,1 7949,1 0,022 2019 Flat screen 23333,7 8633,5 0,024 2020 Flat screen 23763.7 8792.5 0.024 Recycling. As flame retardants containing POPs have already been restricted and banned internationally, most products no longer contain them, but the problem of waste containing flame retardants, which requires proper management, is becoming increasingly evident. As long as POP-PBDEs are no longer produced, the main difficulty being the identification of existing stocks and articles containing POP-PBDEs and the treatment of the generated waste. It should be noted that the management of items containing polybromodiphenylethers (e.g. EEE equipment), when they become waste, will be a problem for many countries, including the Republic of Moldova, because waste containing POP-PBDEs will have to be identified and treated in accordance with Article 6 (d) of the Stockholm Convention in an environmentally friendly manner and the country lacks such facilities. Currently, there are no data on the amount of POP-PBDE-containing waste treated in the Republic of Moldova or abroad. 55 2.3.3.1 Hexabromocyclododecane Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) is a brominated flame retardant used as an additive in polymer applications, providing lifetime fire protection for vehicles, buildings or articles, as well as protection during storage. The main uses of HBCD globally are in expanded and extruded polystyrene foam, while use in textile applications and electrical and electronic appliances is smaller. In May 2013, the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) added hexabromocyclododecane to Annex A, with a specific exemption for the production and use of HBCD in expanded polystyrene (EPS) and extruded polystyrene (XPS) for the thermal insulation of the buildings. Parties must therefore prohibit and/or eliminate the production of HBCD, unless they notify the Convention Secretariat of their intention to request a specific, time-limited exemption for the production and use of EPS and XPS in buildings, as provided in annex A to the Convention. HBCD is not regulated by Annex 6 to Law no. 209/2016 on waste and shall be included. Besides this, HBCD is regulated in the water legislation, specifically environmental quality standards for analysis and evaluation of measurement results for HBCD are set in Regulation regarding the conditions for discharge of waste water into water bodies Government Decision no. 802/201346. Production The Republic of Moldova does not produce HBCD, and it reaches the market by being incorporated into articles, final products or raw materials. Import/export HBCD can be imported in the Republic of Moldova along with the articles that contain them: polystyrene, packaging, binders, adhesives and latex paints. As a pure chemical, it is imported in insignificant quantities for laboratory purposes. Use The main application (90%) of HBCD is in polystyrene foam in insulating boards, which are widely used in construction. Insulating boards with HBCD can also be found in vehicles as well as road and railway embankments. These polystyrene foams exist in two forms, as expanded polystyrene foam (EPS) and extruded polystyrene foam (XPS), with HBCD concentrations ranging from 0.5% to 2.5%. The manufacture of EPS, XPS and HIPS involves polymerization and extrusion processes 46 https://www.legis.md/cautare/getResults?doc id=114418&lang=ro 56 where HBCD is added to the process as an additive. HBCD is used in EPS in nursing pillows and beanbags used as armchairs. The use of HBCD in EPS in packaging materials is considered minor. The second most important application is in the dispersion of polymers on cotton or cotton blended with synthetic blends, in the back layer of textiles where HBCD can be present in concentrations between 2.2 - 4.3%. Another minor application of HBCD is in high-impact polystyrene (HIPS), which is used in electrical and electronic appliances such as audio-visual equipment housings, refrigerator linings, as well as power line distribution boxes and wiring. HBCD can also be added to binders, adhesives and latex paints. Inventory of HBCD An assessment of potential content of HBCD was carried out for expanded and extruded polystyrene used as insulation materials. The inventory was based on Guidance for the inventory, identification and substitution of Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD)47. The inventory covered only imports of raw materials for production of EPS and the final product EPS and XPS. Assessment of insulation boards in use or in waste stream was not done as part of the inventory, as no there are no available data for estimation of the relevant quantities. The results are shown in the tables below. Table 10. Estimated total HCBD in imported items/products Year Type of article/product containing HBCD Countries of origin Total annual import/production of articles/products containing HBCD (tonnes/year) Estimated total content of HBCD in imported/produce d articles/products (tonnes/year) 2005 Expanded polystyrene (EPS) (end products and raw materials) Romania, Ukraine, Russia, Poland, Holland, Bulgaria, Germany, China 463.6 0.464 2008 Expanded polystyrene (EPS) (end products and raw materials) Romania, Ukraine, Poland, Germany, Italy, Turkey, China, Russia 2445.2 2.445 47 http://chm.pops.int/Implementation/NationalImplementationPlans/GuidanceArchive/GuidanceforHBCD/tabid/5332/Default.asp x 57 2012 Expanded polystyrene (EPS) (end products and raw materials) Romania, Ukraine, Germany, Poland, Turkey, Russia, China 2871 2.871 2016 Expanded polystyrene (EPS) (end products and raw materials) Romania, Ukraine, Poland, Italy, Russia, China 2394.2 2.394 2017 Expanded polystyrene (EPS) (end products and raw materials) Romania, Ukraine, Poland, Italy, Russia, China 2978.9 2.979 2018 Expanded polystyrene (EPS) (end products and raw materials) Romania, Ukraine, Poland, Italy, Russia, China 3010.8 3,011 2019 Expanded polystyrene (EPS) (end products and raw materials) Romania, Ukraine, Poland, Italy, Russia, China 3099.8 3.100 2020 Expanded polystyrene (EPS) (end products and raw materials) Romania, Ukraine, Poland, Italy, Russia, China 2757.2 2.757 2005 Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) Romania, Ukraine, Italy, Poland, Russia, China 40.9 0.102 2008 Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) Romania, Ukraine, Poland, Italy, Russia, Belarus 247.9 0.620 2012 Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) Romania, Ukraine, Poland, Italy, Russia, Belarus 393.4 0.984 2016 Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) Romania, Ukraine, Poland, Italy, Russia, Belarus 646.4 1.616 2017 Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) Romania, Ukraine, Poland, Italy, Russia, Belarus 646.0 1.615 58 2018 Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) Romania, Ukraine, Poland, Italy, Russia, Belarus 676.4 1.691 2019 Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) Romania, Ukraine, Poland, Italy, Russia, Belarus 741.7 1.854 2020 Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) Romania, Ukraine, Poland, Italy, Russia, Belarus 949.5 2.374 Table 11. Estimated total HCBD in exported items/products Year Type of item/product containing HBCD Countries of destination Total annual export of articles/produc ts containing HBCD (tonnes/year) Estimated total content of HBCD in exported articles/product s (tonnes/year) 2006 Expanded polystyrene (EPS) Romania 60.6 0.06 2008 Expanded polystyrene (EPS) Romania 12.6 0.012 2012 Expanded polystyrene (EPS) Romania, Russia, Ukraine 11 0.01 2016 Expanded polystyrene (EPS) Romania, Russia 26.6 0.026 2017 Expanded polystyrene (EPS) Romania 43 0.043 2018 Expanded polystyrene (EPS) Romania 0.11 0.00012 2019 Expanded polystyrene (EPS) Romania 1.61 0.00161 2020 Expanded polystyrene (EPS) Romania 0.77 0.00078 Alternatives. A market study in the Republic of Moldova revealed that as alternatives to HBCD in some expandable polystyrene boards, resin-based brominated styrene polymer is used in the case of one company and brominated polymer in the case of another. 2.3.4 Assessment of HCBD (Annex A, Part I) Hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD) is a halogenated aliphatic compound, created as a by-product in the manufacture of chlorinated aliphatic compounds. HCBD is persistent, bioaccumulative and highly toxic to aquatic organisms and birds. It can be transported over long distances, causing significant negative effects on human health and the environment. 59 In the Republic of Moldova HCBD is regulated in the water legislation, specifically it is classified as a priority hazardous substance in the Regulation on environmental quality requirements for surface waters approved by the Government Decision no. 890/2013 and the country shall take measures to cease or phase out emissions, discharges and leakages of priority hazardous substances. Environmental quality standards for analysis and evaluation of measurement results for HCBD are set in the Regulation regarding the conditions for discharge of wastewater into water bodies approved by the Government Decision no. 802/2013. Production Republic of Moldova is not producing and has never produced HCBD. Import/export HCBD is not imported or exported from the Republic of Moldova. Use Hexachlorobutadiene is most commonly used as a solvent for other chlorine-containing compounds. Hexachlorobutadiene is generated as a byproduct during the chlorinolysis of butane derivatives in the production of both carbon tetrachloride and tetrachloroethene. In the Republic of Moldova, the manufacture of these products is not registered, therefore, HCBD is not generated either. The production, placing on the market and use of HCBD is prohibited under Art. 53 of the Waste Law no. 209/2016, being included in Annex no. 6, Section 1. 2.3.5 Assessment of PCNs (Annex A, part I) Polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) are listed in annex A to the Convention with specific exemptions for use in the production of polyfluorinated naphthalenes, including octafluoronaphthalene, and in annex C to the Convention as unintentional emissions. Some PCNs can be degraded by sunlight and slowly by certain microorganisms, but many PCNs persist in the environment, bioaccumulation is confirmed for tetra-hepta-CN. Chronic exposure increases the risk of liver disease. Production Republic of Moldova is not producing and has never produced PCNs. 60 Import/export PCN is not imported or exported from the Republic of Moldova. Use PCNs make effective insulating coatings for electrical wires. Another use is as a wood preservative, rubber and plastic additive, capacitor dielectrics and lubricants. The intended production of PCN is now considered to have ceased. PCNs are unintentionally generated during industrial processes at high temperatures in the presence of chlorine. Incineration of waste is considered to be the largest current source of these substances. PCN have a similar mechanism of formation as dioxins and furans, from the same sources, and thus the implementation of best available techniques and best environmental practices (BAT/BEP) for dioxins and furans also cover these substances. The amount of polychlorinated naphthalenes escaping from landfill sites and stocks of old appliances and electronic components is not known. Measures introduced against PCB cover also PCN, which is present in mixtures thereof. In the Republic of Moldova, PCN was not produced and was not even used. No information is available on contaminated sites with exclusive occurrence of PCN or soil contamination from landfills. For PCN data is not available on releases to air, water and soil and regular monitoring. At the same time, the production, placing on the market and use of PCN is prohibited under Art. 53 of the Waste Law no. 209/2016, being included in Annex no. 6. 2.3.5 Assessment of PCPs (Annex A, part I) Pentachlorophenol (PCP) and its salts and esters was included in Annex A of the Stockholm Convention in 2015, with specific exemptions for the production and use. Production Republic of Moldova is not producing and has never produced PCP. Import/export PCP is not imported or exported from the Republic of Moldova. Use PCP was formerly widely used as a biocide. Since the ‘30s of the last century, PCP was mainly used in the world as a fungicide to protect wood. Similarly, its salt - sodium pentachlorophenate (PCP-Na) was used, which readily dissociates to the original PCP. PCP was also used in the 61 production of pentachlorophenyl laurate (PCP-L), agents to protect fabric. It was also applied to seeds (for non-food use), leather, masonry, into the water for cooling towers, to systems for spinning ropes and paper mills, and for disinfection. Currently, its use is limited primarily to the protection of wooden poles (mainly electric poles), and railway sleepers. Most global consumption is attributed to North America (production in Mexico, use in the USA, Canada). The current major proportion of Na-PCP used is in textile industry accounted for India. The assessment of use of PCP in the Republic of Moldova did not reveal its use in products and articles PCP is not regulated by Annex 6 to Law no. 209/2016 on waste and shall be included. Besides this, PCP is regulated in the water legislation, specifically it is classified as a priority hazardous substance in the Regulation on environmental quality requirements for surface waters approved by the Government Decision no 890/2013 and the country shall take measures to cease or phase out emissions, discharges and leakages of priority hazardous substances. Environmental quality standards for analysis and evaluation of measurement results for PCP are set in the Regulation regarding the conditions for discharge of wastewater into water bodies approved by the Government Decision no. 802/2013. 2.3.6 Assessment of SCCPs (Annex A, part I) Short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) can be emitted into the environment at all stages of their life cycle, namely during their production, storage, transport, use and disposal and the products that contain them. Although data are limited, the major sources of SCCP releases are the manufacture of PCCS-containing products, such as PVC-based plastics, and the metalworking use of PCCS-containing fluids. Short-chain chlorinated paraffins are listed in Annex A to the Convention with specific exemptions. Production Republic of Moldova is not producing and has never produced SCCPs. Pursuant to Art. 53 of the Waste Law no. 209/2016, the production, placing on the market and use of SCCPs are prohibited. However, through the derogation included in Annex 6 to the said law, the production, placing on the market and use as substances or as constituents of other substances or in mixtures in concentrations of less than 1% by weight are still allowed. In addition, the use is allowed in the case of the following applications: a) sealing agents in rubber, conveyor belts used in the mining industry; b) sealing agents. 62 Import/export SCCP is not imported or exported from the Republic of Moldova. Use SCCPs can be used as a plasticizer in rubber, paints, adhesives, flame retardants for plastics, and as an extreme pressure lubricant in metalworking fluids Chlorinated paraffins are produced by chlorination of straight chain paraffin fractions. Production of SCCP has declined globally as regulatory measures have been put in place. Assessment of the use of SCCPs in the Republic of Moldova did not reveal their use in products and articles. 