The São Tomé et Príncipe National Implementation Plan for the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 1 COORDINATION AND GENERAL WRITING General Director of Environment Engº. Arlindo de Ceita Carvalho National Coordinator Msc. Sulisa S. B. Jesus Quaresma NATIONAL INVENTORY EXPERTS POPs Pesticides and New Industrial Team Dra. Antónia Neto Engº. Álvaro V. Nova Dr. Herodes Rompão POPs Unintentional Team Dr. Abenilde Santos Engº. Adérito Bonfim POPs Contaminated Sites Team Dra. Aline Castro Engº. Darnel Baia Engº. Ersted Gomes PCBs Team Engº. Faustino Neto Engº. Isaque Gomes Engº. José Pedronho Socioeconomical Assessment and Cost Estimates Team Dr. Idalécio Viana Dr. Olívio Diogo NATIONAL COORDINATION COMMITTEE Directorate General of Environment Directorate of Environmental Education, Information and Communication Directorate C. of Sanitation and Q. Environment Directorate of Legal and Environmental Impact Directorate General of Natural Resources and Energy Directorate of Industry Directorate of Trade Directorate of Agriculture Directorate General of Customs Tax Customs Police Directorate of Economical Activity Regulation and Control Directorate of Health Care Agronomic and Technical Research Center (CIAT) Representative of NGOs Federation Representative of Private Sector REVIEWING International Consultant MscEster Monroy IMPLENTATION AGENCY United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... 16 1.1. Persistent Organic Pollutants and the Stockholm Convention ............................... 16 1.2. Elaboration of the National Implementation Plan (NIP) ........................................... 18 2. COUNTRY PROFILE ............................................................................................................ 20 2.1. Demographic Aspects ................................................................................................... 20 2.2. Physical environnement conditions ............................................................................ 21 2.3. Socioeconomic Context ................................................................................................ 23 3. INSTITUTIONAL, POLITICAL AND LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK .............................. 32 3.1. Environmental and sustainable development policy and general legislative Framework .................................................................................................................................. 32 3.2. Environmental Agreements, Conventions and Treaties .......................................... 35 3.3. Role and responsibility of national institutions involved in the management of POPs……………… ................................................................................................................... 37 3.4. Principles that are the Legislation and Regulation in basis in force, related to POPs………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………42 4. POPS SITUATION IN SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE ........................................................ 44 4.1. POPs Pesticides from Annexes A and B in Sao Tome and Principe .................... 44 4.1.1. Overview – Legal and Institutional Framework and POPs Pesticides Management. ......................................................................................................................... 44 4.1.2. Update initial pesticides POPs inventory, the regulation before 2009 in Annex A and B. ...................................................................................................................... 45 4.1.2.1. Current Situation of Pesticides POPs in the Country .................................. 45 4.1.3.2. Alpha and beta hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) ............................................ 47 4.1.3.3. Endosulfan .......................................................................................................... 48 4.1.3.4. Lindane (gamma HCH) ..................................................................................... 48 4.1.3.5. Pentachlorobenzene (PeCB) (pesticide) ........................................................ 49 4.1.4. Stocks and Contaminated Sites with Pesticides POPs ................................... 49 4.1.5. Alternatives for POPs Pesticides in SaoTome and Principe........................... 51 4.1.6. Priorities on POPs pesticides. ............................................................................. 52 4.2. Industrial POPs of Annexes A and B in Sao Tome and Principe ........................... 52 4.2.1. Overview, Legal Framework ................................................................................ 52 4.2.2. Update of initial Inventory of POPs Industrial regulation before 2009 of Annexes A and B ................................................................................................................... 52 4.2.2.1. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) ................................................................... 52 N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 4 4.2.2.2. Hexachlorobenzene (industrial chemicals) .................................................... 56 4.2.3. Inventory of Substances, Industrial Chemicals of Annex A and B Regulated since 2009 (New POPs) ....................................................................................................... 57 4.2.3.1. Hexabromobiphenyl (HBB) .............................................................................. 57 4.2.3.2. Estimates of Polibromed Diphenyl Ethers PBDEs listed in the convention (PentaBDE, c-OctaBDE) ...................................................................................................... 58 4.2.3.3. Tetrabromodiphenyl ether and Pentabromodiphenyl ether (commercial pentabromodiphenyl ether): c-Penta-BDE ......................................................................... 58 4.2.3.4. Heptabromodiphenyl ether (commercial octabromodiphenyl ether): comercial c- Octa-BDE commercial .................................................................................... 59 4.2.3.5. Estimates of Perfluoro-octanesulfonic acid (PFOS), its salts and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride (PFOS-F) ....................................................................... 60 4.3. POPs from Annex C: Unintentional emission in Sao Tome and Principe: ........... 62 4.3.1. Update of National Inventory of Non Intentional Emission of POPs Sources and Estimates , Dioxins and Furans (PCDD e PCDF) .................................................... 62 4.3.1.1. Main Categories and Sub-categories of PCDD and PCDF Emission Sources in Sao Tome and Principe .................................................................................... 63 4.3.1.2. Summary of PCDD and PCDF emissions ..................................................... 63 4.3.2. Evaluation of new non-intentional POPs Pentachlorobenzene (PeCB) ........ 66 4.3.3. Control over unintentionally produced POPs .................................................... 66 4.3.4. Control over burning of agricultural waste ......................................................... 67 4.3.5. Main priorities for action ....................................................................................... 67 4.4. Contamined stocks and sites by POPs ...................................................................... 68 4.4.1. Inventory on Contamined Sited by POPs .......................................................... 68 4.4.2. Main challenges and action priorities ................................................................. 73 4.5. Socio economic POPs assessment ............................................................................ 73 5. NIP STRATEGY AND GENERAL ELEMENTS ................................................................ 75 5.1. Intent declaration of the national policies ................................................................... 75 5.2. NIP Strategy ................................................................................................................... 77 5.2.1. Guidance principles of strategy ........................................................................... 78 6. MEASURES AND ACTION PLAN TO REDUCE POPS EMISSIONS .......................... 84 6.1. Measures to improve the legislative framework and national institutional capacity to comply with the Stockholm Convention ............................................................................. 86 6.3. Measures to improve national analytical capacity, POPs monitoring research, development and innovation .................................................................................................... 90 Table 28: Measures to improve national analytical capacity, POPs monitoring research, development and innovation .................................................................................................... 90 N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 5 6.4. Action Plans .................................................................................................................... 93 Table 29: Action Plans .............................................................................................................. 93 7. OTHER OBLIGATIONS OF STOCKHOLM CONVENTION ....................................... 96 7.1. Information exchange, sensitization and information ........................................... 96 7.1.1. Research Development and Monitoring ............................................................. 97 7.1.2. Effectiveness Assessment .................................................................................. 98 7.1.3. Communication ...................................................................................................... 99 8. STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN IMPLEMENTATION AND FOLLOW-UP .............. 100 8.1. Stakeholders Role ....................................................................................................... 100 8.2. Institutional implementation mecanisms .................................................................. 102 8.2.1. At National Level .................................................................................................. 102 8.2.2. At District / Principe Region Level ..................................................................... 103 8.3. Means for the Implementation of NIP Strategy and Action Plan .......................... 103 8.4. Financial Means ........................................................................................................... 104 8.5. Human and Technical Resources ............................................................................. 104 8.6. Follow up and Evaluation Mechanism ...................................................................... 104 8.7. Timetable of Implementation Plan and Performance Indicators .......................... 106 9. RESOURCE NEEDS, PROJECT IDENTIFICATION ..................................................... 107 9.1. Identified Areas with Technical and Financial Assistance needs......................... 107 9.2. Training Priorities and Proposals .............................................................................. 109 10. BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCE ................................................................................... 114 11. ANNEXES ......................................................................................................................... 115 Annexe 1: Table of Import in 2012-2014. ............................................................................ 115 Annexe 2: Risk Degree of possible contamminated sites ................................................. 116 Annexe 3: Photos .................................................................................................................... 118 N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 6 LIST OF TABLES Table 1:Total estimates of c-OctaBDE e PFOS. .............................................................................. 13 Table 2: List of POPs Substances, 2016 ........................................................................................... 17 Table 3:Basic Indicators of 2010 ........................................................................................................ 20 Table 4: Hipsometry of Sao Tome and Principe Islands ................................................................. 22 Table 5: Production of local products of plant origin, in ton, between 2012 and 2015 ............... 26 Table 6: Livestock evolution, in tons, between 2012 and 2015 ..................................................... 27 Table 7: Fishing evolution in tons, between 2012 and 2015 .......................................................... 29 Table 8: The country Statistic Sanitary Indicators ............................................................................ 31 Table 9:Institution duties. ..................................................................................................................... 39 Table 10: Bodies directly or indirectly involved in chemicals management at the country level ................................................................................................................................................................. 41 Table 11: POPs pesticides use in cultivated Area ........................................................................... 47 Table 12: Cultures and controlled pests by Endossulfan ............................................................... 48 Table 13: Activities undertaken on POPs in the country ................................................................. 49 Table 14: Inventory of equipments with PCB in 2004...................................................................... 53 Table 15: Equipment Inventoryin 2014 .............................................................................................. 54 Table 16: Equipment Inventory with PCB in 2014............................................................................ 55 Table 17: Summary of PCB survey in Sao Tome and Principe in 2014 ....................................... 55 Table 18: Identified Circuit breakers in Sao Tome and Principe, 2015 ......................................... 56 Table 19: Identified sites with foam, 2015 ......................................................................................... 61 Table 20: Identified possibly contaminated sites by Industrial PCBs. ........................................... 61 Table 21: Inventory Summary of PCDD/PCDF Emissions in Sao Tome and Principe, referred to 2005 (Toolkit 2013). ......................................................................................................................... 64 Table 22: Summary of the Emissions Inventory of PCDD/PCDF in São Tome and Principe for 2015 (Toolkit 2013). .............................................................................................................................. 65 Table 23: Comparison of PCDD /PCDF emissions for 2005 and 2015 ........................................ 66 Table 24: Action plan priority for 2005 and 2015.............................................................................. 82 Table 25: Summary of the Budget of Measures and Plan of Action ............................................. 85 Table 26: Measures to improve the legislative framework and national institutional capacity to comply with the Stockholm Convention ............................................................................................. 86 Table 27: Measures fore Dissemination of information, public awareness and social participation ............................................................................................................................................ 88 Table 28: Measures to improve national analytical capacity, POPs monitoring research, development and innovation ................................................................................................................ 90 Table 29: Action Plans ......................................................................................................................... 93 N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 7 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Administrative Map of Sao Tome and Principe. Source (INE RGPH-2012) ........ 21 Figure 2: Agriculture evolution in STP ........................................................................................ 25 Figure 3: Main institutions for the operation of integrated chemicals management ............ 38 Figure 4: Possibly contamined sites ........................................................................................... 69 Figure 5: Potentially contaminated sites by type of POPs and other contaminants ........... 70 Figure 6: Possibly contamined sites by district ......................................................................... 70 Figure 7: Site Contamination risks .............................................................................................. 71 Figure 8: NIP Management Structures ....................................................................................... 79 LIST OF PHOTO Photo 1: Chemicals warehouse in Mouro Carregado, Lobata District .................................. 50 N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 8 ABREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ANE National Project Execution Agency CIAT Agronomic and Technological Research Center CNC National Coordination Committee PC Parties Conference CTNA Technical Commission of Environment DDT Diclorodiphnyltricloroetan DGA Directorate General of Environment DSRP Poverty Reduction Strategy EEE Electric and Electronic Equipment EMAE Water and Electricity Company ENASA National Airport Safety Company ENCO National Fuel Company ENI National Inventory Experts ENPAB National Strategy and Biodiversity Action Plan GEF Global Environmental Fund GAS Safe Environmental Management GG Greenhouse Gas Emissions HBB Hexabromobiphenyl IDH Human Development Index INDC National Determined Intentional Contribution INE National Statistics Institute kv Kilo volts MADR Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development MAI Ministry of Internal Affairs MECI Ministry of Economy and International Cooperation MFAP Ministry of Finance and Public Administration MILDA Long Term Impregnated Mosquito Nets MIRNA Ministry of Infrastructures, Natural Resources and Environment MPA Best Environmental Practices MS Ministry of Health MTD Best Available Technology N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 9 MW Mega Wats NA Non Applicable NLTPS National Long Term Perspective Study OMS World Health Organization ONUDI United Nations Industrial Development Organization PBBs Polibromated Bifphenyls PBDEs Polibromated Diphenyls Ethers PCBs Policlorated Biphfenyil Policlorado PCDD Policloro dibenzo-p-dioxinas PCDF Policloro dibenzofurans PID Intra house Spraying PNADD National Environmental Plan for Durable Development NIP National Implementation Plan UNEP United Nations Environmental Program POPs Persistent Organic Pollutants RAP Principe Autonomus Região RGPH Population and Housing General Census RGPH General Report of Housing and Population SAICM Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management SENAPI National Service of Intellectual Property SPVCF National Service of Plant Protection and Phytosanitary Control STD Dobras (local currency) STP Sao Tome and Principe TEQ Equivalent Ton Ton Ton UNITAR United Nations Institute for Training and Research U-POPs Unintentional Persistent Organic Pollutants USD American Dollars USTP University of Sao Tome and Principe N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 10 PREFÁCIO N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 11 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This National Implementation Plan (NIP) was developed by the Ministry of Infrastructures, Natural Resources and Environment in cooperation with several institutions and national partners, from the Government, the civil society, with funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), and support from the United Nations Industrial Development Organization. The Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe is a Small Island State of volcanic origin with 1001 km2, and about 187 356 inhabitants, according to the population and housing census of 2012, and is located in the Gulf of Guinea quite 300 km off the African coast. The country signed the Stockholm Convention on April the 3rd 2002 and ratified it by means of the Presidential Decree No 03/2006 of February the 8th 2006. As a State Party, it initiated the application of Article 7 with the drawing up of the first National Implementation Plan (NIP) in 2006, containing the strategies and the action plan in accordance with the Directives of the said Convention. The Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are organic chemicals, i.e. they are carbon-based, they have got a particular combination of physical and chemical properties that, once released into the environment, they remain intact for long periods of time. They have high stability, they are toxic for the human beings and wildlife. Some of these POPs are organ halogenated insecticides listed in Annex A of the Convention, the industrial chemical products such as Bifenil Polychlorinated (PCB) and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) dielectric oils, as well as non-intentional production of anthropogenic products commonly referred to as dioxins and furans ( Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin or PCDD and dibenzofurans PCDF). Also the new POPs identified in Annex A include three industrial chemicals such as PBDE (polybrominated diphenyl ether) subdivided into octaBDE (composed of Hexabromobiphenyl ether and Heptabromobiphenyl which make up commercial octaBDE), PentaBDE (composed of Tetrabromobiphenyl and pentabromobiphenyl) which comprises commercial pentabromobiphenyl ether and hexabromobiphenyl (HBB) and pentachlorobenzene (PeCB), hexabromocyclododecane and sulfuric perfluoroctanoic acid (PFOS). The Conference of the States Parties (COP) to the Stockholm Convention at its fourth, fifth and sixth meetings agreed to include ten new persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in Annexes A, B and C of the Convention. In the light of this decision, the Parties should review and update their national implementation plans (NIPs) in accordance with paragraph 1 (c) of Article 7 of the Convention. N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 12 At its fourth meeting on 4-8 May 2009, the Conference of the States Parties approved amendments to the Annexes A, B and C of the Stockholm Convention to the list of alpha hexachlorocyclohexane, hexachlorocyclohexane beta, chlordecone, hexabromobiphenyl, hexabromodiphenyl ether and heptabromodiphenyl ether, Lindane, pentachlorobenzene, perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, salts thereof and sulfonyl fluoride perfluorooctane and tetrabromodiphenyl ether and pentabromodiphenyl ether. At its fifth meeting held from 25 to 29 May 2011, the Conference of States Parties adopted an amendment to Annex A of the Stockholm Convention to list technical endosulfan and its isomers related to a specific exemption and at the sixth meeting held on 28 April 10 May 2013, the Conference of the Parties adopted an amendment to Annex A of the Stockholm Convention to list hexabromocyclododecane with specific exemptions. Ten years after the first inventory had been made and with the introduction of new POPs in the Convention list, it was necessary to update the referred inventory in order to prepare a new strategy and the action plan capable of dealing with the new reality and to prepare a national implementation plan (NIP) of the Convention, revised and updated.  Pesticides POPs and New pesticides POPs The inventory has shown that the number of obsolete pesticides POPs used by the health sector in the past to combat malaria vectors, namely the DDT, is still stored in the existing structure in Morro Carregado. It was not possible to estimate the existing quantity due to the degree of its deterioration, and the fact that it is mixed with other chemical products taken to the place and the vandalism verified within the structure. Based on the results of the inventory, priority actions for the Action Plan have been identified. In the agriculture sector, concerning POPs listed in Annex A to the Stockholm Convention, namely Pesticides (Endrin, Dieldrin, Hepptachlor, Mirex, Toxaphene, Aldrin) and New POPs Pesticides (endosulfan, and lindane), Methyl Bromide (Fumigant) are no longer imported. In the health sector, research has concluded that the country has stopped importing DDT and it is currently being replaced by insecticides from the Carbamates group (Bendiocarb) since 2013 in the implementation of public policies to combat malaria. It is used as vector control measures that include chemical treatment at home (indoor spraying). It is less effective than DDT but, on the other hand, they are less harmful to human beings and the environment. N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 13 Similarly, in the agricultural sector, POPs pesticides have been replaced by other biodegradable synthetic organic alternatives such as orthene, decile, chlorpyrifos, fenitrothion, temik, phostoxin, and more.  New Industrial POPs The inventory results show that there is no recent production and use of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) and perfluoroctane, sulphonic acid and its salts (PFOS and PFOSF). Concerning Hexabromobiphenyl (HBB), Pentachlorobenzene (PeCB), they were not subject to inventory in 2015, which makes it impossible to obtain information regarding the use or on the existence of stocks or products containing these substances. As the emission estimates are concerned, the sources of PFOS have been analyzed in some sectors that use fire foam, including the transport sector and the electrical and electronic equipments containing PBDEs. In the transport sector, calculations of the country's overall estimates for commercial c-pentaBDE were not made due to insufficient data. However, the calculations of total commercial octaBDE estimates were 35,248 kg for the electrical and electronic equipment sector. These calculations were made on the basis of United Nations Comtrade data for Sao Tome and Principe. Table 1 describes the emission summary of these new industrial POPs in the sectors of Electronic Electrical Equipment and the foam sector for firefighting. Table 1:Total estimates of c-OctaBDE e PFOS. POPs Sector Quantity of PFOs in Kg c-Octa-BDE Electric Electronic Equipament 35,25 PFOS Foam (Low factor 5000 mg/kg) 30,00 Foam (High factor 15000 mg/kg) 290,00  Polychlorinated Biphenyls – PCBs Regarding the Polychlorinated Biphenyls, PCB, about 143 equipments containing dielectric oil were found in 123 places visited, in the first inventory carried out in 2005, but only one medium voltage transformer located in the Água Grande plant contained 235 Kgs PCBs. N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 14 For the inventory carried out in 2015, 163 sites were visited where equipment containing dielectric oil, such as power transformers, distribution units, as well as old oil circuit breakers were located. It was verified the existence of 61,997 Tons of dielectric oil, being 55,908 tons in Sao Tome and 6,089 tons in the Autonomous Region of Príncipe In this inventory, a number of aspects that had not been taken in account in 2005 were taken into account, namely the geographic identification of the locations where the equipment, the manufacturer, the state of repair, the type of dielectric oil and the quantity of existing oil were. In addition to the transformer that had already been identified in the previous inventory, which contained PCBs, it was possible to identify another distribution transformer at an industrial site in Bobo Fôrro, which contains this POP. These oils were identified by their dataplate (type plate). It can be concluded, as far as PCB is concerned, that in the Água Grande plant, located in Chácara, the distribution transformer of 160 KVA of Pauwels Transformer of 1980 contains 235 Kgs of ASKAREL and, in the CIEM company, located in Bobo Forro, the 1982 200 KVA distribution transformer from France Transformer contains 215 Kgs of the same oil.  