Development of a Frame Harmonized Legislation to Implement Chemical-Related MEAs

In order to build legal capacity for developing countries and especially for the Small Island Developing Countries (SIDS), UNEP has been working with the Pacific Regional Environmental Programme (SPREP) and the Government of Tonga on an initiative to improve the implementation of MEAs related to chemicals and waste management. The overall objective of this project is to support the Kingdom of Tonga to develop a holistic and integrated law at the national level for the implementation of a cluster of MEAs. It includes: the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in Trade (PIC) and the Waigani Convention to Ban the Importation into Forum Island Countries of Hazardous and Radioactive Wastes and to Control the Transboundary Movement and Management of Hazardous Wastes within the South Pacific Region.

Guidance elements for the new legislation and a review of existing Tongan legislation as well as legislative issues have been prepared and reviewed through a multi-stakeholder consultative process. This review of the Tonga’s legislation has led to a better understanding of how chemicals and wastes-related MEAs operate and how their success depends upon compliance and enforcement mechanisms. The political process for the endorsement of the legislation by the Parliament as a Bill is ongoing. The project aims also to promote the wide replication of the framework developed under it by other countries in the region.

List of activities

• Development of a draft harmonized legislation for the management of hazardous wastes and chemicals,  through various consultations with the Government of Tonga, and in cooperation with the United Nations University (UNU).