2.3.7 Assessment with respect to DDT (Annex B, Part II) Dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT) is a persistent insecticide used since 1939 and banned since 1960. DDT is currently listed in Annex B of the Stockholm Convention, its production and/or use being restricted for disease vector control purposes then when no equally effective alternative is available, and in accordance with the recommendations and guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO). It is a lipophilic compound that accumulates in the tissues of fish, but also of people who consume these fish. Production DDT has never been produced in the Republic of Moldova, and its use was banned in 1970. DDT is listed in the Annex 6, Section 2 of the Law on waste no. 209/2016 (see Table 4), therefore is prohibited for marketing and using, either individually or in preparations or as constituents of articles, in order to protect human health and the environment, and prevent the formation of hazardous waste. Import/export DDT is not imported in the Republic of Moldova. Export of DDT containing pesticides is described in the section 2.3.9.2. Use DDT was first used during World War II to combat malaria and typhus among civilians and military troops. After the war, DDT continued to be used to control disease and was sprayed on a variety 63 of agricultural crops, particularly cotton. DDT continues to be applied against mosquitoes in several countries to control malaria. Its stability, persistence (up to 50% remains in soil even 10 15 years after application), and widespread use have made DDT residues ubiquitous, and residual DDT has even been detected in Arctic. Although its use has been banned in many countries, it has been detected in foods around the world. The short-term acute effects of DDT on humans are limited, but long-term exposures have been associated with chronic health effects. DDT has been detected in breast milk, raising serious concerns about the health of infants. Currently, DDT is not included in the official register of substances allowed for use in agriculture, forestry and household use. At the same time, the production, placing on the market and use of DDT is prohibited under Art. 53 of the Waste Law no. 209/2016, being included in Annex no. 6, Section 1 with no exemptions. 2.3.8 Assessment of PFOS, its salts and PFOSF (Annex B, Part III) Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), its salts and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride (PFOSF) is a fully fluorinated anion that is typically used as a salt or incorporated into polymers. PFOS and isomers of the large family of perfluoroalkyl sulfonated substances. PFOS is extremely persistent and has bioaccumulation and biomagnification properties, although it does not follow the classic pattern of other POPs by partitioning into adipose tissue, binding to proteins in the blood and liver. It has the ability to withstand long-distance transport and also meets the toxicity criteria of the Stockholm Convention. PFOS is listed in Annex B to the Stockholm Convention with acceptable purposes and specific exemptions. Production Republic of Moldova is not producing and has never produced PFOS its salts and PFOSF. The production, placing on the market and use of PFOS, its salts and PFOSF are prohibited by Law no. 209/2016 on waste, but certain exemptions are granted for specified acceptable purposes, such as: substances occurring as an unintended trace element contaminant in substances, preparations or articles with a concentration of PFOS less than or equal to 10 mg/kg (0.001 mass percent) present in the substances or preparations; substances that appear as an unintentional trace element contaminant in substances, preparations or articles with a concentration of PFOS of less than 0.1 percent by mass, calculated in relation to the mass of structurally or microstructurally distinct components 64 containing PFOS, or textiles or other covering materials, if the amount of PFOS is less than 1 μg/m 2 of covering material. Additionally, the use of articles already in use that contain PFOS as a constituent element of these articles is permitted. In the case of these articles, the operator is obliged to notify, without undue delay, the central environmental body of the public administration regarding the presence of PFOS in the managed articles. Import/export PFOS its salts and PFOSF is not imported or exported from the Republic of Moldova. Use PFOS, its salts and PFOSF are both an intentional product and an unintentional degradation product of related anthropogenic chemicals. Current intended uses of PFOS are widespread and include: electrical and electronic parts, firefighting foam, photographic images, hydraulic fluids and textiles. The production of PFOS, its salts and PFOSF in the Republic of Moldova is missing. For the purposes of PFOS inventory the assessment of the use of PFOS, its salts and PFOSF in products and articles was done: synthetic carpets, textile, paper, ink and the fire-fighting foams (FFF) and hydraulic oils. The main conclusion was that the country doesn’t have the stocks of PFOS, its salts and PFOSF in the FFF, neither in major synthetic carpets PFOS are not in use or in production cycle. The Republic of Moldova lacks accurate information on the extent of previous use of PFOS, its salts and PFOSF, however stocks of such substances are not expected. And since use of PFOS has already been forbidden one cannot expert that it shall be present in different articles/products imported. There is no information about the contaminated sites. Potentially contaminated can be considered those places where the PFOS, its salts and PFOSF containing articles/product end up like within the municipal solid waste landfills. Priority should be given to prevent further contamination of the environment by incorrect handling of waste which has been treated with compounds based on PFOS, its salts and PFOSF. 2.3.9 Assessment of releases of unintentional produced chemicals (Annex C) The generic sources of unintentionally released POP emissions are: 65 1) Chemical production processes, for example, facilities or units producing chlorinated phenols or in which certain other chlorinated chemicals are manufactured or which produce pulp and paper using elemental chlorine for chemical bleaching; 2) Thermal and combustion processes, for example waste burning/incineration, combustion of solid and liquid fuels or production of metals in thermal processes; 3) Biogenic processes in which PCDD/PCDF can form from precursors – manufactured chemicals such as pentachlorophenol, which are structurally closely related precursors of PCDD/PCDF. 4) Historic landfills containing PCDD/PCDF and other POP-contaminated waste and soils and sediments in which POPs have accumulated over time. According to Article 5 of the Convention, the Parties shall make an inventory of resources and provide as part of their reporting obligations an estimate of the amount released from the source categories listed in Annex C, Parts II and III. Parties have the obligation to prepare action plans to prevent or minimize releases. Parts II and III of Annex C lists categories of sources (industrial equipment) from which the release of POPs is assumed. For newly constructed facilities in category II there is an obligation to build them in the mode of BAT/BEP and for category III to support construction according to new technologies. For existing sources of category II and III, the Parties shall encourage the implementation of BAT/BEP. The use and implementation of processes that lead to a reduction in unintended releases of POPs takes place in the Republic of Moldova in accordance with the Law no. 227/202248 on industrial emissions, which is the national legal framework for the control of industrial emissions on the environment and transposes the European Parliament and Council Directive 2010/75/EU of 24 November 2010 on industrial emissions (integrated pollution prevention and control). Sources of uPOPs Unintentionally emitted POPs are chemicals that are produced unintentionally due to incomplete combustion, as well as during the manufacture of pesticides and other chlorinated substances. Sources of unintentional POP emissions can be grouped into 10 categories: 1) Incineration of waste; 2) Production of ferrous and non-ferrous metals; 3) Production of energy and heat; 4) Manufacture of mineral products; 5) Transport; 6) Open combustion processes; 7) Manufacture of chemicals and consumer goods 8) Waste management 9) miscellaneous 10) Contaminated lands. 48 https://www.legis.md/cautare/getResults?doc id=133705&lang=ro https://www.legis.md/cautare/getResults?doc id=133705&lang=ro 66 Dioxins have been associated with a number of adverse effects in humans, including immune and enzyme disorders and chloracne, and are classified as possible human carcinogens. Fetuses and newborns are the most sensitive to exposure to these substances. Laboratory animals given dioxins suffered a variety of effects, including an increase in birth defects and stillbirths. Fish exposed to these substances died shortly after exposure ended. Food (especially of animal origin) is the major source of exposure for humans. Both HCB and PeCB have been used commercially as pesticides and are also produced as a byproduct of industrial processes, particularly in the manufacture of organochlorine solvents. PeCB has also been used to reduce the viscosity of PCBs in dielectric equipment. Both HCB and PeCB can be generated as a product of the combustion of solid fossil fuels, waste oil and waste. HCBD is also generated in industrial production processes as an unintended by-product (in particular, in the production of other chlorinated hydrocarbons and in the production of magnesium). Also, HCBD is generated unintentionally during combustion and other thermal and industrial processes. There is no information indicating that HCBD is being produced or used intentionally at this time. As for PCN, the source of generation is also the unintentional production during industrial processes at high combustion temperatures. It should be noted that measures to reduce PCDD/PCDF emissions will also reduce PCN emissions. The inventory heavy relies on the latest versions of default UNEP Toolkit for Identification and Quantification of Releases of Dioxins, Furans and Other Unintentional POPs49 and the EMEP/EEA air pollutant emission inventory guidebook 201950 emission factors to address gaps related used technologies, operating conditions and practices and pollution control equipment. Unless specific information was available, the default emission factors suggested in the UNEP and EMEP/EEA Guidebook have been used. This approach, although conservative, ensures consistency and may be useful to compare emissions from region. Requirements for emission inventories of PeCB and PCN have not been implemented to date, among other things also because their preparation is not required by the Protocol on POPs to the Convention CLRTAP and the methodology is not available in EMEP/EEA Guidebook or in other guidelines. Thus, the inventory provide a general picture regarding emissions of PCDD/PCDF, PCB and HCB in quantitative terms for years 2001, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2018 and 2019 in the Republic of Moldova. Additionally, estimates have been made for the following Polycyclic Aromatic 49 version 2013, http://toolkit.pops.int/ 50 https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/emep-eea-guidebook-2019 67 Hydrocarbons (PAHs): benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P); benzo[b]fluoranthene (B[b] F); benzo[k]fluoranthene (B[k]F); and indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene (IP). The figure below provides a summary of quantitative estimate of the releases to all vectors for the main sources of uPOPs emissions to air, water, land, residue and products existent in the Republic of Moldova, drawn upon the most current available data as well researches done within other related projects implemented at the national level, but are also largely derived from calculations using literature emission factors. PCDD/PCDF releases are accompanied by releases of other uPOPs, which can be minimized or eliminated by the same measures that are used to address PCDD/PCDF. When a comprehensive inventory of PCDD/PCDF is elaborated, it allows to identify priority sources, set measures and develop action plans to minimize releases of all uPOPs. The inventory conducted in 2020 reveals that in 2019 the Republic of Moldova contributed with 146.85 g TEQ of PCDD/PCDF releases to the global environment, of which 32.06 g TEQ to the air, 1.03 g TEQ to water, 0.05 g TEQ to land and 113.71 g TEQ to residues. The largest share, approx. 69.4 %, of total PCDD/PCDF releases in 2019 resulted from category Disposal/landfill, followed by Heat and power generation with 15.7 % and Ferrous and non-ferrous metal production with 9.9% and category Waste incineration with 2.8%. 68 Figure 2. Summary of total PCDD/PCDF releases for year 2001 to 2019 in the Republic of Moldova From 2001 to 2019, PCB emissions decreased from 4.89 kg to 2.84 kg and HCB emissions also decreased from 4.45 kg to 2.12 kg. The key source of PCBs in the Republic of Moldova is the Iron and steel production - accounting for 69% of total PCB emissions in 2019; followed by Residential combustion - 15.8% in 2019. Other important sources are: Combustion in cement production 8.9% of total in 2019; and Commercial and institutional combustion - amounting 4% in 2019. The key source of HCB emissions in the Republic of Moldova is Iron and steel production representing 99% of total emissions in 2001, but declining to 93% in 2019. Another minor source, but with a rising trend is Residential combustion (from 0.01 kg/y in 2001 to 0.13 kg/y in 2019). 0,00 20,00 40,00 60,00 80,00 100,00 120,00 140,00 160,00 180,00 Air Water Land Products Residue Total 2019 2018 2016 2012 2008 2004 2001 69 Figure 3. PCB emission estimates to air, by sources, in the Republic of Moldova (kg/y) for selected years Figure 4. HCB emission estimates to Air, by sources, in the Republic of Moldova (kg/y) for selected years The emissions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are an important group of chemicals categorized as persistent organic pollutants, but not listed under the Stockholm Convention were also estimated within the present inventory. In general, the emissions of PAHs 70 gave increased significantly from 2,646 kg per year in 2001 to 11,674 kg per year in 2019. The important emission sources of PAH include residential combustion processes (open fires, coal and wood burning for heating purposes etc), industrial metal production processes, and the road transport sector. The detailed quantitative results of estimations of uPOPs for each source are presented in the tables below. Table 12. Inventory results of PCDD/PCDF emissions in various environments, g TEQ/year Source Calculation of emissions, (g TEQ/year) Year Air Water Land Product Residues Waste incineration 2019 4.08 ND NA NA 0.02 2018 9.92 ND NA NA 0.05 2016 18.76 ND NA NA 0.09 2012 35.24 ND NA NA 0.17 2008 25.4 ND NA NA 0.12 2004 24.48 ND NA NA 0.12 2001 15.24 ND NA NA 0.07 Production of ferrous and non ferrous metals 2019 2.405957 NE/ND/NA NA NA 12.06 2018 3.036569 NE/ND/NA NA NA 15.20 2016 1.081465 NE/ND/NA NA NA 5.42 2012 2.033736 NE/ND/NA NA NA 10.16 2008 5.112414 NE/ND/NA NA NA 25.56 2004 5.414586 NE/ND/NA NA NA 27.07 2001 5.28142 NE/ND/NA NA NA 26.41 Heat and power production 2019 23.03912 ND NA NA 0.00026 2018 26.43282 ND NA NA 0.00019 2016 12.29342 ND NA NA 0.0027 2012 4.722724 ND NA NA 0.006 2008 3.771335 ND NA NA 0.027 2004 3.832898 ND NA NA 0.017 2001 2.82467 ND NA NA 0.0012 Production of mineral products 2019 0.496723 NA NA ND 0.00027 2018 0.517844 NA NA ND 0.00024 2016 0.275236 NA NA ND 0.00026 2012 0.302537 NA NA ND 0.00027 2008 0.523958 NA NA ND 0.00046 2004 0.359362 NA NA ND 0.00046 2001 0.436525 NA NA ND 0.0003 Transport 2019 0.282 NA NA NA NA 2018 0.357 NA NA NA NA 71 2016 0.433 NA NA NA NA 2012 0.103 NA NA NA NA 2008 0.146 NA NA NA NA 2004 0.21 NA NA NA NA 2001 0.462 NA NA NA NA Open burning processes 2019 1.75 ND 0.04598 NA NA 2018 1.79 ND 0.04492 NA NA 2016 1.62 ND 0.04113 NA NA 2012 1.50 ND 0.03861 NA NA 2008 1.67 ND 0.04291 NA NA 2004 1.84 ND 0.04644 NA NA 2001 1.89 ND 0.04938 NA NA Production of chemicals and consumer goods 2019 0.00003 ND NA NA ND 2018 0.00007 ND NA NA ND 2016 0.00010 ND NA NA ND 2012 0.00006 ND NA NA ND 2008 0.00009 ND NA NA ND 2004 0.00005 ND NA NA ND 2001 0 ND NA NA ND Waste disposal 2019 NA 1.031145 NA NA 100.9 2018 NA 0.975915 NA NA 95.4 2016 NA 0.931565 NA NA 91.4 2012 NA 0.822595 NA NA 80.1 2008 NA 0.903205 NA NA 88.5 2004 NA 0.5377 NA NA 52.4 2001 NA 0.46123 NA NA 43.9 Miscellaneous 2019 0.00026 NA NA NA 0.72 2018 0.00045 NA NA NA 0.71 2016 0.00078 NA NA NA 0.43 2012 0.00146 NA NA NA 1.09 2008 0.00157 NA NA NA 0.30 2004 0.00181 NA NA NA 0.24 2001 0.00330 NA NA NA 0.23 Source: National Bureau of Statistics, Customs Office, open databases on import and export, National Inventory Report: 1990 2019. Sources of greenhouse gas sequestration and emissions in the Republic of Moldova ( http://clima.md/lib.php?l=ro&idc=82& ) and others. The inventory is based on the latest version of the UNEP Guidelines for the Identification and Quantification of Emissions of Dioxins, Furans and Other Unintended