Dioxins and Furans (PCDD and PCDF) In the survey on dioxin (PCDD) and furans (PCDF), it was found that the difference between the national emissions calculated on the basis of the first inventory in 2005 assessed with Toolkit 2003 (6 g TEQ / year) and the second inventory In 2015, evaluated with Toolkit 2012 (1 gTEQ / year), reveals a decrease of 5 g TEQ / year. This is due to the fact that, in 2005, 6962.5 t were applied to the burning biomass of the Toolkit 2003, corresponding to forest burning, 5 μg TEQ / t and 4 μg TEQ / t for the air and land respectively, whereas for Toolkit 2012 the framework was made in a new category introduced "burning of savannas and prairies in category a-class 5", whose emission factors are less than 0,5 μg TEQ / t) , In the air vector, and 0.15 μg TEQ / t), in the land vector, which resulted in a reduction in emissions of 0.744 and 1.445 g TEQ / year at 0.098 and 0.003 g TEQ / year, in the referred year for the same vectors. The evolution evaluation of the PCDD and PCDF emissions between the 2005 Inventory (1 g TEQ / year) with the Toolkit 2012 and the current Inventory carried out in 2015, (2 g TEQ / year), with the same Toolkit, reveals an increase of 1 g TEQ / year, emission. N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 15 For the group 3 "Heating and energy production", the emissions of PCDD and PCDF, for the classes of the sub-category "heating and domestic cooking based on biomass", namely "contaminated firewood" and "Virgin firewood" (wood logs used in bakeries), are respectively 0.847 g TEQ / year and 0.009 g TEQ / year, through the air vector, and 0.006, through the residue vector, for contaminated firewood.  Contaminated sites From the inventory carried out in 2015, 27 sites were identified as possibly contaminated by POPs and evaluated according to their degree of risk. The sites with the highest risk are: located in the rubbish dumps of Mulundo, Ponte Graça, and Penha, the chemical storage area, L11-warehouse of Mouro Carregado and also the chemical warehouse in the community of Monte Café Among the identified 27 sites, 16 (59%) were classified as being at substantial risk, 6 (22%) were classified as moderate risk and 5 (19%) were of intolerable risk (interdiction and isolation of the area until risk reduction). The 12 (44%) potentially contaminated sites identified were inventoried as generation sources of and sites potentially contaminated with dioxins and furans, 8 (30%) are contaminated by pesticides, 6 (23%) are contaminated with PCBs and 1 (4%) per Heavy metals from waste electrical and electronic equipment. Due to the lack of portable fluorescence and X-ray equipment by scattered energy, it was not possible to identify the presence of polybrominated diphenyl ether (PDBE) in order to measure the Br, Pb, Hg, Cr, Cd and other elements. The District with the highest number of sites with suspected contamination is Água Grande, with 14 sites, that is, about 50% of the total, while the Districts of Caué and Cantagalo have the lowest number of sites, being 1 for each of these districts. Legal gaps have been identified; therefore the country need in legislation on chemicals, especially to regulate POPs. This document presents in detail the strategies and actions of the National Plan for the Implementation of Stockholm Convention, in order to fulfill the commitments set forth in the Convention, based on the situation shown by the inventories and the intervention priorities determined by the country. The Measures and Planned Actions costing, considering the exchange rate (1USD = 22,500 STD), the costs of the implementation of these measures and action plan were estimated at the total value of STD 32,973,750,000.00 (USD 1,465,500 , 00) for the horizon of 5 years. In this sense, the Plan should be reviewed and updated every 5 years, so that the progress made can be assessed. N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 16 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1. Persistent Organic Pollutants and the Stockholm Convention POPs are organic substances that remain in the environment for a long time and bioaccumulate in the living organisms. They have high stability, toxicity, besides their low degradability (chemical, physical or biological). Studies point out the adverse effects of these substances on human health and in the environment throughout the world, and the diseases may manifest themselves immediately or after years of exposure, which make them a global concern. They are widely distributed throughout the environment, transported through the air, water and migratory species, beyond international borders and deposited in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, which makes them object of global concern. As a consequence, they accumulate in the adipose tissue of the organisms, including the human beings. They are also found, at higher concentrations, at higher levels of the food chain. The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) was adopted on the 22nd of May 2001; entered into force on the 17th of May 2004 at the international level and the first State Party Conference took place in May 2005. The purpose of the Convention is to protect human health and the environment from the harmful effects of the POPs. Sao Tome and Principe signed the convention on the 3rd of April 2002 and ratified it by means of Presidential Decree No. 03/2006 of February 8, 2006. As a State Party, it initiated the application of article 7, with the elaboration, of the first National Implementation Plan (PNI), in 2006, containing the strategies and the action plan in accordance with the Directives of the referred Convention. It was approved by the Government on October 29, 2009, through the Decree-Law No. 64 / 2009, and promulgated by the President of the Republic on the 31st of December 2010. The Stockholm Convention requires that the Member States adopt control measures relating to all stages of the life cycle, production, import, export, use and final destination of the POPs substances listed in their Annexes. The international community has been mobilized to address the POPs issue and discuss actions to reduce and eliminate these pollutants release into the environment. In the preventive position, the convention mandates the governments to promote the best technologies and practices in their technological field and prevent the development of new POPs. Going further, it defines as its ultimate goal the total N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 17 elimination of POPs. The Convention presents innovative and objective options towards actions for the proper management of these substances. There are currently 23 POPs substances listed in the Convention. Initially 12 POPs were listed in the Convention, number that was expanded in 2009, following the decision of the 4th Conference of States Parties to include 9 more substances. In 2011, Endosulfam was included. At COP6 in May 2013, Hexabromocyclododecane was added. The 23 POPs substances of Stockholm Convention are listed in three annexes  Annex A - elimination: prohibited use and commitment to be disposed of within specified time limits;  Annex B - restriction: some uses allowed as an acceptable purpose, if there is no viable substitute;  Annex C - unintentional production: products that can be generated via combustion processes or intermediates in industrial chemical reactions. Table 2: List of POPs Substances, 2016 Chemical Substances (POPs) Pesticides Industrial Use Chemicals Unintentional Production Annex Sulphonic Perphluoroctan Acid (PFOS), its salts and Sulphonyl Perphluoroctan Phluoretseus (PFOSF) + B Aldrin + A Alpha Hexaclorociclohexan (Alpha HCH) + + A Beta hexaclorociclohexano (Beta HCH) + + A Polichlored Biphenyls (PCBs) + + A e C Chlordane + A Chlordecane + A DDT + B Dieldrin + A Dioxins (PCDDs) + C Endossulphan + A Endrin + A Hexabromodiphenylic Ether and Heptabromodiphenylic Ether, main components of Octabromodiphenylic commercial Ether(c-ctaBDE) + A Tetrabromodiphenylic Ether (tetraBDE) and Pentabromodiphenylic + A N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 18 Source: Self Elaborated, DGA 2016 1.2. Elaboration of the National Implementation Plan (NIP) The National Implementation Plan (NIP) is the strategy document for the implementation of Stockholm Convention on POPs. Its objective is: (i) Improve knowledge on POPs in order to eliminate/reduce their local sources and quantities of waste; (ii) Have adapted national legislation specifically targeting POPs and have it implemented; (iii) Strengthen the capacities of key partners in the environmentally sound management of POPs and coordinate their activities; (iv) To assure the exchange of information on implementing measures and to participate in international cooperation in the fight against POPs. The Article 7 of the Convention mandates States Parties to draw up their National Implementation Plan for the Stockholm Convention (NIP) and to transmit it to the Conference of the States Parties, informing them about the measures and strategies to be followed in order to fulfill their commitments towards the framework of the Convention, integrated into the national plans. These obligations entail: 1) Measures to reduce or eliminate the production, use, import and export of POPs; 2) Measures for the identification and proper final destination of the stocks, products and articles in use that contain or are contaminated by POPs; 3) Measures for the identification, management and final destination of waste consisting of, containing or contaminated by POPs; 4) Measures to identify areas contaminated with POPs; 5) Measures for the progressive reduction of emissions and elimination of unintentionally produced POPs sources; 6) Dissemination of information, awareness and training of the public; Ether (PentaBDE), main components Pentabromodiphenylic commercial Ether (C PentaBDE) Furans (PCDFs) + C Heptaclor + A Hexabromophifenil (HBB) + A Hexabromociclododecano (HBCD) + A Hexaclorobenzen (HCB) + + + A e C Lindan + A Mirex (dodecacloro) + A Pentaclorobenzen (PeCB) + + + A e C Toxafen + A N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 19 7) Measures to strengthen and create institutional capacities for the adequate management of POPs; 8) Measures to strengthen national analytical capacity and POPs monitoring. N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 20 2. COUNTRY PROFILE 2.1. Demographic Aspects According to statistics from 2012 of the 4th General Census of Population and Housing (INE RGPH-2012), the total effective population living in São Tomé and Príncipe is 178,739 thousand inhabitants, of whom 49.7% are men, That is, 88.867 individuals versus 50.3% of women, equivalent to 89,872. Table 3:Basic Indicators of 2010 Basic Indicators Value Annual growing rate of the population (%) 2 Life expectancy (%) 65,3 Birth rate (%) 28,5 Infant mortality rate (%) 30,1 Unemployment rate (%) 13,6 Female population rate with the age of 15-49 years old (%) 47,7 Source:INE,2012 Agua Grande is the district that encompasses the capital of the country with 73,091 inhabitants. Mé-Zochi is the second most populous with 46,265. Caué is still the least populated region with 6,887 inhabitants, while the district of Lobata currently has 20,007 inhabitants. Cantagalo comes after with 18,194, then Lembá with 15,370 inhabitants, and finally, the Autonomous Region of the Principe (RAP) that registers about 7,542 inhabitants. More than 60% of the population is concentrated in a 10 km radius of the capital of the country, in two of the seven administrative areas that represent only 13.8% of the national territory: in the District of Água Grande, where is located the city of S .Tomé, the capital of the country, and the district of Mé Zóchi, where the capital is Trindade. According to UNDP (2013), S. Tomé and Principe recorded significant improvements in the area of human development. It ranks 144th among 186 countries on the UNDP Human Development Index (HDI). The country is among the countries with low human development, with an HDI of 0.525 in 2012, above the average in Sub-Saharan Africa. N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 21 2.2. Physical environnement conditions  Géographie São Tomé and Príncipe is an archipelago consisting of two islands and adjacent islets, located to the west of the African coast, in the Gulf of Guinea. The archipelago comprises a total area of 1001 km2. The island of São Tomé and its islets comprise 859 km2 of surface and the island of Principe and its islets, 142 km2. Figure 1: Administrative Map of Sao Tome and Principe. Source (INE RGPH-2012) The islands are 300 km off the African coast and are located between the parallels 1 45 'north and 0 ° 25' south and the meridians 6 ° 26 'East and 7 ° 30' West. They are volcanic origin islands, with a very rugged relief, where the highest points are Pico of Sao Tome (2024 m) in Sao Tome, and Pico of Principe (948m), in Principe Island.  The Climate The climate is tropical humid, characterized by the existence of two seasons: a rainy season with a duration of about nine months, and a dry season, called gravana, with a duration of almost three months. There is, however, an intermediate season called "gravanito", which takes place temporarily, characterized by a decrease in rainfall and an increase in the average air temperature. N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 22 Taking into account the characteristics of the relief, there are several microclimates. The highest areas have a high rainfall (7,000 mm per year), while the lowlands (North and Northeast) have less rainfall (around 1,000 mm per year). The annual temperature is around 26ºC. In the coastal regions it is around 27ºC and in the mountainous areas 21ºC. The air humidity is very high, it may reach, in high altitude, an average of 92% almost all the year. At low altitude, it is less high, ranging from 70% to 80% all long the year.  Topography In S. Tomé, the relief is very uneven, being Pico Grande, the highest point of the island: it is located in the center-Southwest and it is 2024 m high. A dozen peaks surpass 1000 m of altitude. The north of the island is less mountainous, and that is why the first growers settled there. At Principe the highest peak reaches 948 m and the relief is even more bumpy. The North is also less hilly. In the two islands, the rivers are numerous and they have a hydrographic network with a radial configuration that leaves from the center of the higher zone towards the coastline. The two volcanic origin islands that make up the country form part of an eruptive chain that extends through the Gulf of Guinea from the Cameroon Mountains to Anobom and continues to St. Helena. São Tomé is a 5000 m high volcano stratum that is composed mainly of basaltic lava that lies on rich rocks in Cretaceous silica. The rocks, the oldest of which are dated to more than 15.7 M.y. Principe lies on an oceanic board at a depth of 3000 m. The northern rocks of Principe Island are mostly basalts and phonoliths and nefrites that are common in the south. (ENPAB I) The hypsometry of the islands of Sao Tome and Principe is indicated in the following table: Table 4: Hipsometry of Sao Tome and Principe Islands Source: CECI Engineering Consultants, Inc,Taiwan Islands Maximum Elevation % of the elevation zone < 200 m % of the elevation zone < 500 m % of the elevation zone < 1 000 m % of the elevation zone < 1 500 m SAO TOME 2024 m 46,2 76,5 94,7 99,4 PRINCIPE 948 m 75,4 95,7 100 100 N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 23 2.3. Socioeconomic Context  Economic Situation Sao Tomean economy is still poor and poorly diversified. It consists essentially in the production and export of cocoa, which accounts for about 90% of total export earnings, thus constituting the main source of currency for the country. The service sector is the most dynamic and the most employment-generating sector, although it is not enough to fill the growing demand for employment. According to official data, the trade sector is the one that has greater weight in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). (INE RGPH 2012). Real GDP grew by 4% in 2015, compared to 4.5% in 2014. Statistics on national accounts released by the National Institute of Statistics (INE) show that Sao Tomean economy suffered a considerable deceleration of GDP in 2015 comparing the previous year, where in real terms there was a growth of 3.9% against 6.9%, which represents a deceleration of 3.0 percent. Public expenditure is estimated to have reached 34.2% of GDP in 2015, with investment expenditure accounting for 15.3% of GDP. Oil has been prospected since 2012, but production is expected to occur only after 2020. Most of consumed goods in the country are imported. There is a link between domestic price fluctuations and international price ones, with oil prices being the most notable exception since they are fixed. Gross domestic product (GDP) per capita is around USD 1,918 in 2012, since the highest contribution comes from the tertiary sector (66.4%). The secondary sector corresponds to 16.4%, and the primary sector, which integrates agriculture, livestock and fisheries, corresponds to 17.2%. In the period 2000-2002, the contribution of the primary sector was around 27% of GDP.  Public Private Investissment The total implementation of the Public Investment Program (PIP) estimated at the end of 2012 was 1,180,000 million Dobras, i.e. an execution rate of around 66.7%), which corresponds to a reduction of around 19.5% compared to the performance of 2011. This is justified by the fact that there is a smaller inflow of funds from the international community. N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 24 Social spending to reduce poverty (in favor of the poor) in 2012 reached 688,187 million Dobras, or 52.6% of the budgeted amount of 1,307,448 million Dobras. Private foreign investment, in turn, is stimulated mainly by the improvement of telecommunications services, with the introduction of optics fiber in January 2013, the airport and port infrastructure and major road networks improvement, consolidation and private investment is currently concentrated in services areas (banks, insurance companies, tourism), cocoa production and export, palm oil production, beer and construction production and marketing.  Foreign Trade In 2011, exports value reached US $ 5.3 million against US $ 6.4 million in 2010, representing a reduction of approximately 17.7%. The decline in the exports value in 2011 resulted from the decrease in the quantity of goods produced at local level. In contrast to goods exports, goods imports have seen an increase in 2011, recording approximately US $ 120.6 million, compared to US $ 111.7 and US $ 101.7 respectively in 2010 and 2009. The average growth is about 9% per year. This trend in the rise in imports, unlike exports, is a worrying situation, since it imposes a continuous deterioration of the trade balance. In addition, the exports / imports ratio of the last three years shows that this indicator fell from 6, 1% in 2009, 5.7% in 2010 and 4.4% in 2011.  Agriculture Representing the Sao Tomean economy backbone, this sector absorbs about 30% of the active population with an equal share of GDP. It also ensures the largest inflow of foreign currency in the country. The agricultural sector in São Tomé and Príncipe has been dominated by monocultures, which began with the cultivation of sugarcane in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, passed to the coffee culture in the eighteenth century, and finally led to the introduction of cocoa in 1890, which persists to this day. Later, Sao Tome and Principe reached the peak of this last cycle N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 25 after World War I, when, in 1918, it reached the position of the first world exporter of cacao, with 35,000 tons1. Figure 2. Figure 2: Agriculture evolution in STP According to the Agricultural Policy, the excellent fertility that characterizes the country soil has made the economy of the country very dependent on the primary sector, namely agriculture, after independence, although it also has great potential in the field of fisheries, tourism and hydrocarbons. Global economic growth was driven mainly by construction, consumption, tourism, retail trade and mining sector (INE-STP, 2012). The GDP in 2015 was 7,065.25 billion of folds. Real GDP growth (4%) observed in 2015 reflects a contribution from agriculture and forestry sector, livestock production and hunting is between 9-12%. No specific information is available for the agriculture sector, and these are grouped with other sectors2. There are agricultural productions destined for export, such as cocoa, coffee and coco. At present, we have also bet on the export of vanilla and ornamental flowers. In food crops, stand out banana bread, banana silver, corn, cassava and matabala. In the horticultural crops stand out tomatoes, peppers, carrots, lettuce, cabbage, others. Finally, industrial crops, palm oil, sugar cane and locally manufactured chocolate stand out. 1 Carta de Politica Agrícola, Desenvolvimento Rural e Pesca, Abril 2007 2 Relatório Anual de 2015 do Banco Central de São Tomé e Príncipe Sugar cane production in XVI and XVII century Cooffee production in XVIII century Cocoa production, introduced in 1890 Agrarian reform, with the support of the World Bank in 1993 Intensification of cocoa, coffee, vanilla and pepper for export N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 26 Table 5: Production of local products of plant origin, in ton, between 2012 and 2015 DESIGNATION Measure Unity 2012 2013 2014 2015 AGRICULTURE FOOD PRODUCTION Silver banana Tons 20204,1 19945,6 20942 21480,9 Bread Banana ‘’ 13357,8 12374,8 12993,6 14428,9 Valery Banana ‘’ 6980,4 8799,1 9239 7339,3 Bread food ‘’ 4403,7 4844,3 5086,5 4615,1 Oil Palm ‘’ 66 66 67 68 Mannioc ‘’ 1409,7 1432,8 1504,5 1490,7 Matabala ‘’ 8916,4 8024,8 8426 9719,3 VEGETABLES / CEREALS / LEGUMES English Potatoes Tons 122,8 107,1 112,4 135,4 Sweet potato ‘’ 3637 3668,4 3639,4 1941,9 Tomato ‘’ 1144,7 1230,4 1291,9 1201,7 Green beans ‘’ 432 342 359,7 496,8 Cabbage ‘’ 726,4 676,2 710,1 783,6 Carrot ‘’ 987,3 1072 1125,6 1035,6 Dried maize ‘’ 917,4 776,1 814,9 1023,7 Onion ‘’ 521,9 864,1 907,3 587,8 Lettuce ‘’ 73,5 85,7 90 76,9 Dried beans ‘’ 1129,7 1324,9 1391,1 1182,4 EXPORT CULTURE Conventional Cocoa Tons 1698,5 1383,7 2027 1524,2 Biological Cocoa ‘’ 485 721 940 1020 Quality Cocoa ‘’ 75 189 226 250 Biological Coffee ‘’ 5,9 2 12 4,4 Chocolate ‘’ 6,8 5,9 6,4 6,3 Coconut ‘’ 383 541 799 714,8 Flower ‘’ 2,8 4,7 n.a 0,4 Pepper ‘’ 3,5 3,5 12 7,7 Source:Min. Agriculture, Rural Development and Fishing / INE-STP n.a. Not available N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 27 Agriculture and fishing are the country main productive activities, with cocoa being the main export product, which contributes about 90% of the national production. Trade is the sector of the economy that contributed most to GDP, followed by agriculture, transportation, communications and construction.  Livestock More than 90% of Sao Tomeans population consumes mainly pork and chicken meat, while only 37.8% of the population had access to beef. The other species of meat are consumed by 57.8% of the population (Bonfim, 2002). Table 6: Livestock evolution, in tons, between 2012 and 2015 Designation Measure Unity 2012 2013 2014 2015 Beef Tons 12,5 15 10 5 Goat meat ‘’ 3,8 3,1 3,2 4,4 Sheep meat ‘’ 1,8 1,7 1,8 1,8 Pig meat ‘’ 360 361 363 408 Bird meat ‘’ 338 385 435 485 Eggs Unity 2789640 2800990 3591749 3560182 Efectivo Bovina head 1048 1158 1262 1349 Efectivo Caprino ‘’ 27660 30668 32508 30825 Cash sheep ‘’ 2589 3002 3182 3395 Effective Swine ‘’ 28210 28230 28350 31105 Birds ‘’ 200105 215685 274559 279189 Laying hens ‘’ 15498 15505 15650 5938 Total Source:INE,2016 According to FAOSTAT-2015 data, average protein consumption in Sao Tome and Principe is low, as it is in most African countries, although production and consumption tend to increase. Meat consumption was 51 g / person / day in 2000 and reached 61 g / person / day in 2011, an increase of about 16% in a decade. N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 28  Silviculture The main constraints affecting the development of forestry are:  Irregular geographical distribution of forest exploration; indiscriminate cutting of trees of commercial value, with a greater emphasis on amoreiras trees (Milícia excelsa);  Prevalence of sawing to the chainsaw in detriment to fixed sawmills; exploitation of inerts within forest areas; destruction of the savannah of Praia das Conchas; Little supervised hunting;  Deficient capacity of renovation and invasion of forest areas. Added to this is the absence of a Public Forest Development Policy that connects forestry resources to economic and social development. Forestry resources represent one of the potential assets of the country, and its production is of considerable internal importance (construction of houses and traditional vessels for domestic purposes, drying of cocoa, bakeries, coal production, carpentry / furniture carpentry, etc.).  