POPs (version 2013, http://toolkit.pops.int/) and the EMEP/EEA Guidelines 2019 (https: //www.eea.europa.eu/publications/emep-eea-guidebook 2019). Notes: ND – no emission factors were documented, therefore emissions cannot be estimated NA - not applicable NE – not estimated http://clima.md/lib.php?l=ro&idc=82& 72 Table 13. The results of the PCB emission inventory in various environments, kg/year. Source Calculation of emissions, (kg/year) Year Air Water Land Product Residues Waste incineration 2019 0.002 ND NA NA ND 2018 0.005 ND NA NA ND 2016 0.009 ND NA NA ND 2012 0.017 ND NA NA ND 2008 0.012 ND NA NA ND 2004 0.012 ND NA NA ND 2001 0.007 ND NA NA ND Production of ferrous and non ferrous metals 2019 1.96 ND NA NA ND 2018 2.50 ND NA NA ND 2016 0.88 ND NA NA ND 2012 1.69 ND NA NA ND 2008 4.26 ND NA NA ND 2004 4.51 ND NA NA ND 2001 4.39 ND NA NA ND Heat and energy production 2019 0.87 ND NA NA ND 2018 0.70 ND NA NA ND 2016 0.66 ND NA NA ND 2012 0.70 ND NA NA ND 2008 0.97 ND NA NA ND 2004 0.83 ND NA NA ND 2001 0.49 ND NA NA ND Transport 2019 0.000016 NA NA NA NA 2018 0.000018 NA NA NA NA 2016 0.000021 NA NA NA NA 2012 0.000003 NA NA NA NA 2008 0.000004 NA NA NA NA 2004 0.000005 NA NA NA NA 2001 0.000002 NA NA NA NA Open combustion processes 2019 0.000087 ND 0.00000002 NA NA 2018 0.000089 ND 0.00000001 NA NA 2016 0.000081 ND 0.00000002 NA NA 2012 0.000075 ND 0.00000001 NA NA 2008 0.000084 ND 0.00000023 NA NA 2004 0.000092 ND 0.00000002 NA NA 2001 0.000096 ND 0.00000049 NA NA 73 Table 14. Inventory results of HCB emissions in various environments, kg/year. Source Calculation of emissions, (kg/year) Year Air Water Land Product Residue Waste incineration 2019 0.01 ND NA NA ND 2018 0.02 ND NA NA ND 2016 0.04 ND NA NA ND 2012 0.08 ND NA NA ND 2008 0.06 ND NA NA ND 2004 0.06 ND NA NA ND 2001 0.03 ND NA NA ND Production of ferrous and non ferrous metals 2019 1.96 ND NA NA ND 2018 2.50 ND NA NA ND 2016 0.88 ND NA NA ND 2012 1.69 ND NA NA ND 2008 4.26 ND NA NA ND 2004 4.51 ND NA NA ND 2001 4.39 ND NA NA ND Heat and energy production 2019 0.13 ND NA NA ND 2018 0.16 ND NA NA ND 2016 0.07 ND NA NA ND 2012 0.026 ND NA NA ND 2008 0.024 ND NA NA ND 2004 0.019 ND NA NA ND 2001 0.016 ND NA NA ND Transport 2019 0.00000004 NA NA NA NA 2018 0.00000004 NA NA NA NA 2016 0.00000005 NA NA NA NA 2012 0.00000001 NA NA NA NA 2008 0.00000001 NA NA NA NA 2004 0.00000001 NA NA NA NA 2001 0.00000001 NA NA NA NA 74 2.3.10 Information on the state of knowledge on stockpiles, contaminated sites and wastes, identification, likely numbers, relevant regulations, guidance, remediation measures, and data on releases from sites 2.3.9.1 Stocks Since the use of most of the substances listed in the Convention is banned in the Republic of Moldova, they should be managed as waste. Stocks can be identified for substances that are still allowed to be used in some extent. This is true for stocks of PCB in used facilities and substances that can be used on the basis of registered exemptions. For other substances there were no stocks identified in the Republic of Moldova. 2.3.9.2 Waste The issue of POPs wastes in the Republic of Moldova concerns mostly industrial materials, as most of the stocks and waste of chlorinated pesticides were exported from the country in the previous years. The Law no. 209/2016 on waste in Annex 6, Section 2 set concentration limits, which are decisive for the handling of waste with POPs. It concerns low levels of POPs, which means below this limit the waste can be treated as household waste, above this limit it must be handled as to be irreversibly destroyed. The Annex 6, Section 2 is similar to the Annex IV to the EU POPs Regulation51. The Republic of Moldova lacks capacities and facilities for the POPs destruction/removal. The sections bellow describe the issue of waste containing POPs pesticides, PCB, POP-PBDE and HBCD. No information was identified on waste containing HCBD, PCN, SCCP, DDT, PFOS, its salts and PFOSF, and uPOPs. 2.3.9.2.1 POPs pesticides With regard to the stocks of obsolete pesticide waste, it needs to be noted that in the absence of technical capabilities for treating chemical products containing POPs at the national level, obsolete pesticides containing POPs have been repackaged and transported abroad for disposal with several technical assistance projects and grants. Table 15. POPs OPs eliminated from the Republic of Moldova Year Quantity, tons 2009-2013 3500 51 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02019R1021-20210315 75 2015-2016 400 2018 60 2019-2022 460,3 Total 4420,3 During the period of 2008-2013 – the total quantity of 3500 tons of obsolete persistent organic pollutants in several technical assistance projects (GEF, the World Bank, UNEP, NATO, the Czech Agency for International Cooperation). In 2015 another 400 tons of POPS OPs were repackaged and transported for incineration as a part of a European Union-financed project, “Improved pesticides and chemicals management in the Former Soviet Union.” Implemented by FAO, the project covers Moldova and nine other countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan). Additionally, during 2018, 60 tons of unusable pesticides were repackaged and exported for thermal destruction from the warehouse in the village of Gaidar, Ceadîr-Lunga district, UTA Găgăuzi, 179,913 tons of pesticides from the warehouse in the village of Alexăndreni, district Blood and 90 tons of pesticides left over from the Soviet era in the village of Zagarancea, Ungheni district (artillery division range). These actions were carried out with the support of NATO's "Partnership for Peace" program, implemented by the Ministry of Defense. Another achievement is the fact, that the work on inventory, repackaging and transportation of the POPs containing OPs has started in transnistrian region. In 2019, the Environment Agency with the support of the OSCE/NATO project "Elimination and destruction of unusable pesticides from the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova" carried out the inventory of unusable pesticide deposits in the Transnistrian region. According to experts' estimates, a quantity of approximately 600 tons of unusable pesticides is stored in 40 warehouses in the 5 administrative territorial units on the left of the Dniester (Grigoriopol, Camenca, Dubăsari, Râbnița and Slobozia) and in 2 cities (Tiraspol and Bender). Thus, during the period of 2019-2022 a total amount of 460,3 tons of OPs have been repacked, removed and disposed from TN region under the OSCE mission to Moldova. Although over the years the Republic of Moldova has benefited from the assistance of donors in solving the problems associated with the management of stocks of unusable pesticides (GEF, World Bank, UNEP, NATO, Czech Agency for International Cooperation, OSCE, etc.), stocks of unusable and unknown pesticides continue to be detected, according to the available data and the controls carried out by territorial subdivisions of the Environmental Protection Inspectorate, The detected pesticides are in solid and liquid state and in most cases, they are stored in polyethylene packaging, metal and plastic containers, in some cases they are mixed with soil. The 76 locations are different: non-compliant warehouses, rooms under the management of economic agents, without security. In 2021 the Environmental Protection Inspectorate jointly with the National Food Safety Agency has reevaluated the remaining quantities of the obsoleted / plant protection products and fertilizers present in the country. In the table below are reflected the quantities as per 31 December 2021. It shall be mentioned, that about 50 tons of the OPS remain to be classified as unknown substances with high potential of POPs content. 77 Table 16. Stocks of unusable or expired plant protection products and fertilizers on 31.12.2021 Nr. d/o Economic operator / Authorities Location Product feature Type of packaging (metal, plastic, other) The name (known/ unknown) The quantity of products stored, tons State (solid or liquid) Locality closed / open storage, with/without guard 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 Primăria Tvardița or. Tvardița Open. unguarded Unknown 2.0 solid 2 SRL Belevicanca s. Beleaviniți r. Briceni Open Unknown 1.2 solid metal 3 SA „Agrofirma Cimișlia” s. Selemet. r. Cimișlia Closed/ unguarded amofos carbomid hlorict calii superfosfat 102.92 solid bags 4 APL Rudi s. Rudi. r. Soroca Closed Unknown 0.8 solid 5 CAP „Basarabia” r. Anenii Noi s. Hîrbovăț Closed/ unguarded Unknown 4.0 solid metal 6 ÎS Serele Moldovei r. Anenii Noi s. Speia Closed/ unguarded dialen 1.724 liquid metal 7 APL Geamăna s. Geamăna Closed/ unguarded Bi58 0.600 liquid metal 78 8 GȚ”Vasile Paladi„ r.Cahul. s.Iujnoe Closed fungicid 0.2 solid plastic 9 SA „Porumb” mun. Balți. str. Boris Glavan Closed/sealed/ guard beet seeds treated with unknown substances with germination period expired 27.885 solid plastic 10 FPC „Bioprotect” SRL mun. Chișinău. s.Stauceni. drum. M2. Km10.nr.9 Closed/ with guard Herbicide Fertilizers Fungicides Insecticides and acaridaes 1.3369 0.3000 0.3789 0.2096 solid 0,0379t liquid 1,2991t solid-0,121t liquid 0,179t solid 0,1587t liquid 0,2202t solid 0,0025t liquid 0,2072t Plastic 11 P/f, „Plohoi Adrian” s. Hlinaia. r. Edineț Closed/ unguarded Protrazin50% 0.45 solid bags bags Tetral-75% 2.25 solid 79 Bitoxibacilin 0.7 solid bags metal bags Keltan 0.5 solid Efir butilic granulat-10% 1.4 solid Unknown 0.45 solid 12 SRL „Pan Clip” s. Mărculești. r. Florești Closed/ guarded Preparat30 7.0 solid/ liquid Metal, bags 13 SRL „Chip Agro” s. Prodanești. r. Florești Closed/ guarded Unknown mixed with dust 3.0 solid plastic 14 APL „Vărvăreuca” s. Vărvăreuca. r. Florești Open/on the soil Unknown 5.5 solid No packaging 15 APL „Ștefănești” s. Ștefănești. r. Florești Building with no roof. covered with polyethylene Sulfură acidă de zinc 2.0 solid No packaging 16 APL „Cunicea” s. Cunicea. r. Florești The territory of the former warehouse. on the ground. Unknown covered with soil 3.0 solid No packaging 17 Centrul de Sănătate Publică Florești”, or. Florești. str. bd. Victoriei 64A Closed/ guarded Carbofos Lizol 1.200 1.180 solid liquid Paper bags Plastic 80 Metafos 0.020 liquid Glass Plastic Paper bags plastic DDBF 0.100 solid Hipoclorid de calciu 0.210 solid Reopan 0.008 solid 18 P/f, ,,Vartan Mircea” s. Prăjila. r. Florești Closed/ guarded Furadorm 16.6 solid Metal Plastic Grain bags Paper bags Bags Paper bags Paper bags Royal-flor 5.46 Liquid Unusable treated beet seed 10.0 Solid Tronox- 0.35 Solid Aqvagel 1.75 Solid Titanium dioxid 0.25 Solid Ti-lose 0.35 Solid 81 Kaolin 0.525 Solid Paper bags Grain bags Unknown Lignicel 2.0 0.50 Solid Solid 19 SA ,,Fertilitatea” s. Hitrești. r. Fălești Closed/ guarded Unknown 1.100 solid metal Total 211.4074 Unknown 48.15 tons 82 Unusable and prohibited pesticides from the Cişmichioi landfill. After the elimination of pesticides from the district's central warehouses, the problem of pesticides stored in the years 1975-1987 at the Cişmichioi landfill, Vulcăneşti district, remains unresolved. This object is located on the border with Ukraine and not far from the border with Romania, and thus represents a cross-border environmental problem. The landfill is located in the field, at a distance of about 10 km from the town, has an area of 2.4 ha and is fenced. On the territory of the polygon there are 14 sarcophagi in which 3967 tonnes of pesticides are stored, including 654,1 tonnes of DDT: technical DDT (75%) – 130,1 tonnes, DDT (5.5%)-187,7 tonnes, DDT (30% )- 318,9 tonnes, DDT(15%)- 3,1 tonnes, DDT paste – 14.3 tonnes as well as 1303 tonnes of hexachlorcyclohexane (HCH). 2.3.9.2.2 PCBs In the absence of facilities for the treatment of equipment containing PCBs, such as incinerators or facilities for dismantling and decontamination of capacitors and transformers, owners of equipment containing PCBs are obliged to store PCB waste in safe conditions for the environment and public health and to provide in their waste management plan actions to eliminate them. The Environment Agency annually updates the National Inventory of equipment containing PCBs, which includes information on equipment with a volume of PCBs greater than 5 dm3 and with a concentration greater than 50 ppm (0.005%). According to the inventory of equipment contaminated with PCBs, as well as oil stocks containing PCBs in the country's energy sector carried out in 2020, the following quantities were documented, according to the table below. Table 17. Data on PCB-contaminated oil and equipment from the energy sector, in tonnes Company name Equipment contaminated with PCBs, in units PCBs contaminate oil, by the tonne ICS Premier Energy 14 units (35Kv circuit breakers) 3,535 Moldelectrica 161 (switches and transformers) 47,526 RedNord 3 (transformers) 0.641 Nodul Hidroenergetice Costesti 13 (12 switches (630/A/110kV, 1 cable) 32,450 Total 191 84,152 Although Article 7 of the Regulation on polychlorinated biphenyls provided for the deadline of December 31, 2020 for phasing out from use and decontaminating equipment and oil with a PCB content between 0.005% and 0.05%, many owners of this equipment requested the Ministry of the Environment to extend the deadline until December 31, 2023. 83 Table 18. Data on PCB waste disposed abroad in 2020, in an environmentally sound manner, equipment, liquids, or other wastes containing greater than 0.005% (50 ppm) (eg transformers, capacitors or other receptacles containing liquid stocks) The import has been done according to provisions of the Basel Convention to which the country is Party. PCBs contained in: Quantity (Metric Tonnes) Transformers and switches with PCB content (without oil) – to Germany 30.51 PCB contaminated oil 8.8 2.3.9.2.3 POP-PBDEs PBDE content in waste. The limit is provided in the Law no 209/2016 on waste Annex 6, Section 2 List of substances subject to the provisions regarding the management of Persistent Organic Pollutant waste, in accordance with Article 53(4), which gives a limit value content of POP-PBDE at 1000 mg/kg (for the sum of tetra- to heptaBDE). Up to this content, the waste is treated as household waste, but when this value is exceeded, the waste must be treated as hazardous waste containing POP-PBDE and must be irreversibly destroyed. There is no available information if recycled material that contains or may potentially contain POP-PBDE (recycled plastics in which the presence of POP-PBDE can be expected, such as plastics from electrical and electronic equipment and polyurethane foam cars) is produced by local plastic waste recovery facilities or is imported in the Republic of Moldova for further processing or use. The available plastic waste recovery facilities mainly process plastic into granules, which are exported. The quantity of POP-PBDE in this material is usually not monitored. Waste plastics are also imported and used as raw materials. However, information on the composition of imported granules is usually missing. Technological processes of direct separation of POP-PBDE are very costly. The estimation of the amount of waste with POP-PBDE content was conducted as part of NIP development and is presented in the tables below. In the absence of an adequate system of separate collection and management of end of life vehicles and electrical and electronic waste, the fate of the waste is uncertain. Vehicle waste is collected to separate the metal from it, the polymer fraction being treated by incineration or being disposed illegally in landfills. Regarding the waste of electrical and electronic equipment, especially computer screens, in recent years initiatives have been started to collect them, however, most likely the management was limited to disassembly in order to extract the valuable elements, and the polymer fraction was treated by incineration or unauthorized disposal in landfills, similar to vehicles. 84 Table 19. End of life vehicles and POP-PBDE content Year Total amount of generated waste containing POP-PBDEs (tonnes/year) Estimated total POP-PBDE content in waste (tonnes) 2019 2.3 0.16 2020 1.8 0.13 Table 20. Waste electrical and electronic equipment and POP-PBDE content Year Type of article containing POP-PBDEs Total amount of generated waste containing POP-PBDEs (tons/year) Estimated total POP-PBDE content in waste (tonnes) 2001 CRT 931.2 0.0016 2004 CRT 844.2 0.0014 2008 CRT 758.2 0.0013 2012 CRT 610.9 0.0010 2016 CRT 461.2 0.00079 2018 CRT 394 0.0006 2019 CRT 363 0.0006 2020 CRT 333 0.00057 2001 Flat screen 5.3 0.000005 2004 Flat screen 19 0.00001 2008 Flat screen 151.7 0.00015 2012 Flat screen 411.4 0.00042 2016 Flat screen 662.3 0.00067 2018 Flat screen 776 0.00079 2019 Flat screen 854.2 0.00087 2020 Flat screen 885.4 0.0009 2.3.9.2.4 HBCD The problem with HBCDD occurs mainly when plastics containing HBCD become wastes and thus it is necessary to avoid entering of these substances into new products by recycling and prevent leakage into the environment. Waste from EPS and XPS is and will be the largest proportion of waste with HBCD. Even if such waste currently enters the waste stream, the larger "influx" can be expected with the termination of life of the already applied EPS or XPS boards containing the substance in construction and demolition waste. 2.3.9.3 Contaminated sites 2.3.9.3.1 POPs pesticides and PCBs 85 The identification of surfaces contaminated with POPs, which present the greatest risks for the environment and health, as well as their mapping, was carried out in 2008-2010. In total, approx. 1,600 potentially contaminated sites were identified (pesticide warehouses, solution preparation stations, platforms, etc.). The total surface of the contaminated areas was about 350 ha. The contaminated material consisted mainly of construction waste mixed with soil. Of the total number of contaminated locations, 540 or 35% presented high and very high risks and required urgent remedial measures. During the inventory, 10 POPs were tested for identification (excluding dioxins and furans) and only 5 POP chemicals were identified, namely ∑ DDT, ∑ HCH, chlordane, heptachlor and toxaphene. Screening of all plots resulted in the identification of 252 plots (15.9%) with an elevated soil POP concentration of more than 50.0 mg/kg. DDT (88.2%) and HCH (74.9%) contamination was also very common (see figures below). Figure 5. Concentration of total POPs in identified contaminated land, mg/kg 86 Figure 6. Distribution of lands contaminated with DDT The share of land contaminated with chlordane (31%) and toxaphene (11%) is equally significant. It needs to be mentioned that aldrin, dieldrin, endrin and mirex were not identified. 87 Figure 7. Distribution of land contaminated with chlordane (left) and toxaphene (right) In 2008-2009, remedial activities were carried out which included the following: 1) The isolation of POP waste in the village of Congaz was organized in 2008. The volume of buried waste is 1014 m 3 of construction waste from the former chemical warehouse and 786 m 3 of contaminated soil. The land is partially fenced and is in satisfactory condition. 2) In 2009, the project "Repository for the isolation of waste with persistent organic compounds" was implemented in Orhei. The work was funded by the Canadian Foundation and implemented by the engineering and consulting company NIRAS (Denmark). On the perimeter of the sarcophagus grow acacias and perennial herbs. 3) Evacuation of obsolete pesticides from the warehouse in Hâncești, where the building materials of the warehouse and the contaminated soil were buried in the sarcophagus with the surface of 100 m 2 next to the former warehouse of chemical products. The land is not fenced, the condition of the sarcophagus is satisfactory 4) In the Străseni district, waste and soil contaminated with POPs were isolated in sarcophagi on an area of 0.25 ha. The design and construction work was financed from the National Ecological Fund. The land where the chemical warehouse was demolished is leveled and perennial plants grow on it. The sarcophagus is partially fenced, grassed. 5) In the Vulcanesti district, the soil contaminated with toxic oils from the "Vulcanesti 400 kV" transformer station was buried in 4 sarcophagi. The land of the sarcophagus is fenced and, on an area of 1600 m3 acacias and grass are planted. 88 The project to remediate the location of the pesticide warehouse in Cișmichioi (carried out in 2019), implemented with the support of the Czech Development Agency, consisted in isolating the sarcophagi with waste and the contaminated soil with impermeable layers with the subsequent technical and biological recultivation of the land. There is no information available about potential contamination with POP-PBDEs, HBCD, HCBD, PCN, SCCP, PFOS, its salts and PFOSF, or unintentional POPs. 2.3.10 Summary of future production, use, and releases of POPs – requirements for exemptions Currently, in the Republic of Moldova, production of none of the chemicals listed in the Stockholm Convention is allowed, nor is any future production planned. The Annex 6 of the Law no. 209/2016 on waste lists the substances subject to provisions on the management of stocks and waste of persistent organic pollutants and the available derogations. So, for tetrabromodiphenyl ether, pentabromodiphenyl ether, hexabromodiphenyl ether, heptabromodiphenyl ether producing, making available on the market and using the following shall be allowed: a) without prejudice to b) – articles and preparations showing concentrations below 0.1% by weight, produced (partly or wholly) on the basis of recycled materials or waste materials prepared for reuse; b) electrical and electronic equipment, according to the requirements referred to in Article 53(3)of the Law on waste 209/2016. Articles containing these POPs as a constituent already in use shall remain in use until 2025. The assessment of the potential content of POP-PBDEs in other articles, such as vehicles and CRT and flat panel televisions screens at different stages of the life cycle (production/import, in-use, waste) was presented in chapter 2.3.3 above. Their restriction and prohibition will not represent a problem for future importers, as alternatives are available, and it is not necessary to request exemptions in this regard. For PFOS, its salts and PFOSF, the derogation refers to presence as an unintentional trace contaminant in substances, mixtures or articles: a) for concentration of PFOS less than or equal to 10 mg / kg (0.001 percent by mass), b) PFOS concentrations in semi-finished products or articles or components thereof, if the PFOS concentration is less than 0.1 weight percent, calculated in relation to the mass of structurally or microstructurally distinct components containing PFOS or textiles or other coating materials, where the PFOS is less than 1 μg/m2 of coating material. Articles already in use containing PFOS as a constituent of these articles may continue to be used. When dealing with such articles, the operator shall notify without undue delay the central environmental authority of the public administration of the presence of PFOS in the managed articles. 89 For PCBs, it shall be permissible to use articles already in use at the time of the entry into force of the Law no. 209/2016 on waste by 2020. Most of PCB contaminated equipment holders informed that will not be able to comply with the deadline set in Regulation on PCB, Art. 7(2) which provides that the use of the equipment, indicated in paragraph (1), with PCB content between 0.005% and 0.05% is allowed until December 31, 2020. It is necessary to amend the regulation and set the new deadline as per 2025 and to request the biggest PCB holders to provide within their business plans an estimation calculation of costs for sound storage, treatment and disposal. For SCCP, producing, making available on the market and using as substances or as constituents of other substances or in mixtures in concentrations of less than 1% by weight shall be allowed and shall be allowed in the following cases: (a) flame retardants in rubber, used in conveyor belts in the mining industry; (b) flame retardants for sealing. Regarding the products with industrial POPs content, the import of insignificant amounts of finished expandable and extrudable polystyrene boards and raw materials for their production with HBCD content is confirmed by the safety technical data sheets. At the same time, a number of viable alternatives to HBCD in polystyrene are available. Therefore, its restriction or ban will not pose a problem for future importers and manufacturers and there is no need to seek exemptions in this regard. With reference to pesticides containing POPs, the National Food Safety Agency has confirmed that such products are not imported, placing them on the market being subject to authorization. In the case of products containing POPs, difficulties arise when they become waste, requiring their separation from the waste stream and proper management. Regarding POPs emitted unintentionally, their limitation is associated with the implementation of BAT and BEP at new and existing sources, which is already regulated by the Law no. 227/2022 on industrial emissions. 2.3.11 Existing programmes for monitoring releases and environmental and human health impacts, including findings The Environment Agency, through the Environmental Reference Laboratory, monitors the quality of environmental factors, in order to provide natural and legal persons with information on the quality of the environment. The laboratory for water quality within the Environment Agency monitors the water quality of the transboundary rivers Dniester and Prut from a hydrochemical and hydrobiological point of view. The laboratory carries out systematic observations on the quality of surface waters in 72 monitoring sections, located on 34 large and small rivers, 6 reservoirs and 2 natural lakes. 72 hydrochemical parameters (physico-chemical indicators, oxygen regime indicators, biogenic 90 elements, heavy metals, organic pollutants, organochlorine pesticides and polyaromatic hydrocarbons) and 6 groups of hydrobiological elements (phytoplankton, including chlorophyll "a", zooplankton, phytobenthos) are analyzed , macrozoobenthos, macrophytes and aquatic microbiology), in accordance with European directives. The laboratory for soil quality follows the dynamics of soil pollution within a monitoring network of agricultural lands, lands in recreation areas, near industrial objects, soils located near roads with different traffic intensity, background lands that have not been subjected to pollution anthropogenic, the soils in the vicinity of pesticide deposits, the lands adjacent to the power system substations contaminated with PCBs, the aquatic alluvium in the basins located on the territory of the Republic of Moldova, as well as studying the migration of pollutants. Monitoring is carried out at intervals of 4-5 years in order to determine: 1) Organic pollutants - persistent organic pollutants (organochlorinated pesticides, organophosphorus pesticides, symtriazine pesticides), polychlorinated biphenyls, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds and petroleum products, etc.; 2) Inorganic pollutants - total and mobile forms of heavy metals, nitrates, phosphates, sulfates, etc.; 3) Electroconductivity (salinity) and soil acidity; 4) Soil fertility characteristics, which include the analysis of the following agrochemical parameters: organic substances (humus); exchange acidity and pH of the aqueous extract; macroelements (total nitrogen, nitric nitrogen, ammoniacal nitrogen, mobile and total phosphorus, mobile potassium, exchangeable calcium and magnesium); trace elements mobile copper, mobile zinc, mobile manganese. Monitoring of POPs in atmospheric precipitation is carried out in 3 observation points in the territory of the Republic of Moldova: at the cross-border station in Leova, at Chisinau and Bălţi stations, with the investigation of persistent organic pollutants based on samples collected monthly. According to the preliminary estimates of POPs recorded in the atmospheric precipitation samples collected and investigated in 2015, the concentration of isomers from class of organic chlorinated pollutants (POCs) and substances from the class of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), are below the quantification limit value. The monitoring of priority substances in the category of persistent organic pollutants in surface waters was carried out systematically in accordance with the approved program, taking into account the provisions of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants and the Convention on Cooperation for the Protection and Sustainable Use of the Danube River: monthly: in 5 observation points within the transnational network (TNMN) on the Prut river; half-yearly: in 23 monitoring locations; biennial: in 2 monitoring sections. 91 POPs in aquatic sediments. Sediment monitoring was carried out within the Transnational Network (TNMN), where 12 sediment samples were collected, twice a year, from the Prut river and from the Costeşti-Stinca reservoir. According to the TNMN program, the contents of POC, PCB6 and PCB180 were determined in the sediment samples. The data analysis shows that the content of DDT in the sediments from the reservoirs and rivers is not essential. The highest value of DDT was recorded in the Prut r. section Giurgiulesti village with a concentration of 0.0038 mg/kg, and the residues of pesticides α-, β-, γ-HCH - alpha-, beta-, gamma hexachlorocyclohexane; heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide (B isomers), aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, endosulfan I and II; methoxychlor) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB 28 - 2,4,4` trichlorobiphenyl, PCB 52 - 2,2`,5,5`-tetrachlorobiphenyl, PCB 101 - 2,2`,4,5,5` pentachlorobiphenyl, PCB 118 - 2,3`,4,4`,5-pentachlorobiphenyl, PCB 138 - 2,2`,3,4,4`,5` hexachlorobiphenyl, PCB 153 - 2,2',4,4`, 5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl, PCB 180 - 2,2',3,4,4',5,5' heptachlorobiphenyl), were below the detection limit. At present, there are no monitoring programmes on POP-PBDEs, HBCD, HCBD, PCN, PFOS, its salts and PFOSF and uPOPs, due to lack of laboratory infrastructure and qualified personnel. 2.3.12 Current level of information, awareness, and education among target groups; existing systems to communicate such information to the various groups The general public in the Republic of Moldova is not sufficiently informed about POPs and their negative effect on health and the environment. At the same time, the issue of POP is not sufficiently covered in the curricula of primary and secondary schools. A certain level of information is present only in scientific institutions and among professionals whose activities are directly related to this issue. The Republic of Moldova is a party to the UNECE Aarhus Convention on access to information, public participation in decision-making and access to justice in environmental matters and to the Protocol on the Pollutant Emissions and Transfer Register (PRTR to the Aarhus Convention, the reports of economic agents being available to the general public (www.retp.gov.md). It needs to be mentioned that in recent years a legislative framework has been developed that has contributed to the transparency and inclusion of citizens in environmental policies. Different databases and web pages have been developed that provide information about pollutants and the state of the environment in the Republic of Moldova and are easily accessible to the public. A system has been developed that allows public participation in decision-making. Specialized central public administration authorities, trained in the management of chemical substances and their waste, usually do not have their own sources for public information campaigns, and education and training activities are often carried out in the framework of the implementation of projects financed by international bodies , implemented by the Ministry of 92 the Environment, the National Agency for Food Safety, the Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection , the Agency for Technical Supervision, the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations and public associations. Usually, the public information campaigns carried out by the above-mentioned structures are implemented in partnership with environmental and health non-governmental organizations. It is important to provide sufficient information to those responsible for activities associated with civil protection at local, regional and national levels in order to plan the implementation of measures in civil protection action plans. In the period 2010-2015, the Ministry of the Environment, IP Sustainable Management POP and the Ministry of Defense informed the general public through the web pages of the respective institutions, press conferences, radio and TV