Fishing Despite the relatively small continental shelf due to its volcanic origin, fishing is a relatively important sector for the national economy, with potential in fish resources around 12,000 tons of fish per year (7,500 in Principe and 4,500 in S. Tomé). Biodiversity surveys indicate that the country waters contain 185 fish species from 67 families. Other marine resources include nests of sea turtles, seabirds and marine mammals, being Sao Tome and Principe waters an important breeding ground for humpback whales migrating between Antarctica and the Gulf of Guinea. The contribution of the local fishing industry to the local GDP is very small (around 4.8% in 2007), but the annual catch, estimated at 4,000 tons, represents about 70% of animal protein consumption in Sao Tome and Principe. The continental shelf is rather small and lies mostly around Principe island, with the surface area of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) being relatively weak for an island country (160,000 km2), compared to Gabon (213,600 Km2) or Equatorial Guinea (283,200 km2), with the estimated potential of its reserves at around 12,000 tons / year. (CGD, 2014). N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 29 Fishing is the main activity of coastal communities and plays an important role in generating employment and household income. This activity contributes with 4.7% to the product and employs around 15% of the active population. Most fishermen are responsible for the supply of fish to the population. The most applied type of fishing in the country is the artisanal one. The canoes are built by traditional methods, using wood, and the semi-industrial catch involves larger, glass-fused, motor-driven boats. During artisanal fishing, some fishermen resort to inappropriate or prohibited fishing gear and techniques. In particular, chemicals, explosives or grenades. The legal framework is the Law no. 9/2001 on Fisheries and halieutic resources which defines the general principles of the conservation, exploitation and management of fishery resources policy and the aquatic environment under the sovereignty and jurisdiction of Sao Tome and Principe. A Tabela nº 7 mostra as toneladas de pescado capturado entre 2012 e 2015. Os dados apontam para um aumento pouco significativo da captura total de pescado. Table 7: Fishing evolution in tons, between 2012 and 2015 DESIGNATION Measure Unity 2012 2013 2014 2015 Fishing Ton 5079 5208 5341 5570 Source: INE-STP,2016  Tourism Tourism is the main export component of services and its contribution as a source of foreign exchange is now higher than that of exports of goods. However, the contribution of tourism to GDP remains still deficient despite the country's natural potential and great cultural diversity. Although its growth is slow, it is a promising activity in Sao Tome and Principe. Most tourists come from Europe and a small minority from Africa. N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 30  Industry The industrial sector is very incipient; the secondary sector is not very expressive in the national economy, contributing with about 14% to GDP, of which 11% is due to the civil construction branch. Currently, this branch is very active in Sao Tome and Principe due to the great projects of recovery, maintenance and construction of new economic and social infrastructures. In addition to civil construction, the other branches are: food industry (beer and baking), wood processing, shipbuilding, energy production, confectionery, furniture production and some artisanal production of alcoholic beverages.  Energy Sao Tome and Principe is a highly deficient country in the energy field. The hydroelectric energy produced in two small power plants in the Contador and Manuel Jorge rivers represents a small share of the country's actual needs. Thermal energy is obtained through the use of imported fuel. This results in a high cost of production in thermal power plants, reflecting the high consumer price of the Sao Tome and Principe Water and Electricity Company (EMAE). In addition to this high cost, add a meager and obsolete energy production and distribution network. The supply of electricity in Sao Tome and Principe is unreliable and its distribution reaches only about half the population. EMAE currently has 12 MW of installed capacity, 80% from thermoelectric power plants and 20% from Contador and Guegue hydroelectric plants. However, availability has increased to 15 MW and will continue to increase alongside economic growth in the coming years.  Education According to the results of 2012 census, the enrollment rate, on one hand, is considerably high in the age groups of 6-11 years and 6-14 years and, on the other hand, it has lower values in the age groups of 18 -24 years and 20 24 years. This indicator allows us to verify that in the lower ages the schooling rate has a higher incidence in the female layer of the population, while in the higher ages the reverse occurs (INE, RGPH-2012). Education at all levels is managed by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. The different levels of the education system are: N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 31  Preschool  Basic education: 6 years, divided into two cycles. The school age for this level of education is between 6 and 11 years;  Secondary education;  Professional education;  Higher Education  Extra school education (literacy) The annual variation in the number of school-age children is 6.2% for pre school, 2.4% for basic education, 4.8% for secondary education and 20.3% for higher education. The surprising evolution of higher education of more than 115% between the academic years 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 is due to the fact that in the private sector a further institution of higher education was suggested in 2007. The country-level enrollment rate in 2015 was 86%. (Source INE 2012 and Directorate of Basic Education).  Health Country public health is characterized by the following indicators: Table 8: The country Statistic Sanitary Indicators Fonte: Global Sanitary Expenses – OMS 2011 Number of doctors per 10000 inhabitants 4.9 Number of medical nurse 10 000 inhabitants 18.7 Number of hospital beds per 10 000 inhabitants 32 Health public expenses in % of GDP 8.7% Public Health Expenses per inhabitants 36 US$ N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 32 3. INSTITUTIONAL, POLITICAL AND LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK 3.1. Environmental and sustainable development policy and general legislative Framework  Environmental and sustainable development policy The implementation of environmental policy in São Tomé and Príncipe is a concern that dates back to independence in 1975, with the creation of the Ministry of Social Equipment and Environment. Thus, the Framework Law No 10/99 of April 15 1999 provides as follows: “Every citizen has the right to an ecologically balanced human environment and the duty to defend it” It 'consecrates the awareness of the Sao Tomean people on environmental issues. This concern became a state issue after the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June 1992 (Eco-92), in which the countries represented by their respective Heads of State stated their political will to contribute to the International Community with a view to promoting sustainable development. It is a socially balanced development, ecologically viable, economically efficient and capable, among other things, of reducing disparities between the rich and the poor. After Rio, the country definitively embarked on the implementation of rational environmental management and sustainable development through the adoption of several appropriate instruments. One of the instruments of that environmental policy is the National Plan for the Environment towards Durable Development (PNADD), which was developed under the 21 Capacity program. The objective of this Plan was to strengthen national capacities to integrate the concept of durability and imperative of environmental management in the national development process. With PNADD approval, the country was endowed with a strategic operational framework that will contribute to ensure socio-economic development in harmony with the preservation of the country's environment and resources. This plan includes 8 programs, among which a program on toxic chemicals and waste, which aims to:  Reduce the use of pesticides and other toxic products in agriculture;  Strengthen institutional capacities of the Agronomic and Technological Research Center;  Build incinerators in health centers;  Promote organic farming;  Eliminate out of date stocks of toxic chemicals in the area of Praia das Conchas. N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 33 In addition to PNADD, Sao Tome and Principe also provided other important documents to ensure environment protection, such as the National Long-term Perspective Study (NLTPS), the National Strategy and the Plan of Action (ENPAB), the Poverty Reduction Strategy (DSRP) and the Charter for Agricultural and Rural Development Policy. The National Study of Long-term Perspectives (NLTPS) is a reflection that the Government of São Tomé and Príncipe carried out with the objective of having a long-term vision of country development by the year 2025. This study constitutes a project of Long-term society, which will enable the country to improve its governance, to have a prosperous and competitive economy, to promote national culture and to guarantee a social well-being citizens. Another very important strategy for the environment sustainable management in the country is the National Strategy and the Biodiversity Action Plan, which is a step of great importance for the environment in general and for Sao Tomean biodiversity in particular. The strategy and actions proposed for the four ecosystems defined by the country, namely the Coastal and Marine Ecosystem, the Inland Water Ecosystem, the Forest Ecosystem and the Agrarian Ecosystem, contain measures that should be implemented in short, medium and long term at the national level, with international support. The National Poverty Reduction Strategy does not explicitly take into account specific programs and strategies relating to the environment, in particular the chemical safety of chemicals, POPs, biodiversity, the fight against desertification, climate change, integrated management of water resources and more. However, this document recognizes the need to ensure the environment protection, which has become necessary because of the negative consequences of continued deterioration of the population well-being and the sustainable development It should be noted that the actions foreseen in the of successive Governments’ Programs take into account all the concerns related to sustainable development of integrating environmental issues into the national development policy. It is also important to note that Sao Tome and Principe, after the Rio Conference, produced some reports that reflect its concern about protecting the environment. These include the following:  The main elements of the Environmental Strategy;  The Rio +10 report;  The National Environment Plan for Sustainable Development;  The Biodiversity Strategy and Plan of Action;  The National Adaptation Plan on Climate Change. N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 34  Législative Framework The legal bases of Sao Tome and Principe's environmental policy are found in the Constitution and Laws, decrees, ministerial decrees and regulations. As regards legislative and regulatory acts, two categories of texts adopted by Sao Tomean Government are distinguished: texts of a general nature and sectoral texts. The global texts are those where the objectives are to embrace the environment in all its complexity. This is why, for example, the Environmental Framework Law was adopted (Law no. 10/99 of 15 April 1999). This law defines the policy basis for sustainable development, according to the Political Constitution and the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development. The sectoral texts, for their part, are those that are adopted to govern and regulate a certain environment sector. In this sense Sao Tome and Principe adopted the following laws:  Decree-Law No. 8/2014 on the Protection of Sea Turtles and Their Related;  Sao Tome and Principe Obo Natural Park, Law no. 6/06, published in the DR no. 29, of 08/02/2006;  Príncipe Natural Park Law, Law no. 7/06, published in the DR no. 29, of 08/08/2006.  Law No 9/2001 of 31 December 2001 on Fisheries and Fishery Resources;  Law no. 5/2001 of December 31, 2001 on Forests;  Decree-Law nº 40/99 - Competence of Phytosanitary Control of products or materials of vegetal origin by CIAT. - Diário da República no. 12, November 30, 1999  Law No. 11/99 of December 31, 1999 on Fauna, Flora and Protected Areas:  Decree No 35/99 of December 12, 1999 on the extraction of aggregates, particularly on sand extraction;  Decree No 36/99 of November 31, 1999 on the management of solid waste;  Law no. 3/91 of July 31, 1991 on land ownership;  Decree-Law No 51/91 of December 7, 1991 laying down the criteria for the distribution of agricultural land;  Decree-Law no. 63/81 of December 31, 1981 on the protection, exploitation and management of the marine resources of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ);  Decree-Law No. 59/80, on the public health health code; In general, it can be said that the country has a legislative framework conducive to supporting its sustainable development, but mechanisms need to be put in place to implement it. N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 35 The summary presentation of the legal framework in São Tomé and Príncipe on environmental issues shows that the Government has made a certain effort to regulate the laws, according to available resources, mainly on the pollution of substances that cause damage to the environment and population health. The Legislative and Regulatory Framework for Chemicals and Hazardous Waste is being developed under the UNEP PMA project for training and technical assistance to the least developed countries in West and Central Africa for the implementation of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. Laws and regulations are expected to be adopted by the end of December 2017. 3.2. Environmental Agreements, Conventions and Treaties  United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (Rio de Janeiro, 1992) Published in the State Gazette no. 17/1998 of May 30, the main objectives of which are to control atmospheric emissions of greenhouse gases in order to prevent any climatic change that could be serious for the economic development or jeopardize the humanity future.  Convention on the Protection of the Ozone Layer (Vienna, 1985) Montreal Protocol on Substances that deplete the Ozone Layer (Montreal, 1987), as well as all its amendments: London, Montreal, Copenhagen and Beiging, on November 19, 2001.  Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure (PIC) Knowing all the facts applicable to certain hazardous chemicals and pesticides in international trade, Rotterdam, September 10, 1998. The country signed Rotterdam Convention in 2012 and promulgated it by means of Decree no. 6/2012, Of May 29. It is based on the principle of prior consent of the importing country and on shared responsibility in international trade of these products and it aims to control the transboundary moving of hazardous chemicals (Pesticides and industrial use substances) which have been banned or severely restricted for Health or environmental reasons by the state parties. N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 36  Basel Convention on Transboundary Moving Control of Hazardous Wastes and Their Deposit The country acceded to the Basel Convention, enacted by Presidential Decree No. 8/2012, of June 08 and entered into force on February 10, 2014. It is based on appropriate environmentally management of different types of hazardous waste, and Control of transboundary moving of hazardous waste listed in the Convention Annexes.  Minamata Convention on Mercury It emerged after recurring discussions within the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) on the risks of mercury use. In all, 140 countries were involved and approved the final text, which was opened for signature in October 2013. The new treaty will enter into force 90 days after the deposit of the 50th instrument of ratification. The ratification process is under way, which will be approved by means of a Legislative Decree in the National Assembly. Currently, the country is in the process of ratifying this convention, having already submitted the documents to the Parliament.  Bamako Convention It is a convention on the prohibition of hazardous wastes import into Africa, the transboundary moving control and the management of such wastes in Africa. Sao Tome and Principe has not ratified it yet.  Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) Adopted in 2006, SAICM aims to support the implementation of Johannesburg Plan agreed in 2002 (Rio + 10) and to ensure that by 2020 chemicals are produced and used in a way to meaningfully minimize the harmful impacts on the environment and human health. As SAICM, signatory the country has made efforts to ensure the effective implementation of the Global Action Plan aims. As part of the overall strategy, the country has developed the National Chemical Profile on chemicals management in June 2009. N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 37 It is an international convention that aims to prevent the spread and introduction of plant and derived product pests, as well as to promote appropriate measures to control them.  ILO Conventions on the promotion of Principles and Human Rights at Work. The Government of São Tomé and Príncipe, in 1982, became an ILO member and subsequently ratified the following Conventions:  C29 on Forced Labor;  C138 on minimum age for admission to employment;  C182 on the worst forms interdiction of child labor;  C129 on Inspection in agriculture. As for other direct issues in the management of chemicals, it is necessary to ratify the 170 Convention on the Safety of Chemicals in the Workplace, 1990, the 177 Convention on Chemicals, 1990, and 174 Convention on the Prevention of Major Industrial Accidents, 1993. 3.3. Role and responsibility of national institutions involved in the management of POPs The State Central Administration Authority responsible for policy designing, execution, coordination, supervision and evaluation on environment issues is the Ministry of Infrastructures, Natural Resources and Environment (MIRNA), created by Decree-Law no. 1/2015 as it is stated in the Organic Law of the XVI Constitutional Government. The General Directiont for Environment (GDE), through article 24, point b) of Decree no. 2/2007, which established the Organic Structure of the XI Constitutional Government, has to carry out the, coordination of the country's environmental actions, definition and participation in the implementation of the State policy in environmental issues. Several public and private institutions deal with chemicals management. There is no clear definition of each one responsibility in the hazardous chemicals life cycle management in general. Therefore, often actions are duplicated and isolated without any coordination. N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 38 Figure 3: Main institutions for the operation of integrated chemicals management Source: GED, 2016 There are a number of public and private institutions, NGOs and Associations active in the field of integrated management of chemicals (pesticides) with the aim of protecting human health and the environment. Institutions such as: General Direction for Agriculture, General Direction of Customs, Direction of Primary Health Care, and National Center for Endemic Diseases, Center for Agronomic and Technological Research (CIAT), NGOs ADAPPA and OQUIMAMB, are equipped with technical staff trained to deal with chemicals Issues. (Figure no.3) The Environmental Technical Commission (CTNA) was created in the Framework Law on the Environment in order to ensure cross-sectoral coordination of the different environmental actors. Integrated management of chemicals Ministry of Infraestrutures, Natural Resources and Environment General Directorate for Environment Transport Directorate Ministry of health Directorate for Primary Health Care National Center for Endemic Deseases Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Directorate for Studies and Planning CADR Agronomic and Technological Research Center (CIAT) Ministry of Finance, Trade and Blue Economy General Directorate for Customs Customs and Financial Police Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs General Labor Inspectorate N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 39 Table 9:Institution duties. AUTHORITIES DUTIES Ministry of Infraestrutures, Natural Resources and Environment The Ministry of Infrastructures, Natural Resources and Environment (MIRNA) is the Central State Administration responsible for policy designing, executing, coordinating, supervising and evaluating as defined and approved by the Government in the areas of public works and natural resources and environment. Ministry of Finance, Commerce and Blue Economy Ministry of Finance, Commerce and Blue Economy (MFCEA) is the Central State Administration with the mission to propose, formulate, conduct, execute and evaluate the Government's financial policy, promoting the rational management of public funds and assets and Internal and external balance of public accounts, as well as the general inspection and supervision of public finance and Public Administration policies. The Directorate for Customs is involved in borders control, in the incoming goods, including chemicals in general and therefore the POPs and the articles and equipment containing them, where appropriate. The application of the international directives on the identification and labeling of chemicals (the Global Harmonized Labeling and Identification System recommended by the SAICM: (Strategic Approach for Integrated Chemicals Management) is, of course, one of the responsibilities of this Directorate. Ministry of Health The Ministry of Health (MOH) is the government department whose mission is to define and conduct the national health policy, ensuring a sustainable use and utilization of resources and the evaluation of its results. This Ministry uses, pesticides in the vector control on one hand and on the other hand, the treatment of intoxicated persons is also one of N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 40 their duties. In the context of the implementation of the Stockholm Convention, the establishment of a National Center for Toxicological Information or an Anticipation Center could be envisaged. Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADR) is the central government body responsible for designing, implementing, coordinating and evaluating the policy advocated and approved by the Council of Ministers regarding agriculture, livestock, forestry and rural development , namely to promote and ensure agricultural research, technical assistance to farmers and the organization of the rural register. This Ministry, through the Studies and Planning, Office exports pesticides in the fight against pests in crops that are marketed officially in the Laina store. Ministry of Ministry of Defense and Internal Affairs The Ministry of Ministry of Defense and Internal Affairs (MDAI) is the government department whose mission is to design, coordinate, execute and evaluate policies on internal security, border control, protection and relief, road safety and local and electoral affairs Action in civil defense on reducing disasters and comprising prevention, preparation and response to national emergencies and natural disasters actions. Source: Adapted taking in account the Organic of the XVI Constitutional Government, 2014 N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 41 For a proper management of chemicals and in particular pesticides throughout their life cycle, the responsibilities of each stakeholder should be the following: Table 10: Bodies directly or indirectly involved in chemicals management at the country level •Control the direct and indirect effects of the emission of chemicals into the environment (air, water and land) •Monitor the effects of chemicals on the environment •Promote BAT / BEP in environmental licenses / EIA Ministry of Environment (DGA) •Register agricultural chemicals •Develop and enforce legislation on pesticides; •Support farmers through extension service of agricultural advice on chemical •Improve control of illegal use and sale of pesticides Promote alternatives to pesticides Ministries of Agriculture (CIAT/CADR) •Allocate financial resources to activities related to chemicals •Allocate resources for inspection, awareness and enforcemen Ministry of Finance, Commerce and Blue Economy •Short-term and long-term impacts of chemicals (including emergencies and poisonings) on the general public or on specific population groups Ministry of Health •Ensuring that the environment crimes are properly penalized •Promoting public access to information on pollution sources •Registering polluting incidents Ministry of Justice •Occupational health and safety related to chemicals use and manufaturing at work local Ministry of Labor •Participation in relevant international agreements and conventions Ministry of Foreign Affairs •Introduction of cleaner technology production •Promoting public access to information on polluting sources Directorate for Industry N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 42  Private Sector and Civil Society Participation in Chemicals Management of Chemical Products The Private Sector and Civil Society do not participate directly in chemicals management of at the country level. Sometimes the products used are imported and marketed by private sector, which relegates the entire management process, including waste use and disposal in the hands of users. They do that in an improperly way, putting their health and environment at risk. The capacity level in this area is low, and there are no strengths. The weaknesses are due to the low technical capacity and knowledge by the importers and users in these products management. The low level of knowledge about the used products toxicity and the lack of chemicals approval are the weaknesses identified. The setting up of registration mechanisms (homologation) of imported products, the training and qualification of a team to control imported products are actions to be implemented urgently at the country level. 3.4. Principles that are the Legislation and Regulation in basis in force, related to POPs The guiding environmental protection principles are defined in the Environmental Framework Law in accordance with the provisions of the Political Constitution and in the Rio '92 Declaration on Environment and Development. Among these principles, we can mention:  The prevention principle;  The respect principle for ecosystems loading capacity;  The proper management, use and reuse principle; •Ruling chemicals import and export, authorities to issue trade licenses Trade Directorate •Controlling chemicals entry and exit into and from the country according to rules, taxes and duties General Directorate for Customs •Aknowledging international transport and Basel Convention rules •Applying labelling and transport obligations and commitments Transport Directorate N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 43  The participation principle;  The access to training principle;  The participation principle;  The access to education and training systems principle;  The accountability principle;  The recovery principle;  The user-payer principle;  The polluter pays principle;  The balance and integration principle;  The international operation principle. N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 44 4. POPS SITUATION IN SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE 4.1. POPs Pesticides from Annexes A and B in Sao Tome and Principe 4.1.1. Overview – Legal and Institutional Framework and POPs Pesticides Management.  