shows, central and local media, private discussions about the issues addressed and the activities carried out or expected in the field of sustainable management of POPs. Identification of POPs releases Leaks (sources) of POPs can be found mainly from Pollutant Release Transfer Register registry established in accordance with the Government Decision no 373/2018 on approval of PRTR Regulation and IT Concept52 (www.retp.gov.md), which transposes the Regulation (EC) No 166/2006 concerning the establishment of a European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register. The national PRTR system represents an online platform for submission of reports on releases to air, water and soil, as well as off-site transfers of waste and their destination or operations disposal or recovery of waste and off-site transfers of pollutants in waste water by the economic operators falling under one of the economic activities listed in the Annex 1 of Regulation (similar to Annex 1 of the European regulation). It should be noted that most of operators to not meet the thresholds established under the E PRTR, and it was proposed that all operators, holding environmental permits for air emissions, waste management and wastewater discharge, shall report within the National PRTR system. Such an arrangement is needed to avoid duplicating reporting efforts by operators and to prevent the establishment of a range of reporting systems. The implementation of PRTR Protocol provides easy access and traceability. National PRTR system covers 101 pollutants in 7 Groups (GHG, chlorinated organics, heavy metals, inorganic substances, other gases, other organic substances, pesticides). These appear to cover part of the scope of the MEAs collecting information on potentially hazardous chemical substances and/or pollutants released to air, water and soil or transferred off-site for treatment or disposal. PRTR shall serve as a tool to report the releases of the following of POPs: 52 https://www.legis.md/cautare/getResults?doc id=103021&lang=ro 93 • Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, their salts and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride • Alpha hexachlorocyclohexane • Beta hexachlorocyclohexane • Beta-Chlordane • Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) • Chlordecone • Dibenzoparadioxins polychlorinated and dibenzofurans (PCDD /PCDF) • Endrina • Hexabromodiphenyl ether and ether heptabromodiphenyl • Hexabromodiphenyl ether, heptabromodiphenyl, octabromodiphenyl ether • Tetrabromodifenil ether and pentabromodiphenyl ether • Hexabromobiphenyl • Hexachlorobenzen • Lindane • Mirex • Pentachlorobenzene • Hexabromocyclododecane and 1,2,5,6,9,10-hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) • Polychlorinated naphthalenes • Tetrabromodiphenyl ether and pentabromodiphenyl ether • Decabromodiphenyl ether, • Dicofol, • Short-chained chlorinated paraffins • Pentadecafluorooctanoic acid PRTR registry information on emissions of the listed POPs shall be a valuable source of information on possible sources of origin and their occurrence in the environment. However, the system is in initial phase of operation and does not cover all the economic operators. 2.3.13 Mechanism to report under Article 15 on measures taken to implement the provisions of the Convention and for information exchange with other Parties to the Convention Within the project „Integrated SC toolkit to improve the transmission of information under Articles 07 and 15” in Republic of Moldova, the 4th report was prepared by the project team. Within the project “Review and Update of the National Implementation Plan for the Republic of Moldova under the Stockholm convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)” the project 94 team prepared the 5th report to the Stockholm Convention. Both were submitted by the national focal points of the Republic of Moldova with a slight delay. As a result of these projects, the capacities of the environmental authorities were strengthened for the preparation of reports under environmental conventions. Representatives of the Environment Agency and the focal points within the Ministry of the Environment participated in the trainings organized in the framework of the both projects. The reporting system for waste management, including landfills, equipment with PCB content was also improved. As a result, environmental authorities currently have the capacity to meet the reporting requirements under environmental agreements. At the same time, the Ministry of the Environment, in agreement with the national experts, continues to implement environmental projects, which aim to develop laboratory capacities, communicate with the private sector in order to modernize technological processes and to promote the use of less polluting alternatives. 2.3.14 Relevant activities of non-governmental stakeholders The environmental NGOs make an important contribution to the implementation of projects to inform and sensitize the population on issues related to the management of chemical substances and increase the level of awareness of the population of the impact of inadequate management of hazardous waste and unauthorized burning of municipal waste. In case of POPs, some of the most relevant activities are listed in the table below. Table 21. Relevant activities of non-governmental stakeholders Non-governmental stakeholder POPs related activities ProDezvoltare Rurala Phytoremediation of the POPs contaminated sites – activity run in 2010 EcoContact NGO Improving cooperation between communities on both banks of the Dniester River by reducing the risk of pesticide poisoning in the Republic of Moldova 2019-2020 – Project was supporting the Ops repackaging and transportation from Transnistrian region. (https://www.ecocontact.md/ro/project/imbunatatirea-cooperarii-intre comunitatile-de-pe-ambele-maluri-ale-raului-nistru-prin-reducerea riscului-de-intoxicare-cu-pesticide-in-republica-moldova/) 2017-2018 ONG Inqua-Moldova Estimation of the quantity of pesticides buried in Cișmichioi 2019 Eco Tiras NGO in partnership with Arnica NGO Research on ‘Heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants in Moldovan environment” (https://arnika.org/en/publications/heavy-metals-and-persistent-organic pollutants-in-moldovan-environment) 2022 AO Expert Association Pro-Mediu Elaboration of NIP for Stockholm implementation 2022 https://www.ecocontact.md/ro/project/imbunatatirea-cooperarii-intre-comunitatile-de-pe-ambele-maluri-ale-raului-nistru-prin-reducerea-riscului-de-intoxicare-cu-pesticide-in-republica-moldova/ https://www.ecocontact.md/ro/project/imbunatatirea-cooperarii-intre-comunitatile-de-pe-ambele-maluri-ale-raului-nistru-prin-reducerea-riscului-de-intoxicare-cu-pesticide-in-republica-moldova/ https://www.ecocontact.md/ro/project/imbunatatirea-cooperarii-intre-comunitatile-de-pe-ambele-maluri-ale-raului-nistru-prin-reducerea-riscului-de-intoxicare-cu-pesticide-in-republica-moldova/ https://arnika.org/en/publications/heavy-metals-and-persistent-organic-pollutants-in-moldovan-environment https://arnika.org/en/publications/heavy-metals-and-persistent-organic-pollutants-in-moldovan-environment 95 2.3.15 Overview of technical infrastructure for POPs assessment, measurement, analysis, alternatives and prevention measures, research and development – linkage to international programmes and projects In addition to the information on the monitoring of POPs provided in the section 2.3.11, assessment of POPs has been done in the frames of several research and development projects with support of international funds, as provided below. It should be noted that yearly from the state budget financial support is allocated for research and development activities, which is usually used as co-finance to the mentioned above projects. As part of the "Environmental Protection of International River Basins (EPIRB)" project, in July 2015, a joint expedition was organized in the river basin of the Prut River and 21 samples were collected and analyzed for the determination of organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were also examined in 3 samples. Within the pilot project "Monitoring and development of a monitoring program in accordance with the Water Framework Directive (DCA 2000/60) for Lake Beleu in the scientific reserve "Prutul de Jos", during 2015, 3 sample collection expeditions were organized of water and aquatic sediments with the aim of also investigating persistent organic pollutants. At the same time, since the year was dry, it was only possible to partially take the scheduled set of samples. The results of investigations obtained regarding POPs in surface waters in 2015 demonstrate that POP concentrations generally do not exceed the maximum admissible concentrations, established in the Regulation on environmental quality requirements for surface waters, approved by Government Decision no. 890/2013. Recording values below the detection limit, at the same time, some exceptions were identified for PAH, in particular for benzo(b)fluoranthene, the concentration of which exceeds the maximum admissible concentration indicated in the Regulation mentioned above, Thus, it is observed that the values for benzo(b)fluoranthene exceeded CMA=0.017 µg/l in June in Valea Galmage r. - Zîrneşti village (1.29·CMA) and in July in Răut r. - Ustia village (1.23·CMA). As part of the "Ecological Expedition on Beleu Natural Lake", 22 sediment samples were collected and analyzed. The content of ƩDDT falls within the limits of 0.0158-0.0268 mg/kg, the amount of PCB 6 varies from 0.0003 to 0.0045, and the maximum concentration of PCB 180 was 0.0026 mg/kg. Pesticides from the organochlorine group recorded concentrations lower than the detection limit. At the same time, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were also investigated in the collected samples. The content of ƩPAH in sediments collected within the transnational network TNMN varies from 0.0186 to 0.3221mg/kg, and the content of benzo[a]pyrene falls within the limits of 0.0027mg/kg - 0.0330mg/kg. In the sediments collected from Lake Beleu, the total PAH concentrations vary from 0.0367 to 4.3159 mg/kg, but the benzo[a]pyrene content falls within 96 the limits of 0.0047mg/kg - 0.4192mg/kg. The content of HPA in the sediments collected from the Chirghiz-Chitai river varies from 0.5283 to 0.7612, but benzo[a]pyrene from 0.0526 to 0.0647mg/kg. Assessment and measurement of POPs in the human body The National Public Health Center of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Moldova evaluated the degree of POP contamination of food products (dairy) and the human body (breast milk) in different districts of the republic. In the frames of the Global Monitoring Plan project, the years 2006-2007, breast milk research was carried out and residues of pesticides DDT, HCH, cheltan, heptachlor and HCB were determined. The milk was collected from 10 localities in the south, center and north of the republic. Out of 72 analyzed samples, only two (2.8%) were not found to contain POP traces (table 21). Table 22. The result of the investigation of breast milk The name of the pesticide The number of detected samples % determination The determined quantities µkg/kg fat (min-max) DDT 70 96.6 4 - 800 HCH 43 60.0 14 - 700 Heptachlor 5 7.0 10-50 Cheltan 3 4.2 50 - 90 HCB 8 11.0 8 - 100 The level of contamination of the human body with DDE residues is uniform throughout the territory of the Republic of Moldova. The content of DDE in breast milk varies from 0.006 to 0.038 mg/kg milk, constituting on average 0.018±0.005 mg/kg milk. Considering that both dairy products and breast milk contain the same pollutants, it can be assumed that one of the main sources of POP penetration into the human body is dairy products. This conclusion is also supported by a correlation analysis. Thus, the level of contamination of breast milk with POP correlates with the content of p,p'-DDE, the sum of metabolites DDD, HCH in cream (correlation coefficient = 0.5 - 0.86). Therefore, the obtained data confirm the fact that during the last 40 years organochlorine pesticides have spread throughout the territory of the Republic of Moldova. At the same time, the scientists of the State Institute of Medicine in Chisinau (1970 - 1978) determined the level of pollution of the human body with organochlorine pesticides. It was found that in 76.4% of breast milk samples, DDT and the DDE metabolite were detected in a quantity of 0.096 mg/kg. The results of POP content determinations in adipose tissue indicate the presence of an amount of 2.03 mg/kg in 95.6% of cases. Simultaneously, DDT and DDE were detected in the liver, lungs, adrenal cortex, kidneys, myocardium, brain (1.5 mg/kg). 97 Figure 8. The results of breast milk research, carried out by different authors, during the years 1970 - 2007 in the Republic of Moldova According to the data presented, the maximum level of DDT carryover was determined in the mid-1970s of the last century. Over the last 30 years, this level of breast milk pollution has decreased more than 15 times. Although in recent years a low level of DDT content has been detected in breast milk, the results of our research showed that more than half of the investigated samples contained DDT in concentrations exceeding the maximum permissible limits, approved in the republic for products intended for children's nutrition. Assessment of POPs in food As a result of the same research mentioned above, the following were found: Agricultural products. The analysis of the content of organochlorine pesticides in the samples of agricultural products, collected from pilot rural localities, shows the lack of residual quantities in cereals, fruits and vegetables Food. In the district environment, it was found that 49.5% of dairy product samples contained traces of POPs, including: 25.6% - in milk, 86% - in cream and 25% - in cheese. In 23% of milk samples the DDT metabolite - p,p-DDE was detected and in 2.6% - β- and γ-isomers of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH). Dicofol (cheltan), heptachlor and hexachlorobenzol (HCB) in the milk samples were absent or their content was not detected. DDT residues (especially in the form of DDE) were detected in 79% of cream samples, and HCH – in 33%. Unlike the milk samples, all the studied organochlorine pesticides were detected in the cream samples. According to the frequency and level of determination, p,p-DDE is in first place - 75% detection, followed by p,p 98 DDТ - 27.8%, p,p-DDD - 5.5%, β-HCH - 23% , γ-HCH –11.5% and α-HCH – 8.3%. Heptachlor residues were detected in the cream samples - in 17% of cases, hexachlorobenzene - in 8% of cases. The detected concentrations of the mentioned pesticides in cream were 10-100 times higher, compared to milk. 12.5% of cheese samples contained γ-HCH residues, and 6.25% - cheltan. In all samples of dairy products, the content of POP residues did not exceed the admissible level. The obtained data show that the highest concentrations of DDT and HCH are determined in the cream samples, and the lowest - in the milk samples. The comparison of the results of determining the level of contamination of dairy products in the areas of the republic demonstrated that DDT residues are higher in the samples of products taken from the southern and central areas, while the residues of HCH, cheltan and HCB were determined more frequently in the samples from the northern area. A study carried out in 2021 jointly by Moldovan and Czech experts, revealed the significant presence of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in chicken eggs. The study identified POPs as the origin of old environmental problems, such as the storage of outdated pesticides or transformer oil. The egg samples from free-range hens and the soil samples were collected in three localities: two localities close to the biggest landfills and one near a facility which undergoes tyres pyrolysis process, asphalt production and other industrial activities. High levels of dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls exceeding EU food standards by up to three and a half times have been found in eggs from the locality close to the pyrolysis process and asphalt production. Chemical analyzes also revealed serious contamination of eggs from locality, near Chisinau's largest landfill, with outdated pesticides containing POPs and polychlorinated biphenyls. 