Legal Framework Up to date, there is no legislation on POPs pesticides in the country. There is a draft Bill on the import, export, manufacturing and marketing of pesticides. And also a Plant Health Regulation, whose Article 19 requires that all vegetal origin products exported by Sao Tome and Principe must be inspected to determine their phytosanitary status. The lack of a specific legislation on POPs pesticides causes a high degree of vulnerability and risk of their entry into the country, or of their use, with negative impacts on population health and the environment in general. Marketing and use of pesticides is chaotic in the country. There is currently no entity responsible for chemical approval, specifically pesticides for agricultural use and industrial chemicals, nor for regulating the entry of these pesticides. The products are sold and stored in inappropriate places. Most of the chemicals (pesticides) bought by farmers come from the Laina store which belongs to MADR and are not monitorized by safety data sheet at the time of their sale. The country is part of Rotterdam Convention, which aims to control chemicals import and export listed in the Annex to the Convention. POPs pesticides are listed in the annexes. The synergy between Stockholm Convention and Rotterdam Convention is evident.  Institutional framework There are a number of state, private, NGO and Associations bodies that are active in the chemicals (pesticides) use, and human and environmental protection management. Institutions such as CIAT, ADAPPA, and General Directorate for Environment, the Agriculture Directorate, the Livestock Directorate, the General Directorate for Customs, CADR and the Directorate of Primary Health Care are equipped with technical staff trained to deal with chemical issues. Given the population growth, it is necessary to increase crop productivity and rentability, ensure food security and preserve the ecological balance. N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 45 The good management of chemicals involves the improvement of the system of exploration and land use as well as the abandonment of blind chemical control, for the application of integrated protection i.e. to articulate rational chemical control with appropriate cultural practices, use of resilient varieties, application of biological control, good management of climatic factors. The marketing of these toxic products is often done by people unaware of the matter. It should be noted that there are farmers / horticulturists who use fungicides to combat pests and insecticide for fungi, disrespecting application and conservation standards rules, as well as health and environment protecting. There is a need to develop training, education, information, communication and public awareness activities. 4.1.2. Update initial pesticides POPs inventory, the regulation before 2009 in Annex A and B. 4.1.2.1. Current Situation of Pesticides POPs in the Country In the inventory carried out in 2015, at the national level, aiming at the National Implementation Plan of the Stockholm Convention, NIP update, it was found that there is currently no import or export of any of the old and new POPs pesticides. The locations identified in the inventory carried out in 2004 when the first PNI was drawn up in 2006 were revisited and it was found that most of the chemicals identified at that time were removed from the places previously identified and taken to the built structure for the storage of obsolete and dangerous chemicals, located in the north of Sao Tome island, in Mouro Carregado site, in the District of Lobata. It has also been found that these products are in a state of very advanced degradation, with the aggravation that some, such as malathion, are spilling liquids to the ground, causing contacts with the other products that are stored in the same place, also in an advanced state of deterioration, which could constitute a strong danger if there is direct propagation into the soil and the groundwater. In São Tomé and Príncipe, there are high risks of intoxication and death due to poor chemicals management. Surveys carried out in the context of the inventory have led to the conclusion that intoxication cases and deaths have already been recorded due to undue use of chemicals in the country. These threats are greater after the process of plantation privatization, as farmers do not have enough information on individual protection measures, technical standards for chemicals use, conservation and application. N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 46  Production, Import, Export and Use São Tomé and Príncipe is not a producer or exporter of POPs pesticides. But in the 1950s, POPs pesticides were imported and used in agriculture to combat pests and also in health to combat malaria transmitting vectors.  Pesticides POPs in Health Sector It was in 1949 that the use of the POP insecticide, namely DDT, started in Sao Tome and Principe. In parallel, Malariol was introduced, which, together with DDT, was used to control mosquito larvae. In order to obtain a better result in the fight against malaria, DDT was used in spatial spread (ULV) in 1954, and gamexane (lindane / BHC-organochloride) was also introduced at PID and larval control. Between 1968 and 1969, 5% DDT was also used in the country in the fight against tsetse flies or Glossinas. In 1973, vector resilience to DDT was suspected and, since 1976, the use of all organochlorines has been suspended in the country. However, between 1980 and 1981, the PID-based malaria eradication campaign (Quarterly) started with the application of the DDT dose of 2 g / m2. Due to financial difficulties, vector resilience to DDT and rejection of part of the population to indoor spraying with this product, this malaria eradication campaign stopped in 1984 in the country. During this period, an estimated 1,338 tons of DDT were used to combat malaria in Sao Tome and Principe.  POPs Pesticides in Agriculture Sector Imported insecticides into the agriculture sector in the 1970s and 1980s were mostly organochlorines, listed in Annex A to Stockholm Convention, such as the old pesticides POPs (Endrin, Dieldrin, Heptachlor, Mirex, Toxaphene, Aldrin) and new pesticides POPs (Endosulfan and Lindane). These pesticides have been used as insecticides for several years in cocoa, coffee, banana, horticultural, palmar and coconut plantations, according to the table below. N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 47 Table 11: POPs pesticides use in cultivated Area3 Industrial Crops Area (ha) POPs Pesticide Cocoa plantations 26.076 Endrin, dieldrin, aldrin, endossulfan, lindane Coconot plantations 7.676 Endossulfan, lindane Coffee plantations 984 Endrin, dieldrin, aldrin, endossulfan, lindane Palm trees 3.857 Endrin, dieldrin, aldrin, endossulfan, lindane Banana plantations 2.418 Endossulfan, lindane Maize plantations ND Endossulfan, lindane 4.1.3. Inventory of POPs substances Annex A, regulated Pesticides from 2009 (New POPs). 4.1.3.1. Chlordecone It is an agricultural pesticide used in banana plantations. It is a human carcinogen, very toxic to aquatic organisms. According to the report of 2015 inventory, there is no information available on this pesticide import in São Tomé and Príncipe. It should be noted that it has never been used in the country up to date. 4.1.3.2. Alpha and beta hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) This POPs Pesticide was not subject to inventory. In this way, there is no information on the export, use and stock or products containing this substance. 3 Source: Agriculture Census, 1990 and Directorate for Agriculture- Min. of Economy N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 48 4.1.3.3. Endosulfan The phytosanitary insecticide Endosulfan has been used in agriculture for pest controlling in coffee, cocoa, horticulture, citrus, banana and corn crops. It was also used in veterinary medicine to combat tsetse flies and ectoparasites of cattle. This new POPs pesticide is persistent in the atmosphere, sediments and water; toxic to human beings, and has effects on terrestrial and aquatic organisms. The human exposure to this type of product affects health and causes congenital disorders, mental deficiency and deaths in rural workers. Table 12: Cultures and controlled pests by Endossulfan CULTURES PESTS Coffee Broca do café, cochonilhas Cocoa Trips, lagartas das folhas Horticulture Lagartas das folhas Citrus Mosca branca, cochonilhas Banana Picudo negro Maize Lagartas das folhas Source: Inventory Report on POPs Pesticides, DGA 2015 The inventory on POPs Pesticides, carried out in 2015, shows that in the 90's the import of the old POPs was canceled and a certain amount of the insecticide Endosulfan was imported by MADR until 2012. However, it was not possible to estimate the existing quantity in 2015, due to lack of available statistic data on imported quantity. Endosulfan, commercially known as Tiodan, is currently replaced by organophosphorus insecticide Chlorpyrifos 48 EC. It is an insecticide with a broad action spectrum. 4.1.3.4. Lindane (gamma HCH) Lindane was used as an insecticide for indoor spraying in 1954 in São Tomé and Príncipe. It also has been used in health, directly in human beings in the past, to combat lice and scabies as second line treatment. In veterinary applications it was used in the treatment of seed and soil, wood, leaves application, against ectoparasites. It has immunotoxic effects, reproductive and development effects. It is necessary to emphasize that the use of lindane to control ectoparasites in veterinary and human applications has had negative impacts on health, resulting in congenital physical, immunological, mental retardation and death in rural workers who have been exposed to this product. Nowadays, this product is no longer used at the country level. N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 49 4.1.3.5. Pentachlorobenzene (PeCB) (pesticide) This Pesticide POPs has not been subject to inventory, so there is no information on the export, use and stock or products containing this substance. 4.1.4. Stocks and Contaminated Sites with Pesticides POPs As part of the UNIDO PMA for capacity building and technical assistance project for least developed countries in West and Central Africa aiming the implementation of Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, in the project Component 3 "Rational Ecologically management of contaminated sites by POPs", a pilot experiment on contaminated two-site cleanup is under way and was launched in 2013. Two POPs-contaminated sites were identified in the country, a warehouse in Mouro Carregado, in the district of Lobata, and a warehouse in Monte Café, in the District of Mé-zochi, being planned a cleaning intervention of them. There were several actions undertaken around the contaminated site in Mouro Carregado, such as: Table 13: Activities undertaken on POPs in the country Year Activity 1982 Building of a Warehouse in Mouro Carregado 1989 500 kg of DDT were transferred to be stored in Mouro Carregado 2000 Medical wastes were stored in Mouro Carregado warehouse 2004 National Inventory on POPs Pesticides 2006 NIP on Stockholm Convention published 2006 2010 Possible discharge of illegal liquid pesticides (parathion / Malathion) outside Morro Carregado warehouse. 2013 Preliminar site evaluation 2014 Repackaging Training, Site Conceptual Model Source: TAUW report, 2014. According to the TAUW Report of 2014 on "Repackaging POP pesticides in Sao Tomé Príncipe plan", the total volume of POP pesticides, medical waste, empty containers and spraying equipment was about 20 cubic meters (8.5 tons) at the warehouse of Mouro Carregado and 12 Cubic meters (5 tons) of POPs and obsolete pesticides in the warehouse at Monte Café. N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 50 The warehouse is filled with small blue plastic bags used to pack Deltamethrin coated nets. Deltamethrin (S) -Cyano- (3-phenoxyphenyl) -methyl] (1R, 3R) -3- (2,2 dibromoethenyl) -2,2- being highly toxic to aquatic organisms. Although generally considered safe for use around human beings, it is still neurotoxic for the human beings. Deltamethrin is able to pass from the skin through the blood and can contaminate women through breast milk. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) consider deltamethrin to be a moderately hazardous chemical. Photo 1: Chemicals warehouse in Mouro Carregado, Lobata District For the site cleaning, a repackaging phase of hazardous wastes that are inside and outside the Mouro Carregado warehouse is foreseen. According to the financial evaluation carried out for the repackaging of hazardous wastes containing POPs, in Mouro Carregado, the estimated cost is around 23,500 euros. The rehabilitation and cleaning cost of Mouro Carregado is EUR 34,500; and, for repackaging and the warehouse rebuilding in Monte Café, the costs are around 16,500 euros. N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 51 4.1.5. Alternatives for POPs Pesticides in SaoTome and Principe In health and agriculture sectors as an alternative to POPs pesticides, the country started to use new products. In health sector, for the treatment of malaria, the use of permetrin impregnated mosquito nets, as well as pyrethroids, were introduced in 1990. In 2003, besides Permethrin, deltamethrin was also used in re impregnation of mosquito nets, and in 2004 another pyrethroid (alphacypermethrin) was introduced through long-term impregnation. According to WHO protocol, susceptibility studies carried out in 2004 and 2012 (Ferreira et al., 2012) in some communities in the North, Center and South of Sao Tome island, namely Neves, Riboque, Ribeira Afonso and Porto Alegre, showed that Malathion (Organophosphorus) and Propoxur (Carbamate) were the only compounds that caused 100% mortality in mosquitoes among other insecticides tested. In this sense, the use of Bendiocarb Carbamate in a "rotary" manner with an Organophosphate, for PID, and to preserve the Peritroids for MILDA were recommended. It is necessary to emphasize that Bendiocarb is an insecticide with low vapor pressure, a discrete smell and without corrosive and coloring beige properties. It is rapidly hydrolyzed in alkaline enviroment, (such as lime), and rapidly degraded in soil. Like other N-methylcarbamates, bendiocarb is a fast acting anticholinesterase compound with high acute oral toxicity. It is mainly metabolized and excreted through rapid hydrolysis, there is no accumulation in human being bodies and tissues. Bendiocarb inhibits cholinesterase activity, but it is readily reversible. The introduction of this insecticide in the country has allowed a very positive result in the fight against malaria. Statistic data for 2014 show that the annual incidence of malaria decreased from 38.4 in 2009 to 9.3 cases per 1000 inhabitants in 2014 and there was a significant reduction in mortality, from 14 / 100.000 in 2009 to 0 ( Zero) in 20144. In the agricultural sector, during the research and analysis carried out, pesticides such as Methyl Bromide (Fumigant), a chemical contributing to depletion of ozone layer, POPs pesticides (aldrin, endrin , Dieldrin, toxaphene, lindane and others), which accumulate and persist in the body and the environment, have been replaced by others, namely phostoxin (fumigant), and other organic products (pyrethroids, organophosphates, etc.) 4 Pesticide Inventory Report, 2015 N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 52 Still in the agricultural sector, POPs pesticides have also been replaced by other synthetic biodegradable synthetic organic products such as oorthene, decile, chlorpyrifos, fenitrothion, temik, phostoxin and others. 4.1.6. Priorities on POPs pesticides. Although it is not possible to estimate the significant quantity of POPs or existing POPs pesticide stocks in the country, the challenge is to determine the exact amount of DDT stocks, or other POPs pesticides in the future, which have been stored in the past in Morro Carregado warehouse. The priority actions identified for the action plan are as follows:  Elaboration of specific legal instruments to eliminate these pollutants.  Identification of Partners that can assist in the re-export of these products.  Rehabilitation of Morro Carregado warehouse.  Training and exchange among technical staff, countries and institutions related to POPs issues.  Elaboration of specific legal instruments to eliminate these pollutants. 4.2. Industrial POPs of Annexes A and B in Sao Tome and Principe 4.2.1. Overview, Legal Framework Regarding the legal framework of these new industrial POPs in Sao Tome and Principe, like POPs pesticides, there is no legislation establishing specific prohibitions or restrictions for each of them, nor limits of concentration on products. But there is a proposed law on chemicals that will regulate the marketing, export, manufacture and use of chemicals in general. 4.2.2. Update of initial Inventory of POPs Industrial regulation before 2009 of Annexes A and B 4.2.2.1. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)  Prodution, Import, Export and Use PCB is an abbreviation to identify the polyphenolic compounds (Polychlorinated Biphenyls), which are man made aromatic organic compounds (chlorinated biphenyls). N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 53 In industrialized countries, PCBs were manufactured between mid-1920s and 1970s. For decades, their characteristics, such as high stability and low flammability and conductivity, have established them as the most commonly used liquid dielectric insulator in transformers and other electrical equipment. Sao Tome and Principe has never produced PCBs. However, a set of equipment containing this compound, which came under the trade name “Ascarel”, was imported. The same physicochemical properties that make these compounds excellent dielectrics, also condemn them as Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). The signatory countries of Stockholm Convention have banned the production, import or marketing of PCBs and have made commitments to identify the sources that hold the liabilities and establish public policies to monitor the correct destination of such products in order to avoid environmental contamination. Adverse effects on health and the environment in general. In 2004, the first national inventory of PCBs was carried out, which results where the following: Table 14: Inventory of equipments with PCB in 2004 Fonte: Adapted fromthe PNI of Sao Tome and Principe, November, 2006 Designation Quantity Local Visited sites 123 The Country Electric network 146 Registered equipment 129 Transformers The Country and companies Electric network 17 Circuit breakers EMAE offices 129 Transformers 45 with board The Country and companies Electric network 84 without board 129 Transformers 127 at work The Country and companies Electric network 2 out of work Trindade and Agua Grande Factory 127 Transformers at work 36 in cabin In the Country capital 83 Masts Rural electric network Transformers at work with PCBs 1 Agua Grande Factory Suspected Equipment 146 The Country and companies Electric network Leaked Equipment 2 In Conceiçao and Sporting lampposts Em Stock 0 N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 54 Table 14 shows the 146 equipments containing dielectric oil identified in 123 visited places, 2 dismantled transformers in the EMAE workshop and 17 circuit breakers, also dismantled in the same workshop. Out of 143 equipment, only one medium voltage transformer had been identified, located in the Água Grande factory, in Chácara, Sao Tome city, with 235 Kgs PCBs. Due to the lack of technical equipment to identify the contents of existing oils in these equipment, the technical team decided to consider all these equipment as suspect. Also, due to the lack of appropriate technical equipment, it was not possible to determine the amount of dielectric oil in the country.  Current Situation of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in the Country For data updating, a new inventory was carried out in 2014. The team visited 163 sites where several equipment containing dielectric oil, such as power transformers, distribution units, as well as old oil circuit breakers, which may contain the PCB, are installed. This inventory took into account some aspects that had not been taken in the previous one, namely the location of the equipment, the manufacturer, the state of conservation, the type of dielectric oil, as well as the amount of oil Thus, it was possible to determine the amount of dielectric oil for the three different situations. During the surveys processing, the existence of 61,997 tons of dielectric oil was verified, being 55,908 tons in Sao Tome and 6,089 tons in the Autonomous Region of Principe, as indicated in table 15. Table 15: Equipment Inventoryin 2014 Quantities (Kgs) SaoTome Principe Total Quantity (Characteristic label), Kgs 36854 3225 40079 Quantitity (according to the catalog), Kgs 3496 1496 4992 Quantity (Similar), Kgs 15558 1368 16926 Grand Total (Kgs) 55908 6089 61997 Fonte: Inventory report on PCBs, 2014. Regarding oil with PCBs, in addition to the equipment that had already been identified in the previous inventory, another transformer was identified in an industrial unit, ICES, located in Bobo Forro, as shown in table 16. N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 55 It was possible to identify the oils through the respective nameplates (nameplate) in the equipment. Based on the inventory update carried out, it was verified that the Pauwels Transfo distribution transformer of 160 KVA of 1980, quoted in Agua Grande factory, in Chacara, is still in the same place, containing 235 Kg of ASKAREL. CEIM, cited in Bobo Forro, a distribution transformer of 200 KVA was identified from France Transfo of 1982, containing 215 kg of ASKAREL. Table 16: Equipment Inventory with PCB in 2014 Equipment Site Equipment designation Equipament data Oil type identified on the sign plate Quantity, Kgs PT Agua Grande Factory located in Chacara Distribution Transformer, internal cabin 160 KVA of Pauwels Tranfo of 1980, 800 Kgs Identified ASKAREL 235 PT CIEM located in Bobo Forro Distribution Transformer, internal cabin 200 KVA, from France Tranfo of 1982with 910 Kgs Identified ASKAREL 215 Source: Inventory Report on PCBs, 2014 The quantity of identified oil is 61 tons. However, the team estimates that there may be about 22 tonnes of suspect oil, given the lack of information on the existing electrical equipment in the country, according to the table 17. In Sao Tome Island, 92 identified equipment were considered suspect, as they lack information on the respective dielectric oil, underlining 2 circuit breakers in 30 Kv grid, in the communities of Água Izé and Agostinho Neto dating to the 60s, as well as the circuit breakers, as indicated in the list below. In Principe Island, it is estimated that the five very old suspect transformers may contain about 1479 kg of oil. It is necessary the acquisition of identification means to carry out a deeper investigation in the referred equipment. Table 17: Summary of PCB survey in Sao Tome and Principe in 2014 Principe Sao Tome Total S.T.P Designation Qtity Qtity Oléo (Kgs) Qty Oil Qty (Kgs) Qty Oil Qtity (Kgs) Visited sites 23 6089 140 55908 163 61997 Registered Equipment 29 6089 161 55908 190 61997 Transformers 29 6089 159 55908 188 61997 PCB Transformers 0 0 2 450 2 450 Suspect 5 1479 92 20 646 97 22 125 With plate 7 3225 65 36854 72 40079 N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 56 Without plate 22 2864 94 19054 116 21918 In cabin 12 4121 101 46973 113 51094 In air posts 17 2088 58 8935 75 11023 In Stock 3 0 7 2006 10 2006 Leaked 2, sendo1 está em seviço 240 2 375 4 615 At work 25 5030 152 53904 177 58934 Out of work 4 1179 7 2006 11 3185 Circuit breakers 0 0 2 2 163 sites were visited, namely: power plants, factories and all the existing transformation posts in the country. In these sites, there were identified 190 equipment, 188 transformers and 2 circuit breakers. In the existing medium-voltage circuit-breakers, two suspects have been identified, according to the table 18. They are very old equipment and, therefore, have to be considered suspect, since they do not carry the designation of the respective dielectric oils. Table 18: Identified Circuit breakers in Sao Tome and Principe, 2015 SaoTome, oil circuit breakers Items Site Equipment designation Data Oil type Quantity (Sign plate), Kgs Quantity (catalog), Kgs Equip 1 PT Agua Ize Very old oil circuit breaker Magrini, Circuit breaker of 30 KV Non identified plate Non identified Non identified Equip 2 PT Agostinho Neto Very old oil circuit breaker Oerlikon from Suitzerland Disjuntor de 6 KV Non identified plate Non identified Non identified Source: Inventory report on PCBs, 2015 4.2.2.2. Hexachlorobenzene (industrial chemicals) This industrial POPs was not subject to inventory. Therefore, there is no information on the export, use and stock or products containing this substance. N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 57 4.2.3. Inventory of Substances, Industrial Chemicals of Annex A and B Regulated since 2009 (New POPs) In 2009 and 2011, COP parties Conference approved amendments to Annexes A, B and C of Stockholm Convention to list nine new POPs being six of them pesticides. It is important to note that the new pollutants listed in Annex A are two industrial chemicals: PBDE (polybrominated diphenyl ether) subdivided into octaBDE (composed of Hexabromobiphenyl ether and Heptabromobiphenyl which make up the commercial octaBDE) and PentaBDE (composed of tetrabromobiphenyl and Pentabromobiphenyl) which make up commercial pentabromobiphenyl ether and hexabromobiphenyl (HBB) and Pentachlorobenzene (PeCB). In Annex B an industrial chemical was also listed: an industrial chemical product, sulfonic acid perfluoroctane (PFOS) and its salts, as well as perfluoroctane sulfonyl fluoride (PFOSF). Recently, another industrial chemical was added to Annex A:, hexabromocyclododecane. The new Industrial Persistent Organic Pollutants depict a class of chemical substances which, given their persistence properties, biomagnification, liposolubility and semi-volatility, have become a worldwide problem requiring from the states a cooperation targeted action aiming their control and elimination. In 2015, only the new industrial products POPs PBDE and PFOS were inventoried in order to implement the obligations established by Stockholm Convention and make important decisions regarding their management, especially in the most relevant sectors to the country (Transport, Electronic Electrical Equipment and Foams). Although Sao Tome and Principe is not a producer of new industrial POPs, through equipment import they finish by entering the country. Thus, the main challenge for the national authorities is to estimate the existing quantity of these POPs at the end-of-their useful life, aiming to prepare an appropriate elimination strategy for them. Data collected from the sectors dealing with and have these POPs, were not enough to calculate the overall estimates of the new POPs. 4.2.3.1. Hexabromobiphenyl (HBB) Hexabromobiphenyl belongs to the group of polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) manufactured worldwide with three commercial products: Hexabromobiphenyl, Octabromobiphenyl and Decabromobiphenyl (HARDY, 2002, UNEP, 2006). N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 58 This industrial POPs was not subject to inventory. Therefore, there is no information available about its export, use and stock or products containing this substance in Sao Tome and Principe. 4.2.3.2. Estimates of Polibromed Diphenyl Ethers PBDEs listed in the convention (PentaBDE, c-OctaBDE) Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers PBDEs are organobrominated compounds containing used bromines. They are often used as flame retardants. PBDEs have also been used in a wide variety of products including building materials, upholstery, electronic products, furniture, motor vehicles, airplanes, plastics, cushions, polyurethane foams and textiles. Data from the 2015 inventory indicate that the country has been importing electronic products, used cars and other materials that may contain these POPs. The existence of significant amounts in the country of obsolete electronic products containing dangerous substances, including heavy metals, brominated flame retardants such as PBDEs, pose a high risk to human health and the environment. Historically, three types of commercial products containing a mix up of PBDE blends have been used in consumer products: c-Penta-BDE, c-Octa-BDE, and c Deca-BDE. 4.2.3.3. Tetrabromodiphenyl ether and Pentabromodiphenyl ether (commercial pentabromodiphenyl ether): c-Penta-BDE According to analytical information on waste streams (UNEP, 2010b), the use of c-PentaBDE is globally distributed by 36% in vehicles and other means of transport, 60% in furniture and 4% in other articles. As these substances have not been produced in the country, it was not possible to verify whether these POPs were imported as a substance per se. In this sense, the inventory for commercial c-PentaBDE (tretraPBDE and pentaPBDE) was mainly based on the transport sector, because it is a sector with more products containing c-PentaBDE, namely, normal cars, trucks and buses. It is known that the useful life of light vehicles in industrialized countries is 10 to 12 years, while buses and trains can have a longer life expectancy. A considerable part of cars and other means of transportation have been and continue to be exported from industrialized countries to develoNIPg countries, including Sao Tome and Principe, where it is common to import many used cars and used vehicles, the majority, at the end of its life, it contains the above POPs. N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 59 The majority of land transport analyzed (cars and lorries) that entered the country, between 1975 and 2004, contains c-PentaBDE. In the survey carried out on the vehicles that continue to arrive in the country, it has been found that they are manufactured before 2004, which indicates that there is a reasonable amount of c PentaBDE, both in vehicles in use, and those that are at the end of their life. At the moment there is no legal document that prevents the entry of these vehicles in the country. Decree-Law no. 31/2005, in force, allows the importation of all types of products, including vehicles. As for production, re-use of articles, recycling and waste management from articles containing c-PentaBDE, it does not apply to Sao Tome and Principe, because there are no structures or technical means to do so. Likewise, there is no organized infrastructure (junk) for the depot of end-of-life vehicles, most of which are scattered throughout the country. For the transport sector, calculations of C-PentaBDE estimates could not be made because the data provided by the competent services were incomplete and scarcely precise. It should be noted that data relating to imports by category of vehicles, by manufacturing areas and the year of manufacture of the vehicles are essential for calculating the estimates. 4.2.3.4. Heptabromodiphenyl ether (commercial octabromodiphenyl ether): comercial c- Octa-BDE commercial The main use of c-OctaBDE in the past was in acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), representing about 95% c-OctaBDE supplied by the European Union. The treated ABS is mainly used in the boxes and covers of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE), especially in cathode ray tubes (CRT) and office equipment such as copiers, printers and photocopiers. Other minor uses found in the literature include nylon, low density polyethylene, polycarbonate, phenol-formaldehyde resins, unsaturated polyesters, adhesives and coatings, as materials containing this POP, (UNEP, 2010a, 2010b). In the survey carried out in the country, it was concluded that the imported articles that have this persistent organic pollutant are: computers, photocopiers and plastic articles for children. Regarding waste production and management from articles containing c octaBDE, it does not apply because there are no structures for that purpose in Sao Tome and Principe. The inventory on commercial c-OctaBDE (hexaBDE and heptaBDE) in the country fell, mainly, in the sectors that use electrical and electronic equipment, because they are the ones that have this type of POPs. N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 60 The country has its policy focused on information and communication technology as a way to revolutionize modern life with fast communication devices, such as mobile phones and computers, in which commerce, banking, public administration, and telemedicine, have being taken the best part of this revolution. These sectors were boosted by import volumes between 2012 and 2014, with about 2.344,9700 tonnes of plastic articles, computers, mobile phones and televisions containing c-OctaBDE. According to the Inventory of New Industrial POPs in 2015, a total of 0.25 kg of c-OctaBDE was estimated in imported second-hand equipment. For the EEA sector, the estimates were calculated from United Nations Comtrade data for Sao Tome and Principe. About 35.25 kg of C-octaBDE was estimated. 4.2.3.5. Estimates of Perfluoro-octanesulfonic acid (PFOS), its salts and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride (PFOS-F) The PFOS, sulphonic perfluoroctano potassium salt, are part of the new industrial POPs also inventoried. Its physical properties, which repel both fat and water, make that the PFOS and related substances are used in various products. Currently, the intentional use of PFOS is extensive and includes: electrical and electronic components, fire-fighting foam, photo-images, hydraulic fluids and textiles. The objective of Stockholm Convention to include PFOS and its salts in the list is to restrict the use and production of PFOS and related substances. The PFOS inventory of 2015 was carried out for sectors that use fire foam in the country. In this sense, the survey was carried out in the National Airport Security Agency (ENASA), National Fuel Company (ENCO), including fuel pumps and the National Civil Protection and Fire Service. The calculations were based on data provided by the National Statistics Institute (INE), and the formula used in the calculations was that of MTD / MPA Guidelines for PFOS (Secretariat of Stockholm Convention, 2012). Statistics show that the following quantities of foam were found in the inventory year in the fire foam sector: N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 61 Table 19: Identified sites with foam, 2015 Site Imported Quantity ENASA 5850 kg of AFFF 6% from towlex super Fire Services 200 liters of AFFF 3% from Sthomex Fuel Pumps ofl 948 kg of CO2foam RAP 384 kg of CO2foam Sao Tome and Principe do not make neither export this type of substance. Regardin PFOs estimates in foam sector against fire the results were: for low factor, 5000 mg/kg of the article containing PFOS was 37 kg and for high factor, 15000 mg/kg of the article containing PFOS was 307 kg Ton. 4.2.3.6. Pentaclorobenzeno (PeCB) (induatrial chemicals) There is no information in the country on export, use, stock, or any products that contain this substance, this industrial POPs was not target for inventory in 2014. 4.2.4. Contaminated Stocks and Sites with Industrial POPs According to the Inventory Report of 2015, two contaminated sites, possibly contaminated by industrial PCBs, were mapped as it is shown in table 16. Table 20: Identified possibly contaminated sites by Industrial PCBs. N. Identified site District Contaminanter Observation 1 Lucumí Agua Grande PCBs 2 obsolete suspect contaminated electric transformers by Askarel 2 Central Diesel of Sao Tome 3 Oficinas Gerais da EMAE 4 Empresa Atelier central 1 - 200 KVA transformer with, ASKAREL oil. 5 Agua Grande Factory Insulation oil, ASKAREL – 235 Kg 6 Central Diesel RAP RAP Fonte: Inventory Reports on contaminated sites by POPs, 2015 N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 62 4.2.5. Industrial POPs main action priorities In general, the inventory results indicate that an improvement of the information is necessary, since one of the major limitations for the inventory preparation is the difficulty in obtaining information on the new POPs. However, some key actions and measures have been identified:  Preparation of an awareness workshop on the problem of new POPs. There should be awareness and capacity building actions for key sectors on New POPs;  Strengthen institutional capacities in organizing a multisectoral team to collect data from stakeholders involved in the new POPs management;  Develop estimates for new POPs, reporting and transmitting them through national media;  Identification of contaminated sites by new industrial POPs;  Sensitize private sector and NGOs to create the recycling sector for electrical and electronic equipment. 4.3. POPs from Annex C: Unintentional emission in Sao Tome and Principe: Annex C of Stockholm Convention covers Dibenzo-p-Dioxins Polychlorinated and Dibenzofurans (PCDD / PCDF), Hexachlorobenzene (HCB), Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) as products that cause unintended emission. Recently, Pentachlorobenzene (PeCB) has been included as unintentionally formed POPs released from thermal processes involving organic matter and Chlorine as a result of incomplete combustion or chemical reactions. These substances and their congeners form the group of Dioxins and Furans. 4.3.1. Update of National Inventory of Non Intentional Emission of POPs Sources and Estimates , Dioxins and Furans (PCDD e PCDF) In order to carry out the inventory in 2015, the methodology used was the direct collection of data from various potential sources of dioxins and furans in all Districts of Sao Tome and in the Autonomous Region of Principe. As a guidelines it was used the 2013 version of Standardized Toolkit for Identification and Quantification of Dioxin and Furan Releases, Unep Chemicals. In comparative terms, for PCDD and PCDF emissions calculations, it was based on UNEP Toolkit 2003 and 2013, taking as the base year for the 1st inventory, 2005, and for the 2nd inventory, 2015. N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 63 4.3.1.1. Main Categories and Sub-categories of PCDD and PCDF Emission Sources in Sao Tome and Principe In São Tomé and Príncipe, the emission sources of dioxins and furans are mainly characterized by combustion systems, which may include the incineration of waste such as municipal wastewater sludge, hospital waste and hazardous waste, combustion Derived from coal, wood and petroleum products, other sources of high temperature and poorly controlled sources of combustion, such as fires in buildings and dwellings. The sources of PCDD and PCDF emissions are divided into the following 10 groups: "1-incineration of waste", "2-production of metals", "3-energy production and heating", "4-mineral production" 5-transport "," uncontrolled 6-combustion, "7 production and use of chemical substances", "8-miscellaneous", "9-rubbish dumps and landfills" and "10-contaminated sites and Hotspots) ". The most significant PCDD and PCDF source groups in Sao Tome and Principe are Group 3 "Heating and Power Generation", at first, and Groups 6 "Open Burning Processes", in the second place. Categories like ", 5" transports "and 8" several "have less significant emissions. The household incineration and hospital waste is no longer considered in group 1 because the UNEP POPs Toolkit 2013 only includes the incineration of waste of this type, burned through processes involving some technology, which is not the case of Sao Tome and Principe. In our context, this technique was included in group 6, burning in the open air. 4.3.1.2. Summary of PCDD and PCDF emissions Energy production is the first source of PCDD and PCDF emissions in Sao Tome and Principe and continues to be made using technology that uses fossil fuels, ie gasoline and diesel, or processes that put the environment under a great pressure with the use of wood and its derivatives or other natural resources in the forests. Emissions from solid waste incineration are the second source of PCDD and PCDF emission for the country. Solid waste management continues being inadequately carried out, with the proliferation of waste streams scattered throughout the country, near the dwellings, near the river beds, contaminating the groundwater, causing damage to society. The 2015 inventory showed that the country does not have all the emission sources of the Toolkit and has a potential emission of 1.6 g TEQ of dioxins and furans. N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 64  Estimates calculations, 2005 and 2015 In 2005 inventory, emission calculations were based on 2003 Toolkit and showed that SaoTome and Principe does not have all Toolkit emission sources and has a potential dioxin and furan emission of 5.6 g-TEQ. Taking the same reference year (2005) the values were recalculated using 2013 Toolkit version, and a change in results was verified, since the amount of Dioxin and Furans emissions resulted in 0.9 g-TEQ. Table 21. Table 21: Inventory Summary of PCDD/PCDF Emissions in Sao Tome and Principe, referred to 2005 (Toolkit 2013). Source Categories Yearly Emissions (g TEQ/a) Total Cat Air Water Land Product Waste 1 Waste Incineration NA NA NA NA NA NA 2 Iron and non iron metal production NA NA NA NA NA NA 3 Heating and Energy Production 0,8 NA NA NA NA 0,8 4 Mineral production NA NA NA NA NA NA 5 Transport NA NA NA NA NA NA 6 Uncontrolled burning system 0,1 NA NA NA NA 0,1 7 Chemicals and consumer goods NA NA NA NA NA NA 8 Various NA NA NA NA NA NA 9 Waste deposal NC NC NC NC NC NC 10 Identification of potential "Hotspots" NA NA NA NA NA NA 1-10 Total 0,9 0,0 0,0 0,0 0,0 0,9 Source: Adapted II Inventory of Dioxins and Furans with POPs of 2015 NA- Non applicable NC- Unknown Information Regarding the 2nd Inventory that aimed to update data, it became clear that the country does not have all the Toolkit emission sources yet and has a potential emissions of 1.6 g-TEQ of Dioxins and Furans, as shown in Table 22. N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 65 Table 22: Summary of the Emissions Inventory of PCDD/PCDF in São Tome and Principe for 2015 (Toolkit 2013). Source Categories Yearly Emissions (g TEQ/a) Total Categ. Air Water Land Product waste 1 Waste Incineration NA NA NA NA NA NA 2 Iron and non iron metal production NA NA NA NA NA NA 3 Heating and Energy Production 0,9 NA NA NA NA 0,9 4 Mineral production NA NA NA NA NA NA 5 Transport NA NA NA NA NA NA 6 Uncontrolled burning system 0,6 NA 0,1 NA NA 0,7 7 Chemicals and consumer goods NA NA NA NA NA NA 8 Various NA NA NA NA NA NA 9 Waste deposal NC NC NC NC NC NC 10 Identification of potential "Hotspots " NA NA NA NA NA NA 1-10 Total 1,5 0,0 0,1 0,0 0,0 1,6 Source: Adapted II Inventory of Dioxins and Furans with POPs of 2015 NA- Non applicable NC- Unknown Information According to the results, it can be concluded that the proposed objectives in the NIP 2006 did not have much impact in the process of reducing the emissions of PCDD and PCDF, as they were not implementation measures of the action plan for these POPs. N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 66  Comparison of Emissions of the year 2005 and 2015 The inventory results showed that there was a difference between PCDD and PCDF emissions. Between 2005 and 2015, there was an increase in emissions of about 44%, from 0.9 g TEQ / year to 1.6 g TEQ / year (Table 23). ), Slight increase of 0.7 g TEQ / year, approximately 1 g TEQ / year. Table 23: Comparison of PCDD /PCDF emissions for 2005 and 2015 Emissions 2005 2015 g TEQ/ano PCDD/ PCDF 0,9 1,6 Source: Self elaboration, DGA The slight rise in dioxin and furan emissions is due to the fact that there have been a more careful assessment of some emissions sources in the 2015 inventory, in addition to widening the classes range in groups 3 and 6 in comparison with that of 2005. The population growth also contributes to this increase. In 10 years, the population grew by 31.196 inhabitants (13%), that is, it rose from around 148.968 inhabitants in 2005 to 180.164 inhabitants in 2015. 4.3.2. Evaluation of new non-intentional POPs Pentachlorobenzene (PeCB) Pentachlorobenzene (PeCB) is POPs unintentionally formed and emitted from thermal processes involving organic matter and chlorine as a result of incomplete combustion or chemical reactions. New unintentional POPs were not inventoried in 2015, so it is not possible to have information on their export, use and stock. There is no information about its presence in thermal processes as a by-product that may result in unintentional contamination. 4.3.3. Control over unintentionally produced POPs Without any definition, waste is deposited, burned or decomposed on land for agriculture and other economic purposes, according to studies5, causing economic losses on unquantified land in a country where land is a scarce resource. 5 Plano de Acção para a Gestão Integrada de Resíduos Sólidos Urbanos – São Tomé e Príncipe 2011 2016-Volume I – Diagnóstico e Caracterização, TESE, 2010 N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 67 There is no production control of dioxins and furans. Various dumps in the country are in vacant lots, where the only form of final destination is open air burning. Municipal and hospital waste are almost always mixed and burned in these dumps. Hospital waste management in the country is deficient. Central Hospital and Health Centers produce hospital waste daily, but their treatment is not done properly. An incinerator was built in the Central Hospital with the aim of incinerating hospital waste, which, however, for operational reasons, is currently inactive. The basic parameters for proper operation were not taken into account, for example, the chimney height that does not reach minimum recommended for proper functioning of this facility, in order to guarantee a suitable temperature inside the oven to complete burning, avoiding dioxins and furans development. As a result, the country does not have an appropriate hospital waste treatment system, neither a specific legislation for POPs that are produced there specific legislation for POPs that are unintentionally produced, in particular for dioxins and furans. For uncontrolled waste fires, emissions were estimated in 0.548 g TEQ / year, through air vector, and 0.014 g TEQ / year, via earth vector. 4.3.4. Control over burning of agricultural waste For the purposes of calculating dioxins (PCDD) and furans (PCDF) the class "burning of agricultural waste" was taken into account, but this practice ceased to exist in both Sao Tome and Principe. In São Tomé there are no official records, although in Príncipe Island there are still some isolated cases that are not worth highlighting for analysis in question. Thus, emissions of dioxins and furans for savanna and prairie fires were obtained, 0.628 g TEQ / year, in the air vector, 0.093 g TEQ / year, in the vector land, and zero in the waste vector. 4.3.5. Main priorities for action The proposed actions aim to reduce the amount of unintentional emissions of PCDD / PCDF in the period of plan implementation, consisting of:  Implement transfers of green technologies, use of Best Environmental Practices (MTD) and / or Best Environmental Techniques (MPA), as defined by the Convention and adapted to national conditions;  Awareness campaigns in rural communities, schools, etc  Improved use of improved stoves in kitchens, school canteens and dining rooms; N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 68  Staff training on dioxins and furans;  Team field deployment to sensitize and monitor the populations;  Acquire laboratory equipment for required the analyses by dioxins and furans. 4.4. Contamined stocks and sites by POPs According to Article 6, paragraph 1, of the Convention, each State Party shall endeavor to develop appropriate strategies for the identification of contaminated sites with the chemicals listed in Annexes A, B or C; And in the case of remedying such sites, this should be done in an healthy environmental way Potentially contaminated and identified sites are potential sources of pollution of surface water, groundwater, air and food, thus exposing human health and environment to possible contamination. However, the severity of these risks is not fully understood, as the poor awareness of POPs danger, the lack of trained staff in POPs management (eco-toxicologists and toxicologists), experts in evaluation, analysis and contaminated sites issue and an equipped laboratory capable of determining the contamination levels of soil, water, air and food by POPs is evident. Although a first national survey on POPs situation the country presents a need in consolidated information it on contamined sites by persistent organic pollutants in particular and chemicals in general. 4.4.1. Inventory on Contamined Sited by POPs The (2015) lnventory on contamined sites was carried out in three phases: Preliminar Survey, field trip and Documents preparation. For the classification criterion, the procedure was based on the manual for potentially contaminated sites evaluation by persistent organic pollutants from the Stockholm Convention Guide, as indicated below:  Low Risk Degree: There are no needs of additional control measures. They only require site monitoring to ensure that the parameters are kept.  Moderate Risk Degree: Requires measures implementation for risk reduction.  Substantial Risk Degree: It is necessary to set the action plan to reduce the risk. N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 69  Intolerable Risk Degree: Interdiction and isolation of the area until there is risk reduction. The inventory on contaminated sites by POPs, 2015 identified 27 potentially contaminated and evaluated sites and, according to their degree of risk (Figure no. 3). The average degree of risk of all contaminated sites was 17.5, according to the adopted scale, with 6 being the minimum value and 54 the maximum. According to the classification obtained, these were categorized as being of substantial risk, and it is therefore necessary to establish an action plan for their reduction. The most contaminated and identified sites with the highest degree of risk are: L3-Mulundo Waste dumps - Ponte Graça, L4-Penha dumps, L11- Mouro Carregado warehouse, L14- Monte Café warehouse, L21-Lucumí. The potentially contaminated site with the lowest risk is L9-Praia das Conchas beach - forest fire zone. Figure 4: Possibly contamined sites Source: Possibly contamined Site characterization and categorization with POPs de2015 Within the possibly contaminated and identified sites, up to June 2015, 12 (44%) were inventoried as generation sources and potentially contaminated sites or dioxins and furans sources, 8 (30%) contaminated by pesticides, 6 (22%) by PCBs and 1 (4%) by heavy metals from waste electrical and electronic equipment. Due to lack of portable fluorescence and X-ray equipment by dispersed energy, it was not possible to identify PBDEs presence in WEEE by measuring elements of Br, Pb, Hg, Cr, Cd, etc. 14 14 27 27 14 14 14 14 7 24 27 18 18 27 14 18 24 24 12 8 27 9 9 18 24 18 9 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 L1 L2 L3 L4 L5 L6 L7 L8 L9 L10L11L12L13L14L15L16L17L18L19L20L21L22L23L24L25L26L27 G ra u d e r is co Sítios possivelmente contaminados N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 70 Figure 5: Potentially contaminated sites by type of POPs and other contaminants Source: Inventory, characterization and categorization of contaminated sites with 2015 POPs. Within contaminated sites with POPs, identified in the inventory, 26 indicated possibly contaminated areas by POPs. Only 1 area was identified with other potential contaminants (heavy metals). At the District level, Agua Grande district has a greater suspicion of contamination, with 14 being identified as possibly contaminated, while Caué and Cantagalo districts have the lowest contamination index, with 1 being the number of identified sites. Figure 6: Possibly contamined sites by district Source: Inventory, characterization and categorization of contaminated sites with 2015 POPs. Dioxins and Furans; 12 (44%) PCBs; 6 (22%) Pesticide; 8 (30%) Heavy M; 1 (4%) Contamined sites by contaminant types 14 4 1 4 1 3 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 Agua Grande Me Zochi Cantagalo Lobata Caue RAP No. of possibly contamined sites by Districts N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 71 Contamination by pesticides is most evident in Me-Zochi district and contamination by dioxins and furans, PCBs, heavy metals from waste electrical and electronic equipment are more evident in Agua Grande district. In the country there is no suitable place for disposal and elimination of end-of life cars and electronic equipment. These, when obsolete, are placed in vacant lots. All sites where scrap cars, trucks and other means of transport are found may be considered potential contaminated sites by PBDE and c-octaPBDE, although, according to the report on contaminated sites of 2015, it has not been possible to confirm the presence of these POPs, due to lack of adequate equipment. Thus, they were not subject of an inventory study. Within the identified sites, 16 (59%) were classified as being of substantial risk, and it was necessary to establish the action plan to reduce risk, 6 (22%) were classified as having moderate risk, which requires implementation of measures to reduce risk and 5 (19%) of intolerable risk, interdiction, area isolation until risk reduction. Figure 7: Site Contamination risks Source: Inventory, characterization and categorization of contaminated sites with 2015 POPs. From the analysis carried out, it is concluded that the problem of sites contaminated by Persistent Organic Pollutants in the country is evident, affecting mainly three districts: Agua Grande, Lobata and Me-Zochi, and urgent measures should be adopted in order to minimize negative impacts on environment and public health. Within the 27 contaminated sites, 1 is already in its rehabilitation and reuse phase (Mouro Carregado site) and 1, in Monte Café, is in the cleaning and decontamination phase. In this way, there are still 25 other identified contaminated sites in the country. Low; 0 (0%) Moderate; 6 (22%) Substantial; 16 (59%) Intolerable; 5 ( 19%) CONTAMINATION RISKS N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 72 Considering that the contamination sites mentioned above are located in areas of high rainfall and altitude, considering also that most of the springs are located in these places, there is a great risk of environmental contamination. Special attention needs to be paid at the decontamination of possibly contaminated areas by pesticides in order to avoid risks to environment and public health. Based on information from contaminated sites inventory conducted in 2015, the following is recommended:  Strengthening national laboratories for the analysis of POPs,  Closure of the Penha dump and construction of a sanitary landfill,  Sensitization of the local population on the risks associated with the deposition and open burning of solid wastes,  Implementation and updating of the integrated MSW management plan for integrated waste management,  Rehabilitation of Morro Carregado warehouse to serve as a temporary storage site for hazardous waste,  Decontamination of obsolete chemicals in Monte Café warehouse,  Elimination of the open dump in Riboque and Ponte Graça sites,  Remotion of obsolete transformers that are deposited on the ground, in Lucumi site, and that mechanisms are found to carry out chemical PCBs analyzes in all identified sites with obsolete electric transformers.  