2.3.16 Overview of technical infrastructure for POPs management and destruction The Republic of Moldova does not have infrastructure in place for POPs management and destruction, as based on existing amounts of POPs waste, it is hot feasible to develop such an infrastructure. Identified POPs waste is exported to neighboring countries for environment sound disposal. 2.3.17 Identification of impacted populations or environments, estimated scale and magnitude of threats to public health and environmental quality, and social implications for workers and local communities In the Republic of Moldova there are no clear risk groups occupationally exposed to POPs. Approximately 1000 POPs contaminated sites were recorded in the country. The farmers using such land /in close vicinity of the contaminated sites report harvest issues, and some were not able to place the products at the market, due to POPs concentrations confirmed by lab. Given that pesticides containing POPs are no longer used in the Republic of Moldova, it can be stated 99 that there is no exposure associated with the use of pesticides containing POPs. However, the exposure associated with pesticide use in general cannot be denied. Regarding industrial POPs, especially PCBs, those who manufacture, and repair transformers and capacitors filled with PCBs are exposed to it. At the same time, during potential accidents involving PCB transformers and capacitors, there could be local pollution whose extent is difficult to predict. Such accidents usually involve the accidental exposure of a certain part of the population, and those who handle such equipment, as well as firefighters and people who carry out remedial work, are certainly in the risk group. Firefighters belong to the risk group due to exposure to PCDD/PCDF. Any fire is known to generate PCDDs and PCDFs, and due to the nature of their work, firefighters are the people most exposed to post-fire smoke. In addition to firefighters, people from the civil protection system also participate in the response to various accidents, so they also belong to the risk group. In addition, people who may be exposed to POPs include those involved in waste management, especially those who manage waste that has been shown to contain or may contain POPs, e.g. employees working on the decontamination of equipment containing PCBs, the recovery of EEE, end-of-life vehicles, etc. 2.3.18 Details of any relevant system for the assessment and listing of new chemicals Being a country with economy in transition, the Republic of Moldova lacks capacity for assessment and listing of new chemicals. However, the country is in initial phase of implementing the EU legislation and the necessary infrastructure will be developed, but not in the near future. 2.3.19 Details of any relevant system for the assessment and regulation of chemicals already in the market Law no. 277/2018 on chemicals embraces the key EU directives and regulations, such as Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), Regulation ((EC) No 1272/2008 on Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) , Regulation (EU) 649/2012 concerning the export and import of hazardous chemicals (PIC), Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 concerning the making available on the market and use of biocidal products (BPR), Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market and repealing Council Directives 79/117/EEC and 91/414/EEC (PPP), and Directive 2004/9/EC on the inspection and verification of good laboratory practice and Directive 2004/10/EC on the harmonisation of laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to the application of the principles of good laboratory practice and the verification of their applications for tests on chemical substances (GLP).. The law regulates the obligations of individuals and legal persons that produce or place on the market substances or mixtures; 100 prohibitions and restrictions on the manufacture, marketing, import, export and use of hazardous chemicals and mixtures; conditions for classification, packaging and labeling of chemical substances and mixtures; creating and maintaining the registry of chemicals; chemical products reporting procedure; authorization of hazardous chemicals; reporting obligations; control and other issues related to chemical substances and mixtures. The Law is recently developed, and endorsement is in initial phase. 2.4 Implementation status Pursuant to Art. 7 of the Stockholm Convention each Party draws up implementation plans for the implementation of its obligations under the Convention, submits the implementation plan within two years from the date of entry into force of the Convention and for this and review and update, as appropriate, the plan periodically and in a manner specified by the Convention. The Republic of Moldova ratified the Stockholm Convention on February 19, 2004. The national strategy for the reduction and elimination of POPs and the National Implementation Plan of the Stockholm Convention (NIP) were approved by Government Decision no. 1155/2004, with financial support from the Global Environment Facility. Pursuant to para. 4 of Government Decision no 1155/2004, the Ministry of the Environment was designated the institution responsible for implementation and control, being assigned the position of coordinator for the implementation of the Strategy and the Plan, the systematization of information and the annual presentation of the synthesized information to the Government. The initial plan expired in 2010, and it is necessary to urgently develop a new action plan, which takes into account the evolution of the Convention and the regulation of new POP chemical products. Table 23. Information on previous NIP action plans implementation status Previous NIP Action Previous NIP Action Plan Component Implementation status Revision of existing legal acts; identification of gaps; recommendations for amendments; stakeholders consultations. Modification of legal frame work Completed. Law on Chemicals no 277/2018 approved https://www.legis.md/cautar e/getResults?doc id=112668 &lang=ro Amendment of the statute of the National Committee on En vironmental Policy; study tour Administrative set-up Completed. Nomination of the National Focal Point for the Stockholm Convention within the MERN, exchange of information ac cording to the provisions of the Convention and the initial ac tions of the Parties. Administrative set-up Completed. 101 Develop the project and create the Center for Chemicals Management (CCM); establish consulting support to CCM; improve the skills and managerial capacity of CCM staff; develop terms of reference and scope of its work for the implementation of the Basel, Stockholm, LRTAP and Aarhus Protocol; detailed design and tuning of NIP activities Administrative set-up At present, it in process of development process the Law on Waste, is created Establish an information system, procure hardware and software, train staff; set up statistical and reporting proce dures (identification of information sources, setting reporting formats and information channels); establish PRTR Administrative set-up PRTR established and reporting system made operational. www.rept.gov.md Reporting and registration system for chemicals in process of development. Draft regulations; stakeholders consultations Development of regulatory mechanisms Partially completed. PCB Regulation approved – GD 81/2009 https://www.legis.md/cautar e/getResults?doc id=22167&l ang=ro PIC regulation approved - GD 505/2020 https://www.legis.md/cautar e/getResults?doc id=122468 &lang=ro POPs Regulation developed and ready for approval. CLP Regulation developed and ready for approval. Needs assessment; development of guidelines; consultations with operations staff Drafting of guidelines and handbooks Design training curricula, training courses for 32 districts' and villages' authorities (to be repeated every 2 years), supply equipment Increase capacity for better management of prohibited pesticides Completed in the frames several technical assistance projects. Staff of the Ministry of Environment, State Hydrometeorological Service had also participated in international trainings https://www.moldovapops.m d/projects/default.htm https://www.moldovapops.m d/reports/default.htm https://mediu.gov.md/ro/con tent/7-strategia na%C5%A3ional%C4%83-cu privire-la-reducerea-%C5%9Fi eliminarea poluan%C5%A3ilor-organici persisten%C5%A3i Preparation of environmental operational handbook for repackaging and transportation Increase capacity for better management of prohibited pesticides Design training curricula, training of trainers, training of MOD and DES staff Increase capacity for better management of prohibited pesticides http://www.rept.gov.md/ https://www.legis.md/cautare/getResults?doc id=22167&lang=ro https://www.legis.md/cautare/getResults?doc id=22167&lang=ro https://www.legis.md/cautare/getResults?doc id=22167&lang=ro https://www.legis.md/cautare/getResults?doc id=122468&lang=ro https://www.legis.md/cautare/getResults?doc id=122468&lang=ro https://www.legis.md/cautare/getResults?doc id=122468&lang=ro https://www.moldovapops.md/projects/default.htm https://www.moldovapops.md/projects/default.htm https://www.moldovapops.md/reports/default.htm https://www.moldovapops.md/reports/default.htm https://mediu.gov.md/ro/content/7-strategia-na%C5%A3ional%C4%83-cu-privire-la-reducerea-%C5%9Fi-eliminarea-poluan%C5%A3ilor-organici-persisten%C5%A3i https://mediu.gov.md/ro/content/7-strategia-na%C5%A3ional%C4%83-cu-privire-la-reducerea-%C5%9Fi-eliminarea-poluan%C5%A3ilor-organici-persisten%C5%A3i https://mediu.gov.md/ro/content/7-strategia-na%C5%A3ional%C4%83-cu-privire-la-reducerea-%C5%9Fi-eliminarea-poluan%C5%A3ilor-organici-persisten%C5%A3i https://mediu.gov.md/ro/content/7-strategia-na%C5%A3ional%C4%83-cu-privire-la-reducerea-%C5%9Fi-eliminarea-poluan%C5%A3ilor-organici-persisten%C5%A3i https://mediu.gov.md/ro/content/7-strategia-na%C5%A3ional%C4%83-cu-privire-la-reducerea-%C5%9Fi-eliminarea-poluan%C5%A3ilor-organici-persisten%C5%A3i https://mediu.gov.md/ro/content/7-strategia-na%C5%A3ional%C4%83-cu-privire-la-reducerea-%C5%9Fi-eliminarea-poluan%C5%A3ilor-organici-persisten%C5%A3i https://mediu.gov.md/ro/content/7-strategia-na%C5%A3ional%C4%83-cu-privire-la-reducerea-%C5%9Fi-eliminarea-poluan%C5%A3ilor-organici-persisten%C5%A3i 102 Implementation of rapid feasibility study for 32 districts, preparation of 32 District Repackaging Plans, consultations with stakeholders and local authorities Increase capacity for better management of prohibited pesticides Completed within the projects supported by GEF and NATO technical assistance projects https://www.moldovapops.m d/projects/default.htm https://mediu.gov.md/ro/con tent/7-strategia na%C5%A3ional%C4%83-cu privire-la-reducerea-%C5%9Fi eliminarea poluan%C5%A3ilor-organici persisten%C5%A3i Conducting an Environmental Impact Assessment at national scale and in one typical district (as a pilot activity) Increase capacity for better management of prohibited pesticides Preparation of the training manual, specification of sampling/ analytical kits, training courses for all energy enterprises, preparation of a practical handbook (PCBs identification, labeling, equipment hot-spot assessment and safety management, reporting), consultation with stakeholders Increase capacity of energy sector for PCBs identifica tion in power equipment Preparation and coordination of reconnaissance inventory plans for all energy enterprises, purchasing and distribution of sampling/analytical kits Increase capacity of energy sector for PCBs identifica tion in power equipment Sampling and assessment of PCBs presence on-site (by sim plified kits), labeling, hot-spot (risk) assessment, reporting Inventory of PCBs in electrical power equipment Planning, sampling, analysis (laboratory control), reporting Inventory of PCBs in electrical power equipment Preparation of check-lists and instructions for self identification of PCBs in equipment, products, articles; familiarization of a wide spectrum of agencies with inventory needs; analysis of responses; preparation of a national screening plan for further hot-spot detailed assessment Widening of PCBs inventory to other than energy sectors Completed. PCB Regulation approved (GD 81/2009) Online reporting form on PCB containing equipment developed and put into operation www.siamd.gov.md Formulate monitoring strategies tailored for different groups of POPs, sources and media; design monitoring programs and sampling requirements; define laboratories' responsibilities, create a platform for data exchange. Increasing of POPs monitor ing national capacities Partially completed with the support of technical assistance projects. National Reference Laboratory of the Environment Agency is conducting POPs monitoring in some media. https://mediu.gov.md/ro/con tent/7-strategia na%C5%A3ional%C4%83-cu privire-la-reducerea-%C5%9Fi eliminarea poluan%C5%A3ilor-organici persisten%C5%A3i Identification of laboratories' needs, specification and pur chasing of equipment, supplies, reagents and standards, setting QA/QC procedures and training the staff Increasing of POPs monitor ing national capacities Preparation of questionnaire, analysis of replies, estimation of emissions, risk evaluation, sources prioritization Capacity building for un intended POPs Partially completed in the frames several technical assistance projects. https://www.moldovapops.m d/reports/default.htm Selection of a pilot area and design of the sampling program, sampling and analysis (in EU laboratory), interpretation of re sults and formulating recommendations Capacity building for un intended POPs https://www.moldovapops.md/projects/default.htm https://www.moldovapops.md/projects/default.htm https://mediu.gov.md/ro/content/7-strategia-na%C5%A3ional%C4%83-cu-privire-la-reducerea-%C5%9Fi-eliminarea-poluan%C5%A3ilor-organici-persisten%C5%A3i https://mediu.gov.md/ro/content/7-strategia-na%C5%A3ional%C4%83-cu-privire-la-reducerea-%C5%9Fi-eliminarea-poluan%C5%A3ilor-organici-persisten%C5%A3i https://mediu.gov.md/ro/content/7-strategia-na%C5%A3ional%C4%83-cu-privire-la-reducerea-%C5%9Fi-eliminarea-poluan%C5%A3ilor-organici-persisten%C5%A3i https://mediu.gov.md/ro/content/7-strategia-na%C5%A3ional%C4%83-cu-privire-la-reducerea-%C5%9Fi-eliminarea-poluan%C5%A3ilor-organici-persisten%C5%A3i https://mediu.gov.md/ro/content/7-strategia-na%C5%A3ional%C4%83-cu-privire-la-reducerea-%C5%9Fi-eliminarea-poluan%C5%A3ilor-organici-persisten%C5%A3i https://mediu.gov.md/ro/content/7-strategia-na%C5%A3ional%C4%83-cu-privire-la-reducerea-%C5%9Fi-eliminarea-poluan%C5%A3ilor-organici-persisten%C5%A3i https://mediu.gov.md/ro/content/7-strategia-na%C5%A3ional%C4%83-cu-privire-la-reducerea-%C5%9Fi-eliminarea-poluan%C5%A3ilor-organici-persisten%C5%A3i http://www.siamd.gov.md/ https://mediu.gov.md/ro/content/7-strategia-na%C5%A3ional%C4%83-cu-privire-la-reducerea-%C5%9Fi-eliminarea-poluan%C5%A3ilor-organici-persisten%C5%A3i https://mediu.gov.md/ro/content/7-strategia-na%C5%A3ional%C4%83-cu-privire-la-reducerea-%C5%9Fi-eliminarea-poluan%C5%A3ilor-organici-persisten%C5%A3i https://mediu.gov.md/ro/content/7-strategia-na%C5%A3ional%C4%83-cu-privire-la-reducerea-%C5%9Fi-eliminarea-poluan%C5%A3ilor-organici-persisten%C5%A3i https://mediu.gov.md/ro/content/7-strategia-na%C5%A3ional%C4%83-cu-privire-la-reducerea-%C5%9Fi-eliminarea-poluan%C5%A3ilor-organici-persisten%C5%A3i https://mediu.gov.md/ro/content/7-strategia-na%C5%A3ional%C4%83-cu-privire-la-reducerea-%C5%9Fi-eliminarea-poluan%C5%A3ilor-organici-persisten%C5%A3i https://mediu.gov.md/ro/content/7-strategia-na%C5%A3ional%C4%83-cu-privire-la-reducerea-%C5%9Fi-eliminarea-poluan%C5%A3ilor-organici-persisten%C5%A3i https://mediu.gov.md/ro/content/7-strategia-na%C5%A3ional%C4%83-cu-privire-la-reducerea-%C5%9Fi-eliminarea-poluan%C5%A3ilor-organici-persisten%C5%A3i https://www.moldovapops.md/reports/default.htm https://www.moldovapops.md/reports/default.htm 103 Formulate courses curricula, implement seminars, study tour, formulate and discuss options for Moldova BAT and BEP knowledge transfer uPOPs inventory conducted. https://www.pro mediu.md/review-and update-of-the-national implementation-plan-for-the republic-of-moldova-under the-stockholm-convention on-persistent-organic pollutants-pops/ Develop strategies for reduction of unintentional POPs releases and promotion of BAT and BEP technologies Developing an action plan addressing the issue of un intended POPs Preparation of methodology for risk assessment, formulation