Measures taken in the past for contaminated sites. Pilot Project in STP. In the scope LDCs UNIDO project on capacity building and technical assistance to least developed countries in West and Central Africa aiming Stockholm Convention implementation on persistent organic pollutants, the country has benefited from a pilot research on two contaminated sites by POPs, as well as a low cost remediation test. These sites are included in the inventory report of contaminated sites by POPs (DDT). A total of 46 samples were collected and tested in the Ghana laboratory. The two warehouses identified in Morro Carregado and Monte Café, are infrastructures built for some time. That of Monte Café has been since colonial times and has been used to store chemicals used in agriculture. The other in Morro Carregado, was built by the Ministry of Health to store waste products resulting from the spraying process. The activities ended with the cleaning of these sites, waste repackaging and export solutions, since internally there is no treatment capacity or final destination for this type of hazardous waste. N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 73 4.4.2. Main challenges and action priorities For the Action Plan, the following priority actions are highlighted:  Contaminated sites survey by POPs;  Set up of relevant national database of contaminated sites management;  Elaboration of national cartography on contaminated sites  Establishment of a multisectoral technical team for the monitoring of contaminated sites;  Strengthening existing institutional capacities;  Strengthening of existing laboratories with equipment and consumables to carry out biological and toxicological chemical analyzes. 4.5. Socio economic POPs assessment The socio-economic study made it possible to prepare the preliminary socio economic assessment, i.e. the determination of the action plans costs and the viability of the NIP in the country. The study on the country socio-economic progress was based on the document entitled "Guidance on socio-economic assessment for national implementation plan and implementation under the Stockholm Convention" presented by the Secretariat of the Convention during the third conference of the States Parties, held in Dakar, Senegal, in 2007. The instruments used for this study were interviews with stakeholders and consultation of several reports on POPs situation in the country. The study aimed at understanding the socio-economic progress and the cost determination of the identified measures and action plans. This study, has shown that respiratory origin diseases occupy the 1st place in the main diseases affecting the population in Sao Tome and Principe, with a 31.6% rate (Poverty Profile in PTS, 2010). The highest prevalence rate is in the Agua Grande district, with 37.9%, the Autonomous Region of Principe with 34.9% and the District of Me-Zochi with 32.3%. The study on the characterization of contaminated sites by POPs (Baia, D., Castro and A, Gomes, E. 2015), indicates that the district that presents the highest concentration of contaminated sites is Agua Grande, also presenting a higher index of respiratory diseases (37.9%). It was found that the most vulnerable population exposed to these products is pregnant women and children. The household expenditure analysis reveals that N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 74 health accounts for a large part of the family budget, mainly in the purchase of medicines and therapeutic materials (65.6%), paramedics (11.3%) and hospital services 8.9% (IOF, 2010). The identified measures and action plans costs were estimated and valued at STD 32.973.750.000,00 (USD 1,465,500.00) for 5 years. The cost - benefit analysis has shown that the gains from implementing the plans and measures are greater than the cost of not implementing them and that the option defined within the current context is the most appropriate. In terms of cost-benefit analysis, the Socio-economic Study (Diogo, O. 2015) has also made it possible to realize that the reduction or even elimination of POPs is not solely aimed at protecting human health and the environment against harmful effects, but will also provide the country with a real position in the implementation of a national policy for the integrated management of hazardous chemicals in general. During the period of the country's DDT prohibition, another alternative was found with the use of Bendiocard product in indoor spraying to combat mosquitoes transmitting malaria. Finely, this represented cost justification in the acquisition of the new product, going from 50 USD / kg to 100 USD / kg. But, on the other hand, it brought benefits and safeguarded the country from future problems in population health and environmental and social damage. N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 75 5. NIP STRATEGY AND GENERAL ELEMENTS 5.1. Intent declaration of the national policies The Government of the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe (DRSTP), taking into account the Law No. 7/90 of September 10, 1990 on the promulgation of the Constitution of the Second Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, particularly in its article 10d) which stipulates that '”the primary objective of the State is to preserve the harmonious balance of nature and the environment'; Bearing in mind, however, that the Framework Law No 10/99 of April 15, 1999, the DRSTP Environmental Framework Law, provides that: “Every citizen has the right to an ecologically balanced human environment and has a duty to protect it"; Whereas, in the case of chemical safety, Article 38 lays down provisions relating to “the control of pollution and contamination of the environment by the introduction of chemical substances” and in its article 39 provisions related to “the struggle against Chemical constituents through the application of cleaner technologies, rational management of the chemicals life cycle, the application of a legislation on the use, homologation and labeling of chemicals”; Recognizing that persistent organic pollutants are toxic, they are difficult to degrade, they accumulate themselves in the living beings and in natural environment and are spread by air, water and migratory species beyond international borders and are deposited away from their places of origin, Terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems; Aware of the dangers that the Sao Tomean population are exposed to persistent organic pollutants, particularly women and through them, future generations Concerned to respond to its commitments under Action 21 in chapters 6, 9 and 19, the DRSTP Government reaffirms its commitment to: (i) Develop programs to combat all forms of chemical pollution, control of the distribution and use of pesticides in order to limit health risks; (ii) to encourage human communities to develop and use more efficient and less polluting forms of energy; Stimulate polluting means of transport; (iii) limit or prohibit toxic substances with a non-durable or bioaccumulation effect, as well as products whose use cannot be effectively controlled; (iv) Provide the public with information on chemical risks in the language of users; N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 76 (v) Limit or prohibit toxic substances with a durable or bioaccumulative effect as well as products whose use cannot be effectively controlled. Concerned to promote the sustainable development of its population through, inter alia, the implementation of an economic and social development policy as defined in the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP); Concerned about integrating the Sustainable Development Objectives in this policy in order to implement some Millennium Development Goals that were not fully achievable, in particular Objectives 4,5,6,7 and 8, respectively: (i) Reduce child mortality; (ii) Improve maternal and child health; (iii) Combat HIV, AIDS, malaria and other diseases; (iv) Ensuring a durable environment; (v) Develop a global partnership for development. In the spirit of NEPAD (New Partnership for Africa's Development) Environmental Action Plan, whose overall objective is “to improve the environmental conditions in Africa in order to contribute to economic growth and poverty eradication”, to develop Africa capacities of to implement international agreements and effectively address environmental challenges in Africa in overall context of NEPAD implementation”; Determined to take all measures to prevent the negative effects of persistent organic pollutants at all stages of the life cycle; Reaffirms its firm commitment to honoring its commitments to Stockholm Convention signed by the country on 3 April 2002 and which has been ratified by Presidential Decree No 3/2006 of February 8, 2006 through formal endorsement and Implementation of this NIP. In this sense, the Government will invest in the creation of an institutional, legal and technical environment conducive to the ecologically sound management of POPs and to compliance with other obligations of the Convention, taking in account the chemical safety dimension in the poverty reduction strategy and Sustainable development and offering direct synergies with other international engagements to which the DRSTP has already subscribed on the environment, the Stockholm Convention will be a valuable tool of the device that the Government gradually creates for the purpose of preserving environmental health. In this implementation of NIP, the Framework Law on the Environment of Sao Tome and Principe and the key international principles for chemicals management (precaution, prevention, polluter pays, participation ...) will form the basis and reference the activities guidelines. N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 77 But the Government is aware that reducing or even eliminating POPs will not only protect human health and the environment from harmful effects but also give the country an opportunity to lay the groundwork for a genuine national policy Integrated management of hazardous chemicals in general, reaffirms in this Declaration of intent, its willingness to do everything decisively in the effective and efficient implementation of NIP. To this end, the Government will endeavor to mobilize accessible resources at international level through all kinds of tailored measures (tax deductions, tax cuts, etc.) In the meantime, the Government will spare no effort to access external resources in bilateral and multilateral cooperation and will do everything in accordance with the principles of the Stockholm Convention to be eligible for technical and financial assistance under Articles 12 and 13 so as to progressively achieve an ecologically sound management of POPs by 2025 to safeguard human health and the environment. 5.2. NIP Strategy The strategy for implementing the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, with the aim of reducing / eliminating sources and POPs wastes, is based on the following points: (i) Promote appropriate institutional arrangements for the implementation of NIP; (ii) Institutionalization of a coherent legal and regulatory framework; (iii) Accountability of all surrounding parties; (iv) Mobilization of financial resources to carry out projects; (v) Raising awareness, education, training and information exchange; (vi) Capacity building.  NIP General Objectives The strategy general objective is to contribute to the fight against poverty and the promotion of sustainable development through the progressive promotion of taking into account the imperative of chemical safety in the strategies and action plans for poverty reduction and sustainable development, in order to find appropriate solutions to the threats posed by POPs to human health and the environment. N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 78  Specific objectives The specific objective is to reduce POPs production sources by 2030 in order to protect human health and the environment from POPs harmful effects. For this effect: (a) legislative and regulatory texts will be updated to be in harmony with Stockholm Convention on POPs and other relevant conventions; (b) information and communication will be privileged; (c) training will be organized; (d) NIP will be disseminated; (e) civil society and private sector will be involved in the implementation of NIP; (f) the synergy between the conventions dealing with chemicals management that DRSTP has adhered to, will be developed; (g) coordination of several chemicals management activities will be ensured; (h) regular production of national reports on POPs will be a major concern; (i) inventories and assessments shall be regularly and periodically carried out and updated. 5.2.1. Guidance principles of strategy The guiding principles and the strategic axes are points of reference that guide the stakeholders to the achievement of the defined objectives. These guiding principles are as follows:  promoting good governance;  sustainable management of natural resources;  consideration of sub regional integration;  the promotion of human security through, inter alia, environmental and health safety;  The re-equation of the role of the State and the accountability of civil society, local authorities and private operators. Therefore the Stockholm Convention on Environmental Power, through the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), in cooperation with the Ministry of Infrastructures, Natural Resources and Environment, prepared the project “Activities to review and update the Implementation of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in São Tomé and Príncipe”, which was approved and funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 79 The process of developing this NIP followed the guidelines of the “Guidance for Developing, a National Implementation Plan for the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (UNIDO, UNEP, UNEP, July 2012)” and included the following components:  Component 1-Coordination Mechanism and awareness campaign (1-2 Months);  Component 2- The first Inventory update, Inventory of new POPs and revision of the NIP (4-6 Months);  Component 3-Assessment and management of new POPs (4-6 Months);  Component 4-Formulation and Submission of the NIP (1-2 Months).  COMPONENT 1. Coordination and awareness Mechanism The work began with the holding of an Official Launching Workshop on the Revision and Update of the National Implementation Plan of the Stockholm Convention (NIP), on October 29, 2014, in the Conference Room of the Historical Archives of São Tomé and Principe. The Atelier sought to consult interested parties and inform them of the country's commitments as a State party to the Stockholm Convention. The importance of carrying out the review and updating of the NIP was highlighted, and information on the project was made known About 50 participants from the key institutions dealing with chemicals issues in the country were present. The institutional needs assessment and the necessary requirements for the implementation and monitoring of the project were also carried out. In order to strengthen the national coordination mechanism, the Project Coordination Unit (UCP) was established, with the National Project Director (DNP), National Project Coordinator (CNP) and national inventory experts (Figure 8). Figure 8: NIP Management Structures National Execution Agency (NEA) Project Coordination Unit (PCU) National Project Coordinator (NPC) National Inventory Experts (NIE) National Coordination Committee (NCC) Stakeholders, Governamental Institutions, and NGO N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 80 The Ministry of Infrastructures, Natural Resources and Environment (MIRNA), as a national entity, responded for the project through the General Directorate for Environment and National Enforcement Agency (ANE), which coordinated all the activities of the Plan drawing up through the Unit Project Coordinator, with the National Inventory Experts (ENI). Having in view the complexity and the cross-cutting nature, a National Coordination Committee (NCC) denominated the National Chemicals Management Committee (CNGQ) was established to involve all key institutions. The Committee was a consultation mechanism to follow the Plan drafting, consisting of the representatives of the following entities:  Directorate General of Environment  Directorate of Education, Information and Environmental Communication  Directorate of Environmental Conservation, Sanitation and Quality  Directorate of Legal and Environmental Impact  Directorate of Industry  Directorate Trade  Directorate of Agriculture  Directorate General of Customs  Customs Police  Directorate of Economical Activities Regulation and Control  Directorate of Health Care  Agronomical and Technological Research Center (CIAT)  Directorate of decentralization, Advice and Support to Local Authorities  Representative of the Autonomous Region of the Principe  Representative the Federation of NGOs  Representative the Private Sector  Representative of the Public University of S.T.P The CNGQ played a merely consultative role, having done the following up of the project activities, approving and validating the main results of the different stages of the project, in order to respect the Project obligations. N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 81  COMPONENT 2. Update of the first Inventory, Inventory of the POPs and revision of NIP. In order to support the preparation of the NIP, the following inventories and studies were conducted at the national level, which served as a basis for consolidating important information on POPs situation in the country: a) Review and update of the National Inventory of POPs Pesticides / Export and Import of New POPs; b) Review and update of the National Inventory of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs); c) Review and update of the National Inventory of sources and estimation of Dioxin and Furan emissions (PCDDs and PCDFs); d) National Inventory on POPs Contaminated Sites; e) National Inventory of New Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) for industrial use (PFOs and PBDEs); f) The Socio-economic Study on the implementation of the Stockholm Convention; g) Review and update of the previous NIP. National experts followed the guidelines and methodologies contained in the guides to the Convention and were assisted by an International expert recruited by UNIDO. The task of the expert was to train national experts (March 2015) and to carry out the revision of the inventory reports, before its presentation at the National Validation Workshop, held in October 2015.  COMPONENT 3. National capacity assessment and New POPs management This component was devoted to the development of the national inventory of New Industrial POPs (PBDEs and PFOs) and the identification of national objectives and priorities for POPs management. For revision and update reasons of the NIP, the country had to re-evaluate the National Priorities and indicate others to include the newly added POPs listed in the annexes. In 2005, based on the criteria and weighting factors chosen by the stakeholders, the action plans were then ranked in order of priority for implementation purposes and resulted in seven (7) initial action plans for the country. As in 2015, from each situation raised in the inventories, through a workshop held on November 17, 2015, discussions were developed on the actions and priorities for action that resulted in five (5) Action Plans and three (3) Measures. N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 82 The plans elaborated included the activities and strategies to be carried out, the objectives to be achieved, the execution schedules and the appointment of responsible and partners. Table 24: Action plan priority for 2005 and 2015 Priority order Action Plan in 2005 Action Plan in 2015 1° Exchange of Information Measures for national institutional capacity and the country legal Framework strengthening for POPs management; 2° Strengthening of the legislation and the institutions; Management of contaminated areas with Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs); 3° POPs pesticides management (Annexes A and B) Measures for information dissemination, public sensitization and education; 4° Information, sensitization and education Persistent Organic Pollutants POPs waste stocks management used as pesticides and other uses; 5° Polychlorinated biphenyls management (PCB: Annex A) Measures to improve national analytical capacity, POPs monitoring, research, development and innovation. 6° Non intentional POPs management (Dioxins and Furans: Annex C) Progressive reduction on non intentional Persistent Organic Pollutants (u-POPs); 7° Contaminated sites management (Substances listed in Annexes A, B and C); Polychlorinated Biphenyls management (PCBs); 8º Action Plan for the New Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) of industrial use management; Source: Self elaboration. 1st and 2nd Inventories on POPs, carried out in the country According to table 24, there were changes in the priorities identified in 2005. Ten years later, priorities order was no longer the same, except for priority 6. It also emerged that the first action to be taken currently being implemented is the reinforcement of measures to strengthen national institutional capacity and the country's legislative framework for POPs management, which is the first step to be urgently taken in order to develop with precision the remaining plan actions. N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 83 In the case of contaminated sites by POPs, there has been a major change in priorities, due to the fact that the country is currently develoNIPg pilot actions on contaminated sites, an urgent measure to consider having in mind the fact that most of the contaminated sites are close to communities and population.  COMPONENT 4. NIP Formulation and Submission The fourth phase began in January 2016 and lasted until September 2016, with the formulation of NIP. It was based on the compilation, by the project coordination, of all the work done. The National Plan that the country prepared and validated in the National Validation Workshop on May 31, 2017, through the approval of CNGQ, as well as some national partners and actors, is a dynamic document and it expresses the country commitment in the execution of the obligations specified in Stockholm Convention, incorporating them into national strategies to improve chemicals management. Periodically, every 5 years, it should be reviewed and updated. The different actions contained in the Plan will be implemented by different Government, NGO and Private Sector institutions, as illustrated in the action plans. N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 84 6. MEASURES AND ACTION PLAN TO REDUCE POPS EMISSIONS This section details the strategies and actions of the National Implementation Plan of Sao Tome and Principe for the fulfillment of the Convention commitments, based on the country situation, according to the Inventories and the intervention priorities that have been determined. The following tables provide information on the planned activities for the 5-year horizon, as well as the estimated costs for the implementation of the measures and plans, as well as those responsible for their implementation. Plans will be reviewed and updated every 5 years in order to assess its progress. The NIP contains the following measures and action plans:  Measures to strengthen the national institutional capacity and legislative framework of the country for POPs management;  Action Plan for the management of contaminated areas with Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs);  Measures for the dissemination of information, awareness and public education;  Action Plan for the management of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) stocks and wastes used as pesticides and other purposes;  Measures to improve national analytical capacity, POPs monitoring, research, development and innovation;  Action Plan for the progressive emissions reduction of unintentional Persistent Organic Pollutants (u-POPs);  Action Plan for the management of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs);  Action Plan for the new Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) management for industrial use. The Cost Determination of Planned Measures and Actions, based on the information of the consultants who were involved in the definition of the priorities and the market research, considering the exchange rate (1USD = 22,500 STD), realize that the implementation costs of these measures and the action plan were estimated at the total value of STD 32.973.750.000,00 (USD 1.465.500,00), Table no. 25. N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 85 Table 25: Summary of the Budget of Measures and Plan of Action Priority Order Action Pna Measures Values STD Values USD 1stº Measures for national institutional capacity and the country legal framework strengthening for POPs management 6.401.250.000 284.500 2nd Action Plan for the management of contaminated areas with Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs); 2.137.500.000 95.000 3rd Measures for the dissemination of information, awareness and public education 5.985.000.000 266.000 4th Action Plan for the management of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) stocks and wastes used as pesticides and other purposes; 3.150.000.000 140.000 5th Measures to improve national analytical capacity, POPs monitoring, research, development and innovation; 8.437.500.000 375.000 6th Action Plan for the progressive emissions reduction of unintentional Persistent Organic Pollutants (u-POPs); 4.230.000.000 188.000 7th Action Plan for the management of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs);Plano de Acção para a gestão de Bifenilas Policloradas (PCBs) 1.057.500.000 47.000 8th Action Plan for the New Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) of industrial use management; 1.575.000.000 70.000 Total 32 973 750 000 1 465 500 N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 86 6.1. Measures to improve the legislative framework and national institutional capacity to comply with the Stockholm Convention The analysis of the country legal framework showed that there was no legal basis for chemical products manufacture control, marketing, import, export, transportation and use, as well as their final treatment. Table 26: Measures to improve the legislative framework and national institutional capacity to comply with the Stockholm Convention MEASURES Values STD Values USD Responsible Period 1- Measures for national institutional capacity and the country legal framework strengthening for POPs management 6.401.250.000 284.500 POPs Pesticides Institutionalize a National Intersectoral Commission for Chemical Safety 112 500 000 5 000 MIRNA/DGA 2017 Advocacy reinforcement near the competent authorities for updating, approval and implementation of the environmental laws, according to the international rules. 67 500 000 3 000 MIRNA/DGA 2017-2021 Law drafting and implementation on chemicals, rules and bar code and labeling and packing to facilitate the ecologically safe manufacturing o chemical products. 1 350 000 000 60 000 MIRNA/DGA 2017 Establishing technical and financial partnerships with FAO and other 33 750 000 1 500 MIRNA/DGA 2017-2020 N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 87 partners support in conducting actions to be implemented. POPs Contaminat ed Sites Procedures and rules creation to manage contaminated sites. 225 000 000 10 000 MIRNA/DGA 2017-2018 Exchange promotion with international institutions of reference to manage contaminated sites. 675 000 000 30 000 MIRNA/DGA 2017-2020 U-POPs Creation of rules, regulation and procedures for PCDD and PCDF. 112 500 000 5 000 MIRNA (DGA), National Assembly between others 2017-2018 Organization of meetings, lectures and seminars on these pollutants consequences. 450 000 000 20 000 2017-2020 PCBs Training of actors involved in dielectric oil management for the transformers and others to control procedures and research and PCBs manufacturing 675 000 000 30 000 MIRNA/DGA International Partners 2017-2020 Establishment of rules and standardized procedures for PCBs detention and analysis 2 250 000 000 100 000 MIRNA/DGA 2017-2020 Drafting legislation and specific rules for the PCBs 225 000 000 10 000 MIRNA/DGA National Assembly and Tribunal 2018-2019 N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 88 6.2. Measures for dissemination of information, public awareness and social participation It is necessary to promote risk groups awareness that are breastfeeding women, as well as population in general, about POPs. These actions should be considered as priorities. Table 27: Measures fore Dissemination of information, public awareness and social participation MEASURES Values STD Values USD Responsible Period 2- Measures for the dissemination of information, awareness and public education 5.985.000.000 266.000 POPs Pesticides Elaboration of information material in na accessible language, highlighting the risks POPs can produce to harm and environment. 180 000 000 8000 MIRNA/DGA 2017-2020 National technical reports on POPs issues. 112 500 000 5000 MIRNA/DGA 2017-2020 Sensitization campaigns set up for obsolete products collection. 450 000 000 20000 MIRNA/DGA 2017-2021 Organizing workshops, making broad disclosure of actions to be carried out through the media (TVS, Radio, newspapers, magazines, etc.) and guiding rural producer and others to collaborate. 562 500 000 25000 MIRNA/DGA 2017-2021 Capacities building of national technicians on continuous follow up of POPs products. 1 125 000 000 50000 MIRNA/DGA 2017-2021 Preparation of informative sheets on efficiently using pesticides and other alternative uses of them. 180 000 000 8000 MIRNA/DGA 2017-2020 N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 89 Preparation of District and Regional seminars for the guidelines disclosure and capacity building of technicians involved in the actions. 337 500 000 15 000 MIRNA/DGA 2017-2019 Organizing workshops with NGOs and Civil Society. 225 000 000 10000 MIRNA/DGA 2017-2018 POPs Contamin ated Sites Contamin ated by POPs Preparation of sensitization campaigns in rural communities and elaboration of posters, brochures and foldable 450 000 000 20000 MIRNA/DGA 2017-2021 Radio and TV production and broadcasting programs. 225 000 000 10000 MIRNA/DGA 2017-2021 Capacity building of NGOs, District town hall and community leaders on POPs Management. 225 000 000 10000 MIRNA/DGA 2017-2018 Disclosure of reports on contaminated sites by POPs at national level. 112 500 000 5000 MIRNA/DGA 2017-2020 U-POPs Preparing a sensitization PCDD and PCDF program in the media on the associated effects and risks during waste burning in the open air. 450 000 000 20000 MIRNA/DGA Media 2017-2021 Training of technicians on dioxins and furans and periodic meetings with those of energy sector, etc, to control emissions. 562 500 000 25000 MIRNA/DGA/ ONG 2017-2019 PCBs Organizing workshops and meetings 450 000 000 20000 MIRNA/DGA Media 2017-2020 Advertisement Spots and Training o local actors. 225 000 000 10000 2017-2020 Production of pedagogic resources 112 500 000 5000 2017-2018 N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 90 6.3. Measures to improve national analytical capacity, POPs monitoring research, development and innovation Table 28: Measures to improve national analytical capacity, POPs monitoring research, development and innovation MEASURES Values STD Values USD Responsible Period 3- Measures to improve national analytical capacity, POPs monitoring, research, development and innovation 8.437.500.000 375.000 Pesticides POPs Strengthen existing laboratories and train national technical staff; 675 000 000 30 000 MIRNA/DGA MADR/CIAT Min. de Saúde 2017-2020 Based on the information available or not, do (R & D) investigations and surveys at national level to identify the level of toxicity in the country; 900 000 40 000 2017-2018 Create and establish sub-regional exchanges to share information and experiences concerning ecological management and rational use of POPs; 562 500 000 25 000 2017-2018 Produce statistics on pesticides and new POPs; 1 350 000 000 60 000 2017-2018 N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 91 Establishment of a multisectoral technical team for the monitoring of contaminated sites; 112 500 000 5 000 MIRNA/DGA 2017 Establishment of a multisectoral technical team for the monitoring of contaminated sites; 225 000 000 10 000 MIRNA/DGA 2017-2018 Reinforcement of existing laboratories with equipment and consumables to carry out chemical, biological and toxicological analyzes; 2 250 000 000 100 000 MIRNA/DGA 2018-2019 U-POPs Carry out training actions on the analytical processes for the detection of dioxins and furans, intended for the technicians of the identified laboratories; 450 000 000 20 000 MADR MIRNA 2017-2018 Acquire laboratory equipment for the analyzes required by dioxins and furans; 450 000 000 20 000 MECI/SENAPI MECC/USTP MADR (CIAT) 2017-2018 Develop standardized formats for collecting statistical data, updated activity rates, national inventories. 675 000 000 30 000 MIRNA 2017-2018 N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 92 Creation of a network of Technology and Innovation Support Centers within the scope of the National Plan for the Development of Intellectual Property (Research Centers, Vocational Laboratories and Universities) to investigate the sources of dioxins and furans. 112 500 000 5 000 MECI/SENAPI MECC/USTP MADR/CIAT 2018-2019 PCBs Creation and implementation of national reporting system (annual or semiannual) of inventories and detection of PCBs in the sectors identified; 67 500 000 30 000 MIRNA/DGA 2017-2020 N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 93 6.4. Action Plans Table 29: Action Plans ACTION PLANS Values STD Values USD Responsible Period 1- Action Plan for contaminated sites by POPs 2.137.500.000 95.000 Establishment of a technical team to inspect, evaluate and investigate Contaminated Sites. 112 500 000 5 000 MIRNA/DGA 2017-2018 Implementation of the National Inventory of sites contaminated by POPs. 675 000 000 30 000 MIRNA/DGA 2017-2018 Creation of a national database through the Geographic Information System (GIS) of interest for the management of contaminated sites. 225 000 000 10 000 MIRNA/DGA 2017 Rehabilitate and manage contaminated sites. 1 125 000 000 50 000 MIRNA/DGA 2018-2020 2- Action Plan for the Management of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) stocks and wastes used as pesticides and other purposes 3.150.000.000 140.000 Rehabilitation of the Morro Carregado warehouse. 900 000 000 40 000 MIRNA/DGA M. Saúde 2016-2018 Training and exchange among technical staff, countries and institutions related to POPs pesticides. 562 500 000 25 000 MIRNA/DGA 2016-2018 N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 94 Carrying out awareness campaigns to collect obsolete products 225 000 000 10 000 MIRNA/DGA MADR/DA 2016-2018 Implement best available technologies and best environmental practices. 1 125 000 000 50 000 MIRNA/DGA 2016-2020 Preparation and publication of procedures guides for the identification of obsolete stocks of POPs. 337 500 000 15 000 MIRNA/DGA MADR/DA 2017-2018 3- Action Plan for progressive reduction of emissions of Persistent Organic Pollutants (U-POPs) 4.230.000.000 188.000 Evaluation, selection and implementation of technology transfer for the main identified emission sources. 450 000 000 20 000 MIRNA/DGA 2018-2019 Organization of awareness campaigns in rural communities, schools, etc. 180 000 000 8 000 MIRNA/DGA MADR,MECC 2017-2020 Prepare a Master Plan for the management of household waste. 1 125 000 000 50 000 MIRNA/DGA 2017-2018 Pilot project for the use of improved stoves in kitchens, school canteens and dining rooms. 1 125 000 000 50 000 MIRNA/DGA MADR 2017-2019 Develop and implement an environmentally sound management policy for hazardous hospital waste. 1 125 000 000 50 000 MIRNA/DGA M. Saúde 2017-2020 Deployment of teams in the field to raise awareness and monitoring of populations to reduce forest fires. 225 000 000 10 000 MIRNA/DGA MADR ONGs 2017-2021 N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 95 4- Action Plan for the Management of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) 1.057.500.000 47.000 Screening of transformers likely to contain PCBs. 270 000 000 12 000 MIRNA/DGA MADR/CIAT 2017--2020 Evaluation of re-export mechanisms of obsolete transformers. 112 500 000 5 000 MIRNA/DGA 2018-2020 Promote the inventory of PCBs in electrical equipment throughout the national territory. 675 000 000 30 000 MIRNA/DGA 2017-2020 5- Management Plan for New Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) for industrial use 1.575.000.000 70.000 Creation of awareness workshops on the issue of new POPs. 450 000 000 20 000 MIRNA/DGA 2017-2020 Capacity building of the institutions for the formation of a multisector team to collect data from stakeholders involved in the management of new POPs. 225 000 000 10 000 MIRNA/DGA 2017-2018 Sensitization of the private sector, NGOs, for the creation of the recycling sector of electronic electrical equipment. 225 000 000 10 000 MIRNA/DGA 2019-2020 Inventory of new POPs for industrial use. 333 750 000 15 000 MIRNA/DGA 2017-2018 Creation of a national database with the Directorateof Customs. 337 500 000 15 000 MIRNA/DGA MEC 2017-2018 7. OTHER OBLIGATIONS OF STOCKHOLM CONVENTION 7.1. Information exchange, sensitization and information Article 9 of Sckholm Convention on the issue of information Exchange refers that: 1. Each Party shall facilitate or develop the Exchange of relevant information on: a) Reduction or elimination of the production, use and release of Persistent organic pollutants; and b) Alternatives to the persistent organic pollutants, including information relating to their risks, as well as their economical and social costs. 2. The Parties shall Exchange information relating to no 1 directly or through the Secretariat. 3. Each Party shall designate the national focal point for the exchange of this information. 4. The Secretariat shall serve as a clearinghouse for information on persistent organic pollutants, including information provided by Parties, intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations. 5. For the purposes of this Convention, information on the health and safety of human beings and the environment shall not be considered confidential. Parties exchanging further information relating to this Convention shall protect any confidential information as mutually agreed upon. Article 10 of the Stockholm Convention on Information, Public Awareness and Education mentions that: 1. Each Party shall promote and facilitate, in accordance with its capabilities: a) Raising the awareness of its policy-makers and decision-makers on persistent organic; b) The provision to the public of all available information on persistent organic pollutants in accordance with the provisions of no. 5 of Article 9; c) The development and implementation of education and public awareness programs on persistent organic pollutants, in particular for women, children and the less educated, as well as their effects on health and the environment and their alternatives; d) Public participation in the treatment of persistent organic pollutants and their effects on health and the environment, and the development of appropriate responses, including opportunities for national contributions to the implementation of this Convention e) The training of workers, scientists, teachers and technical and managerial staff; f) The development and exchange of educational and awareness materials at national and international levels. N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 97 g) The development and implementation of educational and training programs at the national and international levels. 2. Each Party shall, within its capabilities, ensure that the public has access to the public information referred to in paragraph 1 and that this information is kept up-to-date. 3. Each Party shall encourage, within its capabilities, industry and professional users to promote and facilitate the provision of the information referred to in paragraph 1 at the national level and, where appropriate, the subregional, regional and global levels. 4. When providing information on persistent organic pollutants and their Alternatives, the Parties may use safety datasheets, reports, the media and other media and establish information centers at national and regional levels. 5. Each Party shall take into account the development of mechanisms, such as release and pollutant transfer registers, for the collection and dissemination of information on on estimates of the annual quantities of chemical substances listed in Annexes A, B or C which are released or eliminated. 7.1.1. Research Development and Monitoring Article 11 of the Stockholm Convention states that the Parties shall encourage and / or undertake, to the best of their ability, at national and international level, appropriate research, development, monitoring and cooperation activities relating to persistent organic pollutants and, where appropriate, to their respective alternatives and potential persistent organic pollutants, in particular as regards to: a) Sources and releases into the environment; b) Existence, levels and trends in human beings and the environment; c) Propagation in the environment, destination and processing; d) Effects on human health and the environment e) Socio-economic and cultural impacts; f) Reduction and / or elimination of releases; and; g) Harmonized methodologies for inventories of sources of production and analytical techniques for the releases measurement. In undertaking the actions under paragraph 1, the Parties shall undertake to the extent of their capabilities, to: a) To support and strengthen, as appropriate, international programs, networks and organizations to define, conduct, evaluate and finance research, data collection and monitoring, taking into account the need to minimize duplication; b) To support national and international efforts to strengthen national scientific and technical research capacities, in particular in develoNIPg countries and N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 98 countries with economies in transition, and to promote access to and exchange of data and analysis. c) Take into account the concerns and needs, in particular in the field of technical and financial resources from develoNIPg countries and countries with economies in transition and to cooperate in improving their capacity to participate in the activities referred to in points (a) and (b);; d) Undertake research to mitigate the Persistent Organic Pollutants effects in reproductive health; e) Make available to the public the results of its research, development and monitoring referred to in the present article regularly and in time;and f) Encourage and / or undertake cooperative activities relating to the storage and maintenance of information resulting from research, development and monitoring. 7.1.2. Effectiveness Assessment The article 16 of the convention states that the parties: 1. At least four years after the date of entry into force of this Convention, and periodically after this date at intervals, at intervals to be determined by the Conference of the Parties, the Conference shall evaluate the effectiveness of this. 2. In order to facilitate this assessment, the Conference of the Parties shall, at its first meeting, establish arrangements for comparable monitoring data on the presence of the chemicals listed in Annexes A, B and C and Regional and global level. These provisions: a. Will be implemented by the Parties, as appropriate, on a regional basis, in accordance with their technical and financial capacities, using, as far as possible, existing monitoring programs and mechanisms and promoting harmonization of approaches; b. They may be complemented, if necessary, in the light of the differences between regions and their capacity to implement monitoring activities; and; and c. Will include reports to be submitted to the Conference of the Parties on the results of monitoring activities at regional and global level, at intervals to be determined by the Conference of the Parties. 3. The assessment described in paragraph 1 shall be carried out on the basis of scientific, Environmental, technical and economic information, including: N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 99 a. Reports and other monitoring information submitted in accordance with paragraph 2; b. National reports submitted in accordance with Article; c. Information on non-compliance in accordance with the procedures laid down in Article 17. 7.1.3. Communication According to article 15, States Parties are required to periodically report on measures taken and on their effectiveness in achieving the objectives of the Convention: 1. Each Party shall inform the Conference of the Parties of their adopted measures to implement the provisions of this Convention and of the effectiveness of these measures in pursuance of the objectives of the Convention. 2. Each Party shall provide the Secretariat with: a. Statistical data on the total quantities of production, import and export of each of the chemical substances listed in Annexes A and B or a plausible estimate of these quantities; b. As far as possible, a list of the state of import and export of each substance. 3. This information shall be communicated periodically in a manner to be decided by the Conference of the Parties at its first meeting. The process of reviewing reports for the NIP will simultaneously take place with the revision of the Sao Tome and Principe Action Plan. The notification will be made on the basis of the identified measures in the Action Plan, every five years, by MIRNA. N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 100 8. STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN IMPLEMENTATION AND FOLLOW UP 8.1. Stakeholders Role The strategy and action plan implementation will be based on a broad participation of the different actors involved in ecological and rational management of POPs, namely the Stockholm Convention Focal Point on POPs, relevant ministerial departments, civil society, and the private sector and development partners. A. The Focal Point of the Stockholm Convention’s duties are: o Coordinate the process of transmitting information to the secretariat of the Convention, including the specified reports in Article 15 of the Convention; o Facilitate the implementation of the activities of the Convention; o Capitalize information on POPs and their dissemination; o Develop mechanisms for the exchange of information at the national level; o Coordinate (and validate) the development of national strategies and action plans for waste reduction and elimination of POPs; o Provide information and promote all research, education, information and public awareness actions on POPs; o Identify national needs for technical and financial assistance and to report to the Convention Secretariat; o Identify at national, regional and international level the possibilities for technical and financial assistance in the area of POPs waste reduction and disposal B. The Concerning Ministries’duties are: o Take into account POPs problem in national development plans and programs and in sectoral policies; o Coordinate the process of implementation, follow-up and evaluation of POPs, NIP strategy and action plans; o Promote information, awareness and education of the population and other stakeholders; o Support in the process of strengthening operational capacities (training of experts etc); o Develop, follow up and evaluate projects and plans related to POPs management, with a participatory approach; o Capitalize data and information and manage databases; o Develop, disseminate and apply legal texts related to POPs; o Stimulate the consultation framework; N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 101 o Search for funding and provide the necessary resources, as well as control of its management; o Monitor the follow up of POPs wastes. C. The Local Communities’ duties are: o Participate in the process of national sensitization on POPs; o Participate in the management of infrastructures for the disposal of waste, contributing to the production of unintentional POPs and the management of contaminated sites by dioxins and furans. D. The Community Organization, Associations and NGOs’ duties are: o Participate in awareness-raising, information and education of the population; o Conduct field actions; o Apply methods and techniques for ecologically sound management of POPs; o Participate in the preparation, execution, follow-up and evaluation of plans and projects related to POPs - NIP; o Disseminate good practices and knowledge dissemination in POPs management issue. E. Private Sector and Public private (Industrial, agricultural, industrial oil organizations, economical operators, electric companies, waste collection companies) have the following duties: o Replace equipment that contains PCB; o Declare stocks of PCBs stored and imported, as well as equipment that does not have PCBs; o Participate in awareness-raising, information and education of the population; o Conduct field actions; o Master the methods and techniques of ecologically sound management of POPs; o Participate in the preparation, execution, follow-up and evaluation of plans and projects. N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 102 F. The international funding agencies (World Bank, AfDB, FAO, FEM, UNEP, UNDP, UNIDO, etc); Bilateral cooperation; Developed Countries, should: o Contribute to the harmonization of the national strategy and action plans; o Contribute to the financing of sub regional projects; o Technical and financial support for capacity building; o Support in the transfer of technology and knowledge; o Support in the plans and projects financing; o Support diversified state services, grassroots communities and local NGOs; o Participate in the supervision of field interventions; o Participate in the exchange of information. 8.2. Institutional implementation mecanisms The implementation of the strategy and action plans are mainly based on two levels (National Level and District and Regional Level). 8.2.1. At National Level A National Multisectoral and Institutional Committee to oversee the implementation process is chaired by the Directorate-General of Environment. This Committee shall be responsible for guiding the strategy for implementing the action plan. The Committee will be composed of representatives of relevant ministries, industry representatives, economic operators, representatives of civil society and technical and financial partners. The Committee will contribute to the integration of the process of ecologically sound management of POPs into the priorities, programs and activities of the different actors. It will supervise and approve, before being validated, the reports proposals that will be sent to the Secretariat of the Convention. The Directorate-General of the Environment will submit the report to the competent governmental authority which, in turn, will be responsible for sending it officially to the Secretariat of the Convention. An Executive Secretariat of the National Committee will be set up to prepare reports proposals to be submitted to the secretariat of the Convention, as well as other necessary reports such as compilation of sector reports prepared by the follow-up subcommittees. N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 103 The Executive Secretariat shall be under the direct responsibility of the Operational Focal Point of the Convention. The mandate of the Operational Focal Point is incompatible with that of Chairman of the National Oversight Committee. It is responsible for the day-to-day follow up of implementation activities and is responsible for the national system for the exchange of information on POPs as well as for other information in accordance with Article 9 of the Convention and respect for the obligations of the Convention relating to Articles 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15 and 16, which address the obligations of States Parties. The Executive Secretariat is also responsible for the Network for the Exchange of Chemical Information, via the Internet (REIC). Five follow-up subcommittees will be set up within the National Oversight Committee to support the Executive Secretariat in the day-to-day monitoring of implementation activities. These subcommittees shall be responsible for the direct follow-up and pre-evaluation of the interim reports on sectoral implementation activities entrusted to national consultants and / or international experts. Finally, a mechanism will be created to monitor and evaluate the internal components (audit structure of the Directorate General for Environment) and external (International Funding Specialists), national stakeholders and others. 