of contaminated sites criteria, consultations with stakeholders Increasing preparedness for contaminated sites man agement Completed within the projects supported by GEF and NATO technical assistance projects https://www.moldovapops.m d/projects/default.htm Preparation of contaminated sites assessment plan; collec tion of relevant information; consultations with local authori ties, population, businesses; description/mapping of sites identified; incipient analytical works Increasing preparedness for contaminated sites man agement Preparation of know-how transfer program, conducting of seminars, study tour, low-cost remediation measures development Increasing preparedness for contaminated sites man agement Organize international/regional conferences, include POPs research in GRM programs Promotion of research and development Completed with support from technical assistance projects and state budget, mostly within research institutions. https://ichem.md/oleg bogdevici https://ms.gov.md/legislatie/ ghiduri-protocoale standarde/ghiduri-clinice nationale/ Development of non-pollution technologies Promotion of research and development Determination of POPs concentrations in environment com partments, including migration and transformation. Epidemiological studies on vulnerable and exposed population groups Promotion of research and development Detailed needs assessment, specification, purchasing, deliv ery Repackaging and cen tralization of obsolete pesti cides Completed https://www.moldovapops.m d/projects/default.htm https://mediu.gov.md/ro/con tent/7-strategia na%C5%A3ional%C4%83-cu privire-la-reducerea-%C5%9Fi eliminarea poluan%C5%A3ilor-organici persisten%C5%A3i Selection of district deposits, preparation of rehabilitation plans, approval of selected district deposits by environmental and health authorities, small rehabilitation, commissioning Repackaging and cen tralization of obsolete pesti cides Repackaging and centralization of obsolete dry and liquid pesticides, and contaminated packaging materials at 32 districts deposits Repackaging and cen tralization of obsolete pesti cides Preparation of low-cost urgent remediation plans for the abandoned pesticides deposits, approval and coordination of plans, fencing, safety/precaution symbols installation, block ing of doors and windows Low-cost, community based urgent actions for aban doned deposits Selection of the "best" rural community per district, prepara tion of grant proposals Low-cost, community based urgent actions for aban doned deposits https://www.pro-mediu.md/review-and-update-of-the-national-implementation-plan-for-the-republic-of-moldova-under-the-stockholm-convention-on-persistent-organic-pollutants-pops/ https://www.pro-mediu.md/review-and-update-of-the-national-implementation-plan-for-the-republic-of-moldova-under-the-stockholm-convention-on-persistent-organic-pollutants-pops/ https://www.pro-mediu.md/review-and-update-of-the-national-implementation-plan-for-the-republic-of-moldova-under-the-stockholm-convention-on-persistent-organic-pollutants-pops/ https://www.pro-mediu.md/review-and-update-of-the-national-implementation-plan-for-the-republic-of-moldova-under-the-stockholm-convention-on-persistent-organic-pollutants-pops/ https://www.pro-mediu.md/review-and-update-of-the-national-implementation-plan-for-the-republic-of-moldova-under-the-stockholm-convention-on-persistent-organic-pollutants-pops/ https://www.pro-mediu.md/review-and-update-of-the-national-implementation-plan-for-the-republic-of-moldova-under-the-stockholm-convention-on-persistent-organic-pollutants-pops/ https://www.pro-mediu.md/review-and-update-of-the-national-implementation-plan-for-the-republic-of-moldova-under-the-stockholm-convention-on-persistent-organic-pollutants-pops/ https://www.pro-mediu.md/review-and-update-of-the-national-implementation-plan-for-the-republic-of-moldova-under-the-stockholm-convention-on-persistent-organic-pollutants-pops/ https://www.moldovapops.md/projects/default.htm https://www.moldovapops.md/projects/default.htm https://ichem.md/oleg-bogdevici https://ichem.md/oleg-bogdevici https://ms.gov.md/legislatie/ghiduri-protocoale-standarde/ghiduri-clinice-nationale/ https://ms.gov.md/legislatie/ghiduri-protocoale-standarde/ghiduri-clinice-nationale/ https://ms.gov.md/legislatie/ghiduri-protocoale-standarde/ghiduri-clinice-nationale/ https://ms.gov.md/legislatie/ghiduri-protocoale-standarde/ghiduri-clinice-nationale/ https://www.moldovapops.md/projects/default.htm https://www.moldovapops.md/projects/default.htm https://mediu.gov.md/ro/content/7-strategia-na%C5%A3ional%C4%83-cu-privire-la-reducerea-%C5%9Fi-eliminarea-poluan%C5%A3ilor-organici-persisten%C5%A3i https://mediu.gov.md/ro/content/7-strategia-na%C5%A3ional%C4%83-cu-privire-la-reducerea-%C5%9Fi-eliminarea-poluan%C5%A3ilor-organici-persisten%C5%A3i https://mediu.gov.md/ro/content/7-strategia-na%C5%A3ional%C4%83-cu-privire-la-reducerea-%C5%9Fi-eliminarea-poluan%C5%A3ilor-organici-persisten%C5%A3i https://mediu.gov.md/ro/content/7-strategia-na%C5%A3ional%C4%83-cu-privire-la-reducerea-%C5%9Fi-eliminarea-poluan%C5%A3ilor-organici-persisten%C5%A3i https://mediu.gov.md/ro/content/7-strategia-na%C5%A3ional%C4%83-cu-privire-la-reducerea-%C5%9Fi-eliminarea-poluan%C5%A3ilor-organici-persisten%C5%A3i https://mediu.gov.md/ro/content/7-strategia-na%C5%A3ional%C4%83-cu-privire-la-reducerea-%C5%9Fi-eliminarea-poluan%C5%A3ilor-organici-persisten%C5%A3i https://mediu.gov.md/ro/content/7-strategia-na%C5%A3ional%C4%83-cu-privire-la-reducerea-%C5%9Fi-eliminarea-poluan%C5%A3ilor-organici-persisten%C5%A3i 104 Selection of implementation agency, training and provision of equipment for selected implementation agency, negotia tions with commercial companies, activities at village level Remove old DDT stocks from households Feasibility study, investment project preparation, negotia tions with donors Assessment of final solution for obsolete pesticides and abandoned stockpiles Feasibility study, investment project preparation, negotia tions with donors Assessment of final solution for obsolete pesticides and abandoned stockpiles Completed. In the period 2010-2020, with support of technical assistance projects Republic of Moldova managed to repackage, export and destroy approximately 3600 tons of obsolete persistent organic pollutants. https://www.moldovapops.m d/reports/default.htm Fencing of territory, renovation of drainage and run-off collection systems, covering of the site with a new protection layer, routine monitoring of soil and water Remediation of Cismichioi pesticide dump Completed. In 2016-2017 a feasibility study was carried out and the investigations found that the contamination in the perimeter of the landfill is concentrated inside the 14 sarcophagi in which the old pesticides are stored. The project to remedy the location of the pesticide depot in Cismichioi (carried out in 2019), implemented with the support of the Czech Development Agency, consisted in isolating the sarcophagi with waste and soil contaminated with impermeable layers with subsequent technical and biological recultivation of the land. Feasibility study, investment project preparation, negotia tions with donors (option 1) Feasibility study for Vulcanesti stock of out of-use capacitors Ongoing Hiring of a foreign company for full elimination of electrical capacitors shipping abroad (option 2) Remediation measures for Vulcanesti stock of out of-use capacitors Ongoing https://www.moldovapops.md/reports/default.htm https://www.moldovapops.md/reports/default.htm 105 Centralization of abandoned equipment, provision of safety containers, identification of technology for PCBs and PCB contaminated equipment elimination Country-wide handling of PCB-contaminated and damaged equipment Plan for collection, transportation and final disposal of remaining PCB contaminated equipment is a measure included in the 2nd NIP 10 short-term courses per year, manual, establishment of a communication framework, adaptation of existing communi cation channels for POPs issues, development of commu nication procedures Improvement of communication Completed https://www.moldovapops.m d/projects/default.htm 2 interdisciplinary meetings/ forums per year, 5 group meetings and seminars on exposure risks per year, development of processes and procedures for participatory solution of POPs problems Building up participatory process Completed https://www.moldovapops.m d/projects/default.htm https://www.moldovapops.m d/reports/default.htm https://www.moldovapops.m d/gallery/default.htm https://mediu.gov.md/ro/con tent/7-strategia na%C5%A3ional%C4%83-cu privire-la-reducerea-%C5%9Fi eliminarea poluan%C5%A3ilor-organici persisten%C5%A3i Development and dissemination of POPs- related informa tion in mass media and accessible publications, including vi sual publicity (at least 10 events per year), one interactive dialog per year, one POPs caravan per year, preparation of one agricultural and industrial nonPOPs „oasis" for demonstration each year, participation at international forums Exchange of information at country and international levels Organizing 5 training seminars per year for various target groups, one Olympiad for different age groups in POPs alter natives every year, development and introduction of training packages in POPs for current and future (students) public servants, family doctors, business managers and developers Training of general public Development and dissemination of educational packages for specific groups (local and central authorities, pupils, students, vulnerable groups, etc.) Education 3. Strategy and action plan elements of the national implementation plan 3.1 Policy statement In order to reduce and eliminate the impact of the persistent organic pollutants on the environment and human health, to implement the Stockholm Convention provisions and to create an efficient system of chemical safety, along with recognizing that POPs are chemicals that persist in the environment, bioaccumulate through the food chain, and pose a risk of causing adverse effects to human health and the environment, the Republic of Moldova developed and approved its second National Implementation Plan. https://www.moldovapops.md/projects/default.htm https://www.moldovapops.md/projects/default.htm https://www.moldovapops.md/projects/default.htm https://www.moldovapops.md/projects/default.htm https://www.moldovapops.md/reports/default.htm https://www.moldovapops.md/reports/default.htm https://www.moldovapops.md/gallery/default.htm https://www.moldovapops.md/gallery/default.htm https://mediu.gov.md/ro/content/7-strategia-na%C5%A3ional%C4%83-cu-privire-la-reducerea-%C5%9Fi-eliminarea-poluan%C5%A3ilor-organici-persisten%C5%A3i https://mediu.gov.md/ro/content/7-strategia-na%C5%A3ional%C4%83-cu-privire-la-reducerea-%C5%9Fi-eliminarea-poluan%C5%A3ilor-organici-persisten%C5%A3i https://mediu.gov.md/ro/content/7-strategia-na%C5%A3ional%C4%83-cu-privire-la-reducerea-%C5%9Fi-eliminarea-poluan%C5%A3ilor-organici-persisten%C5%A3i https://mediu.gov.md/ro/content/7-strategia-na%C5%A3ional%C4%83-cu-privire-la-reducerea-%C5%9Fi-eliminarea-poluan%C5%A3ilor-organici-persisten%C5%A3i https://mediu.gov.md/ro/content/7-strategia-na%C5%A3ional%C4%83-cu-privire-la-reducerea-%C5%9Fi-eliminarea-poluan%C5%A3ilor-organici-persisten%C5%A3i https://mediu.gov.md/ro/content/7-strategia-na%C5%A3ional%C4%83-cu-privire-la-reducerea-%C5%9Fi-eliminarea-poluan%C5%A3ilor-organici-persisten%C5%A3i https://mediu.gov.md/ro/content/7-strategia-na%C5%A3ional%C4%83-cu-privire-la-reducerea-%C5%9Fi-eliminarea-poluan%C5%A3ilor-organici-persisten%C5%A3i 106 Given the fact that the import and the supply of most substances referred to the Annexes A and B of the Convention are prohibited in the Republic of Moldova, special emphasis will be given to the sound management of waste containing or contaminated with POPs, control of emissions of POPs listed in the Annex C of the Convention. According to article 5(c) of the Stockholm Convention every possible effort will be made to promote the development and, where it deems appropriate, the use of substitute or modified materials, products and processes to prevent the formation and release of the chemicals listed in Annex C of the Convention. 3.2 Implementation strategy The goal of the Implementation Plan is not only to fulfil legal obligations, but to take actions and to establish a strategy and action plan for further measures aiming at elimination or reduction of releases of POPs and management of POPs containing waste. The Implementation Plan reflects the national legal framework for POPs management, as well as the key challenges to achieve the goal to protect human health and the environment from exposure to POPs. The Implementation Plan aims to reduce the impact of POPs on the environment and human health in honoring the country's obligations resulting from the ratification of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. Since the ratification of the Stockholm Convention in 2004, the Republic of Moldova developed its first National Implementation Plan in 2004. The second implementation plan shall reflect developments both within the policy environment (i.e. further addition of new POPs to the Convention and the national legislation) and the scientific and technological environment (i.e. where new research furthers the elimination of POPs). The implementation of this Plan will contribute to: 1) the implementation by the Republic of Moldova of the commitments resulting from the signing of the Declaration of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (Rio de Janeiro, June 1992), the ratification of the Aarhus Protocol on Persistent Organic Pollutants (Aarhus, Denmark, June 24, 1998), the ratification of the Convention on in Stockholm on persistent organic pollutants (Stockholm, May 23, 2001); 2) strengthening institutional capacities in order to manage POPs; 3) increased control of the placing on the market of chemical products and articles containing POPs; 4) sustainable management of POP waste and POP-containing product waste; 5) increasing the level of information regarding POPs and their control measures; 6) improving the quality of the environment and reducing the impact on human health. Mostly responsible for implementing the NIP are: 1) Ministry of the Environment; https://ec.europa.eu/environment/chemicals/international conventions/pdf/sec 2007 341.pdf 107 2) The Ministry of Finance; 3) Ministry of Health; 4) The Ministry of Economy 5) Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure; 6) National Agency for the Regulation of Nuclear, Radiological and Chemical Activities 7) Environmental agency; 8) National Public Health Agency 9) National Agency for Food Safety 10) Environmental Protection Inspectorate; 11) Targeted economic operators. 108 3.3 Action plans, including respective activities and strategies Deadline s Responsible for execution Partner Estimated costs, lei Monitoring indicators total including from the state budget 1. Institutional and regulatory strengthening measures 1.1 Development and approval of the amendment to Annex no. 6 of Law no. 209/2016 on waste and its inclusion of the following POP substances: Dicofol, Decabromodiphenyl ether, Hexabromocyclododecane, Pentachlorophenol. 2023 Trimeste r I Ministry of Environmen t The Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Economy Included in the state budget Government Decision for approval the amendments to the Law on waste 1.2 Development and approval of the Regulation on persistent organic pollutants. 2023 Trimeste r II Ministry of Environmen t Environment Agency Included in the state budget Government Decision for approval of POPs regulation 1.3 Amendment of the Framework Regulation and revision of the deadlines for the gradual elimination of PCB-containing equipment according to Government Decision no. 81/2009. 2023 Trimeste r II Ministry of Environmen t Environment Agency Included in the state budget Government Decision for approval of amendment to the Government Decision no. 81/2009 109 1.4 Development of a national plan for the elimination of PCBs/PCNs, defining responsibilities for institutions and companies for the management and disposal of waste containing PCBs/PCNs. 2025 Ministry of Environmen t Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development Environment Agency Environment Protection Inspection 600.000 Plan developed 2. Production, import and export, use, stockpiles, and wastes of Annex A POPs pesticides (Annex A, Part I chemicals) 2.1 Update of the inventory of stocks and waste of obsolete pesticides containing POPs. Once in 4 years, Ministry of Agriculture National Food Safety Agency Environment Agency Environment Protection Inspection Included in the state budget Inventory updated 2.2 Elaboration of the list of alternatives to POPs pesticides. 