8.2.2. At District / Principe Region Level A district and regional Implementation Committee will be created in each District and in Principe Region chaired by the district mayors and the president of the regional government which will have as objective support the National Overview Committee. This Committee will have as duty to follow the implementation activities of the Convention with consultants support. 8.3. Means for the Implementation of NIP Strategy and Action Plan The defined means for action plan implementation of the action plan are indicated in the plans implementation schedules. These are legal, financial, human and technical means. The Environmental Law is the main reference legal instrument for the implementation of the strategy and the action plan. It will be reviewed in order to take into account the obligations and directives of the Convention. The regulatory texts to be applied for the implementation of the NIP, as well as to follow up and evaluate the strategy and the action plan, should be strengthened. N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 104 They should be appropriate, in accordance with the obligations of the Stockholm Convention on POPs, and consistent with local cultural, socio-economic and political realities. 8.4. Financial Means In accordance with Article 13 of the Stockholm Convention, develoNIPg countries, such as Sao Tome and Principe, should mobilize financial resources in accordance with: At each State Party Level The resources will come from the General State Budget, economic operators (industry, traders), civil society (farmers' association, community associations, NGOs, etc.)  At Bilateral and Multilateral Level: At this level, developed States Parties are willing to assist develoNIPg countries in fulfilling their obligations under the Convention.  At the Convention Provisions: The Conference of the States Parties has chosen the Global Environment Facility (GEF) as the financial mechanism of the Convention to assist develoNIPg and transitional countries financially in fulfilling their obligations to the Convention. Convention. It also benefits from the Canadian POPs Fund, which is available and able to provide support to these countries in carrying out the various activities within the framework of the Convention. 8.5. Human and Technical Resources Capacity building is foreseen for all parties involved in the implementation process of the action plan. Skills will be required, particularly in the areas already mentioned, for specialized and continuing training and for the following aspects: POPs monitoring and control; NIP Monitoring and Evaluation; NIP programs and financial resources Management. 8.6. Follow up and Evaluation Mechanism Follow-up and evaluation will be composed of two components, namely: follow up and internal evaluation and follow-up and external evaluation. Follow-up and external evaluation will be ensured by external partners (consultants and financial partners), who are not directly involved in the implementation of the NIP. N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 105 This evaluation is done after the mid-term review and NIB final review action plans and programs, as well as the assessment of their impact The mid-term review aims at assessing the product realization level in order to take the necessary decisions to improve the activities implementation, coordination, integration and relevance and approaches, with a view to achieving the expected results. The final review aims at analyzing the expected level of objectives and outputs and the nature of the difficulties encountered during implementation, on one hand and on the other hand to propose future plans or action programs. As regards the NI internal monitoring and evaluation NIP, this should allow a response to the following concerns: Measure NIP performances in terms of implementation and present the achievements or operational results balance achieved through the implementation of these programs and action plan; Monitor and evaluate their effects and impacts in the socio-economic and environmental domain or, more precisely, assess their contribution to achieving the PNADD objectives. To do so, the internal monitoring and evaluation system will comprise two separate but complementary arrangements, the first one related to the collection and processing of data and the second to the dissemination of information. The participatory monitoring and evaluation system, which integrates the monitoring of physical, financial performance and impact and impact assessment, will involve all stakeholders, particularly the populations and private operators. This will allow the day-to-day progress monitoring and assessment made in implementing the action plans. Scientific studies will be carried out in the area of obtained impacts in order to have an objective assessment of the effects of the action plans impacts and to confront the participatory assessments findings. This mechanism for monitoring and evaluating the NIP actions effects and impacts will include relevant stakeholders (technical services, research laboratories). The areas of impact achieved by the two devices are the same, namely living conditions, incomes, natural environment and population productivity. The practical arrangements and procedures for implementing the follow-up and NIP evaluation of NIP will be completed by a planned study. The final report will specify the following elements: the organizational and institutional framework, methods and elements for data collection and processing and information and their dissemination. N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 106 8.7. Timetable of Implementation Plan and Performance Indicators The National Supervisory Committee for the implementation of the Convention should maintain a permanent follow-up on all the activities carried out by different responsible entities. The Plan implementation will be carried out in the interdisciplinary spirit between the teams that will work in its execution and based on a schedule to be approved. N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 107 9. RESOURCE NEEDS, PROJECT IDENTIFICATION Article 13 of the Stockholm Convention states that Each Party commits itself to provide, in accordance with its capabilities, financial incentives and support for national activities to achieve the objectives of this Convention in accordance with its plans, priorities and national programs. Similarly, Article 12 provides that States Parties shall cooperate in the provision of timely and adequate technical assistance to Parties constituted by developing countries and countries with economies in transition in order to assist them, taking into account their particular needs, in developing and strengthening their capacities for the purpose of fulfilling their obligations under this Convention. Likewise, developed States Parties should provide technical assistance and promote technology transfer to developing country Parties and countries with economies in transition for the implementation of the Convention. With regard to implementation, States Parties, made up of developed countries, will provide new and additional financial resources to enable developing country Parties and countries with economies in transition to assume the full cost increase of implementation measures For the fulfillment of its obligations under this Convention, as agreed between the beneficiary Party and a participant entity in the mechanism described in paragraph 6 of article 13. As a developing State Party, Sao Tome and Principe is therefore eligible for both technical and financial assistance established by the Convention. NIP identifies areas initially identified, which may be the subject of technical assistance agreements, according to the national identified capacity building and / or strengthening requirements during the preparation of inventories, evaluation priorities and action plans development. 9.1. Identified Areas with Technical and Financial Assistance needs The identified priority areas with technical assistance needs are: 1. Training of technicians in the field of inspection: technical assistance necessary for the training of a sufficient number of environmental inspectors to carry out the work of inspecting POPs storage sites and identifying the presence of contaminants on the site, including health and safety considerations to be respected. In addition, inspectors should be trained to aknowledge POPs safe storage in order to be able to dissiminate this know how when necessary. N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 108 2. Technical training for POPs safe handling (storage, packaging, transport, treatment and disposal) for each concerned sector (pesticides, industrial chemicals) and staff training to make use of best practices and to select and operate the best POPs management technologies. 3. Specific capacity building on conducting accurate inventories of new industrial POPs, such as unintentional emissions, taking into account the guidance guides newly incorporated by the Convention, as well as the standardized toolkit for estimating dioxin and furan emissions. Some of the criteria used as proposed emission factors to be representative of an average of the estimates made in other countries give only a general and little precise idea of emission levels in Sao Tome and Principe. An adjustment of such POPs estimates is required in accordance with local realities, practices and activities that are likely to cause such emissions. Thus, it is necessary to implement a systematic research program directed at the sources identified as priorities in the country (such as uncontrolled combustion processes). 4. Capacity building to reduce unintentional emissions in a specific way, for each generating source. Technical assistance is required for the training of those responsible for controlling the most significant emission sources in the country, including the general population, in uncontrolled combustion processes. This training should include operational procedures knowledge to reduce emissions with the future application of technologies for cleaner production, recycling among other options 5. Management of contaminated sites. In Sao Tome and Principe there is an initial experience to manage contaminated sites with obsolete pesticides including POPs. However, it is insufficient for the management of contaminated sites with PCB and other POPs. For this purpose, technical assistance is required for the elaboration of procedures and policies to carry out the cleaning and management of local contaminated with POPs. Technical assistance for the training of national technicians and sectors involved in carrying out assessments of potentially contaminated sites. Assessment of environmental risks, establishment of degree of allocation of preliminarily identified sites in the national inventory. Define sanitation priorities according to the technical and legal criteria to classify and categorize sites, as well as the actions to be carried out. Select and apply appropriate technologies for the sanitation of contaminated sites, for the storage and environmentally safe transport of contaminated material, due to the current unavailability of final disposal technologies in the country N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 109 6. Strengthening or building capacity of laboratory personnel for the analytical determination of POPs, such as validation of inventories, including methodology for performing field sampling. The existing limitations address not only the infrastructure for analytical determinations of POPs in the laboratory, but also requires the knowledge of the personnel involved in the collection of representative samples for the elaboration of a training program to collect samples of soil, water, air and tissue and food samples. In this context, technical assistance is needed to strengthen the local laboratory, which can then serve as a pilot or model for other public and private institutions that should strengthen their capacity for sampling and analysis. 9.2. Training Priorities and Proposals The NIP aspects as priorities are those which contribute most to both the management of POPs and to the solution of environmental and health problems for long time, with respect to those that only provide a moderate contribution or a limited time. The more feasible aspects are those in which there is a greater consensus among concerning sectors, thereof the importance of addressing them in the first instance, taking in account the social and economic benefits that they allow to achieve. This approach has particular importance taking in account the limited financial and human resources available and, therefore, it needs to be efficiently managed. The main identified themes as priorities in the NIP and its future approach through technical and financial assistance projects are: o Strengthening the legislative framework, regulation and institutional capacity to monitor POPs and chemicals; o Improvement in Environmentally Sound Management (ISM) and destruction of PCBs, new POPs and contaminated POPs waste; o Establishment of integrated waste management systems and introduction of Best Available Techniques and Best Environmental Practice (BAT and BEP) in the burning processing in the open air; o Develop strategies and action plan for contaminated areas identification and remediation; o Promote public and stakeholders involved in POPs elimination. In response to these needs and priorities set out in the NIP, an action program should be implemented through a framework project or related individual projects aimed at strengthening national capacities based on the best technologies and practices available for environmentally safe POPs handling and their emissions, allowing adverse effects minimization on human health and the environment through N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 110 specific interventions, both the elimination of PCBs and other POPs waste in Sao Tome and Principe. Some components and actions to be considered in the national program through the implementation of a project or other options consider the following aspects: 1) Legal and Institutional Framework: It is necessary the national policy, legal regulations and the harmonized institutional framework strengthening, including cross-institutional capacity for for chemicals GAS, waste and POPs, including strategies and technical facilities for POPs identification (screening and analysis validation) and products containing POPs, for traffic control and stock monitoring and contamination assessment. Among the most important actions are:  National legal and institutional framework for waste management and chemical safety is harmonized and strengthened, including commitments with POPs.  Support policy and strategy for good chemical management.  Strengthening transversal capacities for the institutions involved in POPs control.  Technical capacity building of inspectors involved in POPs control.  Chemical Information System for the screening and control of industrial chemicals (including Products containing POPs).  Strategies and procedures for chemicals control and support implementation.  Training program, database system, methodologies for inspection and quality control of information registration on POPs and other hazardous chemicals.  Resources and facilities capacity strengthening for POPs screening and analysis; Technicians trained in methodologies for identification and monitoring of POPs. 2) Environmentally Sound Management and PCB disposal, contaminated waste with POPs and action plan for established contaminated: To promote PCB and articles containing POPs good management throughout their life cycle, as a way of reducing the risk of POPs release through safe environmental management and their definitive elimination. Actions identification for the evaluation and management of contaminated sites with POPs: N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 111  Training & Manual Program on the control of equipment, awareness of health risks and safety conditions in handling during maintenance of equipment with PCBs.  Promote the training of local operators to provide handling, collection, packaging and transport services to PCB GAS and POPs-contaminated waste.  Complete PCB inventories and develop detailed and up-to-date inventory of new POPs using screening and screening systems.  National assessment of the potential contamination with PBDE and PFOS and proposal of electronic waste management.  Creation and implementation of a plan to phase out equipment with PCBs.  Elaboration and implementation of a plan for PCB and POPs waste management and environmentally safe disposal (from collection to destruction outside the country).  National Program for the Identification and Environmental Assessment of contaminated sites with POPs.  Strategy and Action Plan with technical and financial proposals for effective containment measures, ensuring the cleanliness of POPs contamination sites and future remediation as a way to reduce the risks of POPs emissions.  Cleaning actions and contamination containment measures implemented at the national storage site involved in PCBs / POPs disposal plans, based on national demonstration experience in reducing POPs emission risks. 3) Reduction in U-POPs emission and contamination from the open-pit waste burning and other sources. Strengthening national policies and strategies for waste management in the country, taking into account the reduction of unintentional POPs (U-POPs) emissions.). Minimization of open-air (household and hospital) waste sources with accelerated adoption of BAT / MPA to eliminate U-POPs emissions and reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions Create policy and regulations in sectors that contribute to reducing emissions of unintentional POPs and GHG emissions.  Master Plan for the management of household waste and hospital waste management as a source of U-POPs generation..  Procedures and training program to avoid waste mixtures and U-POPs emission during the disposal process.  Preparation of the inventory study for identification, classification and detailed sites assessment used as deposits or waste disposal. N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 112  Assessment and selection of MTD / MPA proposals for the treatment of municipal waste.  Study and proposal for hospital waste, its environmental impacts on U-POPs and GHG emissions.  Demonstration experience on the installation of hospital waste disposal / treatment technology.  Public education and awareness programs for environmental liability in the hazardous solid wastes management and their relationship to the reduction of U-POPs emissions and GHG emissions.  Training and guidance for heads of Municipal Councils and other institutions on U-POPs. Financial Implications: The cost estimates for NIP implementing are provided in Table 21. Cost estimates are those that, in addition to those required for existing programs, only represent incremental costs. The cost of implementing the measures taken to restrict POPs emissions is difficult to estimate since it was not taken exclusively for the purpose of implementing the Stockholm Convention. However, they are allocated other local and international obligations. As an example, the construction cost of the four landfills is approximately € 200 million and the restoration cost of existing uncontrolled landfills is approximately € 50 million. The installation and operation cost of a dead animal incinerator is € 3.5 million and the construction cost of a central facility for hazardous waste management is estimated at € 30 million. Proposed projects for NIP implementation in Sao Tome and Principe should place greater emphasis on strengthening the institutional and legal competencies needed and required for the implementation of the Stockholm Convention in the country. Nevertheless, legislative measures have relatively low financial costs and there is progress in this area in the region. Most GEF-funded activities are variable, such as capacity building and the promotion of best policies, regulations and long-term awareness as additional elements that would not be taken into account in chemical safety (area where the country lacks enough resources or external financing), the management of hazardous and municipal waste to reduce of U-POPs and GHG emissions and the development of demonstration for the elimination of POPs activities with clear global benefits. N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 113 Therefore, the proposed framework project should consider as incremental costs the following elements:  Management of chemicals and chemical safety: The country has not enough resources or external support to effectively face chemicals management at identification, control and monitoring level with deficient technique knowledge of the stakeholders. Therefore the project will contribute to national capacity building development through technique tools and technique facilities (screening and analysis), both at improving knowledge on POPs chemical safety and at other hazardous chemicals impacting upon human health and the environment.  POPs and other hazardous waste management: o project the project will incorporate, in POP elimination phase, the handling and disposal of another sector of obsolete electrical waste and pesticides that would not be treated in an environmentally safe manner. In addition, it will allow a more in-depth study of new POPs management (articles containing PBDE / PFOS) where there is no clear understanding, which will imply or increase the overall monitoring of these pollutants at national level. The development of cleaning and rehabilitation of contaminated sites proposals will be useful as it will be seen as demonstrative proof in POPs disposal. It will also contribute to reducing global health and environmental risks, including verification of MPA / MPA and replicable financial mechanisms in future experiences at national and regional level.  Urban waste management and GHG emission reduction: the proposal should contain an integrated approach to household and hospital waste management. The reduction of U-POPs through the inadequate minimization of the open flaring process and biomass will contribute in the future to reducing the concentration of anthropogenic greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere, thus fulfilling the country's priorities in this regard. In addition, the project should promote community health prevention actions, strengthening the District Chambers and the Autonomous Region of Príncipe, for the urban waste management that is not adequately treated, by the government due to lack of financial resources in this area . N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 114 10. BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCE UNIDO; UNITAR; UNEP. Guidance for the inventory of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) listed under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. 2012a. UNEP. Guidance on best available techniques and best environmental practices for the use of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and related chemicals listed under the Stockholm Convention on POPs. 2012b. UNEP. Guidance on the global monitoring plan for persistent organic pollutants.2013. Directorate General of Environment. Inventory, Contaminated Sites Characterization and Categorization POPS in S.T.P 2015. Directorate General of Environment, Inventory on New POPs industrial Chemicals (PFOS and PBDEs) in Sao Tome and Principe 2015. Directorate General of Environment, II Inventory on Dioxins (PCDD) and Furans (PCDF) 2015. Directorate General of Environment, National Inventory on Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs ) in São Tome and Principe 2015. Directorate General of Environment ,II National Inventory on POPs pesticides 2015. Directorate General of Environment, Socio Economical Assessment on POPs. Population and Housing Census 2012- National Institute of Statistics- 2013, Sao.Tome and Principe. EMPAB II, National Strategy of Biodiversity in Sao Tome and Príncipe. 2015 MTD / MPA Guidelines for MTD / MPA for PFOS (Secretariat of the Stockholm Convention, 2012). Agriculture Political Chart of Ministry of Agriculture. N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 115 11. ANNEXES Annexe 1Table of Import in 2012-2014. IMPORT- from 2012 up to November 2014 Year Product Weight /Kg Weight/ton Of CIF Value 2012 Plastics 967.818 967,8180 52.252.005.945 Computer 15.700 15,7000 22.923.909.876 Mobile 784 0,7840 930.162.764 Television 38.880 38,8800 6.441.772.870 2012 Total 1.023.182 1.023,1820 82.547.851.455 2013 Plastics 289.435 289,4350 15.457.328.092 Computer 3.625 3,6250 2.962.255.786 Mobile 405 0,4050 1.839.059.670 Television 20.142 20,1420 1.682.942.011 2013 Total 313.607 313,6070 21.941.585.558 2014* Plastics 927.963 927,9631 53.904.453.399 Computer 41.995 41,9953 16.539.164.215 Mobile 7.614 7,6140 21.741.453.821 Television 30.609 30,6087 6.662.056.165 2014 Total 1.008.181 1.008,1810 98.847.127.600 Total Geral 2.344.970 2.344,9700 203.336.564.613 Source:INE External Trade Sectoro N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 116 Annexe 2: Risk Degree of possible contamminated sites Potential Contaminated Site Ipe Iproc Ic IProb Severidade Degree of risk Description 1-DumNIPg ground of Riboque Cima 1 3 3 7 2 14 Substantial 2-DumNIPg ground of Riboque Baixo 1 3 3 7 2 14 Substantial 3 – DumNIPg ground of Mulundo – Ponte Graça 3 3 3 9 3 27 Intolerable 4-Dumoing ground of 3 3 3 9 3 27 Intolerable 5- Lixeira de Mouro Carregado 1 3 3 7 2 14 Substantial 6-DumNIPg ground of Lobata straight root 1 3 3 7 2 14 Substantial 7-DumNIPg ground of Cantagalo 1 3 3 7 2 14 Substantial 8-DumNIPg ground of Caué 1 3 3 7 2 14 Substancial 9- Forest fire área of Praia das conchas 1 3 3 7 1 7 Moderate 10-Central hospital incineration 3 3 2 8 3 24 Substantial 11-Mouro Carregado warehouse 3 3 3 9 3 27 Intolerable 12-Saton warehouse 3 3 3 9 2 18 Substantial 13-Monte Café warehouse no. 1 3 3 3 9 2 18 Substantial 14-Monte café ware house no. 2 3 3 3 9 3 27 Intolerable 15-Monte Café ancient garage 1 3 3 7 2 14 Substantial 16-Nova Moca warehouse 3 3 3 9 2 18 Substantial N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 117 17-Emae Thermal power plant 3 3 2 8 3 24 Substantial 18-Emae workshop 3 3 2 8 3 24 Substantial 19-Agua Grande Factory 2 2 2 6 2 12 Moderate 20-Central Workshop (Atelier central) 2 3 3 8 1 8 Moderate 21-Lucumi 3 3 3 9 3 27 Intolerable 22-Bobo Forro junkyard 3 3 3 9 1 9 Moderate 23-Mesquita 1 3 3 3 9 1 9 Moderate 24-Mesquita 2 3 3 3 9 2 18 Substantial 25-RAP – Emae Thermal power plant 3 3 2 8 3 24 Substantial 26-RAP – Lixeira de belo monte 3 3 3 9 2 18 Substantial 27-RAP – Évora Beach 3 3 3 9 1 9 Moderate N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 118 Annexe 3: Photos Warehouse with chemicals waste (Temik) built before the independence Electric and electronic waste Country existing waste dumping grounds/disposal N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 119 Obsolete transformers Contaminated sites (chemicals warehouse in Mouro carregado) N a t i o n a l I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n f o r t h e S t o c k h o l m C o n v e n t i o n - S T P 120