2024 2025 Ministry of Agriculture National Food Safety Agency State Centre for Certification and Approval of Products for Phytosanitary Use and Fertilizers Included in the state budget List of alternatives 110 2.3 Identifying centralized warehouses for the temporary storage of POPs pesticide waste waiting for destruction and securing them. 2024 Ministry of Agriculture National Food Safety Agency Environment Protection Inspection Included in the state budget Number of warehouses Quantity of temporary stored pesticides 2.4 Supervision of the collection and management system for empty containers from plant protection products, by observing the provisions of the Extended Producer responsibility principle, in accordance with the Regulation on packaging and packaging waste – Government Decision no. 561/2020. Permane ntly National Food Safety Agency Environment Agency Environment Protection Inspection Included in the state budget Quantity of separately collected packaging Quantity of recycled/recovered packaging 2.5 Repackaging, transportation and disposal of old pesticides, including in the Autonomous region from the left side of the Dniester river. 2024 2025 Ministry of Environmen t Reintegration Bureau Environment Agency 800.000 Quantity of repacked, transported and disposed old pesticides 2.6 Development of regulatory measures to combat illegal trafficking of banned pesticides and counterfeit pesticides. 2023 Ministry of Agriculture National Food Safety Agency Environment Protection Inspection Included in the state budget Government Decision/Ministerial Order for approval of measures to combat illegal trafficking of banned pesticides and counterfeit pesticides 3. Production, import and export, use, identification, labelling, removal, storage, and disposal of PCB/PCN and equipment containing PCB/PCN (Annex A, Part II chemicals) 111 3.1 Ensure collection of data on PCB/PCN quantities (equipment and oil) used in closed applications through Waste Management Automatic Information System (WMAIS) - annual PCB/PCN inventory. Permane nt PCB/PCN containing equipment holders (public and private) Environment Agency Included in the state budget Annual inventory of PCB/PCN containing equipment and oil 3.2 Keeping records and submitting annual reports on equipment containing PCB/PCN and oils (including information on PCB/PCN removed and PCB/PCN /equipment remaining). Permane nt PCB/PCN containing equipment holders (public and private) Included in the state budget Number of reports submitted into WMAIS 3.3 Checking the status of the companies - owners of oil/equipment contaminated with PCB/PCN and their actions regarding the gradual elimination according to the provisions of Art. 7 of the PCB Regulation. Permane nt Environmen t Protection Inspection Environment Agency Included in the state budget Number of checked companies Number of companies that took actions Quantity of oil/equipment contaminated with PCB/PCN eliminated 3.4 Remediation of PCB/PCN -contaminated land at the 400KV Moldelectica power plant in Vulcănești. 2024 2026 Moldelectir ca tbc Surface of decontaminated land 3.5 Maintaining the dialogue with the state related institutions, and private sector / state companies to replace equipment containing PCB/PCN in operation. Permane nt Ministry of Environmen t Environment Agency Environment Protection Inspection Included in the state budget Number of replaced operating equipment containing PCB/PCN 112 3.6 Inventory, repackaging of equipment containing PCB/PCN, including in the Autonomous region from the left side of the Dniester river. 2023 2024 Ministry of Environmen t Environment Agency Reintegration Bureau Environment Agency 1.000.000 Inventory report Quantity of repacked, equipment containing PCBs 3.7 Transportation and disposal of equipment containing PCB/PCN, including in the autonomous region from the left side of the Dniester river. 2024 2025 Ministry of Environmen t Environment Agency Reintegration Bureau Environment Agency 10.000.00 0 Inventory report Quantity of transported and disposed equipment containing PCB/PCN 4. Production, import and export, use, stockpiles, and wastes of hexaBDE and heptaBDE (Annex A, Part IV chemicals) and tetraBDE and pentaBDE (Annex A, Part V chemicals), HBB, HBCD and SCCP 4.1 Updating the inventory of items containing POP PBDEs and SCCPs Once in 4 years Environmen t Agency Included in the state budget Inventory report 4.2 Ensuring correct reporting in SIAMD of collected and recycled POP-PBDE-containing waste. Permane ntly Environmen t Agency Environment Protection Inspection Included in the state budget Number of reports Quantity of recycled PBDE-containing waste 113 4.3 Adaptation to national context and implementation of the guidelines for the sustainable management (financing, collection, storage, treatment according to the waste hierarchy) of articles containing brominated diphenyl ethers or other POPs before recycling and the safe handling of polymers treated with POPs flame retardants in electrical and electronic equipment, end-of-life vehicles and polystyrene boards used in construction. 2024 Trimeste r I Environmen t Agency Environment Protection Inspection 50000 Ministerial/Environme nt Agency Order for approval of Guidelines 5 Production, import and export, use, stockpiles, and wastes of PFOS, its salts and PFOSF(Annex B, Part III chemicals) 5.1 Update inventory of products/items containing PFOS, PFOA or its salts (including the total amount) (firefighting foams, metal plating, surface-treated materials, medical devices, hydraulic fluids, insecticides, etc.). Once in 4 years Environmen t Agency Environment Protection Inspection Included in the state budget Inventory report 5.2 Implementation of measures to identify and eliminate stocks containing PFOS/ PFOA (e.g. fire fighting foams, carpets, etc.) at custom level, Permane ntly Environmen t Agency Custom Authority Environment Protection Inspection Included in the state budget Quantity of identified and eliminated stocks containing PFOS/ PFOA 6. Measures to reduce releases from unintentional production (Article 5) 6.1 Updating the inventory of uPOPs (PCDD/PCDF, PCB, HCB). Once in 4 years Environmen t Agency Environment Protection Inspection Included in the state budget Inventory report 6.2 Harmonize and combine the inventory process with other national level inventories (Mercury, UNFCCC, CLRTAP) to avoid duplication in the data collection process. Permane nt Environmen t Agency Environment Protection Inspection Included in the state budget Consistent inventory reports 114 6.3 Periodic monitoring of unintentional POP emissions via environmental permits. Permane nt Economic entities emitting uPOPs Environment Agency Third party laboratories Included in the state budget Monitoring protocols 6.4 Promotion of integrated control by implementation of legislation on industrial emissions and promotion of BAT/BEP in the relevant sectors (energy industry, metallurgy, cement production). Permane nt Environmen t Agency Environment Protection Inspection Included in the state budget Number of integrated permits Number entities of BAT/BEP implemented 6.5 Control of measures to reduce uPOP emissions, by replacing materials used in production; modification of technological processes (including monitoring the use and maintenance of equipment); and equipment modernization. Permane nt Environmen t Agency Environment Protection Inspection Included in the state budget Quantity of reduced uPOP emissions 7. Identification and management of stockpiles, waste and articles in use, including release reduction and appropriate measures for handling and disposal (Article 6) 7.1 Inventory of stocks and waste, as well as lands contaminated with POPs. Once in 4 years Environmen t Agency Environment Protection Inspection Included in the state budget Inventory report 7.2 Collection, transport and storage of waste containing POPs in an environmentally sound manner in accordance with the requirements of the Stockholm and Basel Conventions. As occurrin g Ministry of Environmen t Environment Agency Environment Protection Inspection To be estimated under TA projects Quantity of collected, transported and stored waste containing POPs 115 7.3 Implementing measures to reduce or eliminate emissions from waste containing chemical products listed by the Convention in a way that protects human health and the environment. Permane nt Ministry of Environmen t Environment Agency Environment Protection Inspection Included in the state budget Quantity of reduced emissions 8. Identification of contaminated sites (Annex A, B, and C Chemicals) and, where feasible, remediation in an environmentally sound manner 8.1 Permanent inventory of soils contaminated/potentially contaminated with POPs, including soils with historical pollution. Once in 4 years Environmen t Agency Environment Protection Inspection Included in the state budget Inventory report 8.2 Prioritizing the remediation of soils contaminated with inventoried POPs, based on the assessment of the risk to human health and the environment. Permane nt Ministry of Agriculture Environment Protection Inspection Included in the state budget Assessment of the risk report 8.3 Carrying out remedial activities in the case of soils contaminated with POPs, in accordance with the "polluter pays" principle, in order to reduce the risk. Permane nt Owners of contaminat ed land Environment Protection Inspection To be estimated under TA projects Surface of remediated soil Remedial efficiency 8.4 Development of specific measures to prevent further POP contamination (due to leakage, evaporation or environmental pollution caused by natural disasters such as floods). 2025 Ministry of Environmen t Environment Agency Environment Protection Inspection 50000 List of measures 9. Facilitating or undertaking information exchange and stakeholder involvement 9.1 Capacity building in POPs chemical risk assessment and management. Permane nt Ministry of Environmen t Environment Agency 100.000 Number of trainings Number of trained staff 116 9.2 Establishing the coordination mechanism of the activities associated with the management of chemical substances between the environmental authorities and the customs authorities, in order to improve the traceability of imports of items containing POPs (including chemicals in products). 2023 2024 Ministry of Environmen t Environment Agency Customs Service Included in the state budget Coordination mechanism established (Memorandum of cooperation, order for cooperation) 9.3 Establishment of penalties/fines for improper management of waste containing POPs. 2024 Ministry of Environmen t Environment Protection Inspection Included in the state budget Government Decision for approval amendments to the Contraventional Code 9.4 Strengthening the capacities of competent authorities and business in registering and reporting POPs in SIA REPC. 2023 2024 Business Environmen t Agency 100.000 Number of registered chemicals and entities Number of reports 9.5 Development of procedures for inspection and maintenance of stocks and waste containing POPs. 2024 Ministry of Environmen t Environment Protection Inspection 20.000 Order approving the procedures 9.6 Equipping and training the competent authorities involved (e.g. customs authorities) to enable them to control and, where appropriate, intercept shipments of waste containing POP-PBDEs. 2025 2026 Ministry of Environmen t Environment Agency Customs Service Environment Protection Inspection To be estimated under TA projects Number of trainings Number of trained staff Equipment purchased 9.7 Raising the awareness of EPR actors in the management of POP-PBDEs throughout the product life cycle (including disposal) and identifying measures for the environmentally sound management of materials containing POP PBDEs. Permane nt Environmen t Agency Environment Protection Inspection Included in the state budget Number of trainings Number of trained staff Number of awareness rising campaigns 117 10. Public and stakeholder awareness, information and education (Article 10) 10.1 Development and dissemination of educational packages for specific groups (local and central authorities, pupils, students, vulnerable groups, etc.), including: On the harmful effects of PFOS, PBDE and other new POPs - On the effects of uncontrolled burning of waste containing POPs, including flame retardants and other hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment, vehicles, polystyrene boards. 2023 2024 Ministry of Environmen t Environment Agency Environment Protection Inspection Civil Society Business community 150.000 Number of trainings Number of trained staff Number of awareness rising campaigns 10.2 Carrying out campaigns to reduce/eliminate the practice of open-air burning of waste. Permane nt Ministry of Environmen t Environment Agency Environment Protection Inspection Civil Society Business community Included in the state budget Number of awareness rising campaigns Number of cases of open-air burning of waste 10.3 Ensuring public access to updated information about POPs in the Republic of Moldova, including state registers and information systems. Permane nt Ministry of Environmen t Environment Agency Environment Protection Inspection Civil Society Business community Included in the state budget Website visits, media and social media coverage, number of social media followers, event participants, video downloads. 11. Effectiveness evaluation (Article 16) and 118 11.1 Realization of the evaluation study of the effectiveness of the implementation of the Convention and ensure periodic monitoring of NIP implementation, by preparing reports As needed Ministry of Environmen t Environment Agency Included in the state budget Evaluation study reports 11.2 Inclusion and participation in the works of the subsidiary bodies of the Stockholm Convention, as well as related conventions, in order to promote the exchange of information and knowledge in the field of application of SC provisions. Permane nt Ministry of Environmen t Environment Agency Included in the state budget Membership to the bodies 12 Reporting (Article 15) 12.1 Creation of the national mechanism (institutional arrangements and procedures, ensuring periodic training of staff) to ensure periodic reporting to the Stockholm Convention. Permane nt Ministry of Environmen t Environment Agency Included in the state budget Reports to the Convention 13. Research, development and monitoring (Article 11) 13.1 Determining the national monitoring needs and introduction of POP monitoring, including monitoring of environmental components (water, air, soil and other matrices like POPs in products) and monitoring of POP accumulation in the human body (blood and breast milk). 2026 2027 Environmen t Agency Research institutions Laboratories 1.000.000 Monitoring programme 13.2 Increasing the number of accredited laboratories working with equipment, measuring instruments, techniques and official standards that allow the determination of POPs, such as POP-PBDEs, HBCD, SCCPs, PFOS in different media and matrices, including rapid detection. 2026 2027 Environmen t Agency Research institutions Laboratories 1000000 Number of accredited laboratories 119 13.3 Equipping the reference laboratory of the Environment Agency with rapid detection instruments. 2024 2025 Environmen t Agency 500.000 Rapid detection instruments 13.4 Development of programmes for the detection of POPs in the human body. 2024 2026 Public Health Agency Research institutions Laboratories 1.000.000 Monitoring protocols 13.5 Conducting research on soil and groundwater contamination with POPs, especially in places where obsolete and banned pesticides have been buried, in landfills and other “hot spots” (licensed waste management operators). Permane nt Ministry of Environmen t Ministry of Agriculture National Food Safety Agency Environment Agency Included in the state budget Research reports Number of investigations 13.6 Initiating and maintaining a permanent dialog with research institutes, academia, NGOs, industry and laboratory accreditation bodies on the existent monitoring needs for informing policy and decision-making.