The Inventories and Assessments Workshops were held according to step 2 activities of the NIP project, in two stages. The first workshop took place in the training room of EEAA from the period 24-25 April, 2004. The second workshop took place at Cairo House (EEAA) from the period 26-29 April, 2004.
The workshops were held under the auspices of H.E the Minister of State for Environmental Affairs, who attended the opening session of each workshop in order to encourage and strength the addressing of the issues related to POPs chemicals due to their dangerous effect on human health and environment and, to follow-up the development of the National Implementation Plan project steps.

PURPOSE

. Carrying out the specific assessments including data generation and data gathering required to provide the necessary background information and baseline to allow the party to understand the scope of the POPS issues and to complete the NIP.
. Identify the country needs in terms of technical expertise and other assistance to complete the NIP.
. Identify gaps in resources capacity and knowledge which prevents the complete assessments of the status of POPs.
. Facilitates the coordination and information with national sustainable development, chemical management, pollution control policies.

ORGANIZATION AND PARTICIPANTS

The National project coordination unit organized the Inventories and Assessments Workshops in two stages: the 1st ,was in training room in EEAA ,and the 2nd was in Cairo house, with patricians of the Competent Ministries and Authorities as in the following lists:

a. During the period from 24-25 April, 2004

. Project Steering Committee.
. Project National Coordination Unit.
. Competent Departments and Regional Branches of EEAA.
. UNIDO Project Manager.
. International Consultant of the Project.
. International Consultant for NIP (Czech Republic).
. EPAP Project.
. Companies (Technical Consultant at Alexandria Company For Electricity distribution).
. Ministries & Competent Authorities.

b. During the period from 26-29 April, 2004

. Project Steering Committee.
. Project National Coordination Unit.
. Competent Departments and Regional Branches of EEAA.
. UNIDO Project Manager.
. International Consultant of the Project.
. International Consultant for NIP (Czech Republic).
. Environmental Affairs Offices at Governorates.
. NGO's and Companies (Representative of Women and Children, Syndicates, Representative for New Industrial Cities, and Business Associations).
. Ministries & Competent Authorities (Universities, Research and Scientific Centers and Institutions).

DISTRIBUTED PAPERS

. Text of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.
. Presented Papers (Download Presentations).

RECOMMENDATIONS

Awareness:

- Raising environmental awareness for POPs through:

Alternatives and Restriction/Prohibitions of the use of POPs:

- Raising awareness of farmers by POPs alternatives which can be used.
- Cleaner Production, Industry Modernization.
- Using biological control in agriculture.
- Encouraging specific researches on alternatives.

Guidelines:

- Issuing guidelines for safe handling of POPs.
- Issuing guidelines for safe disposal of laboratory residues.
- Issuing guidelines for transportation and disposal of obsolete pesticides.

Disposal:

- The transportation of hazardous substances and health care wastes must be done by specialized companies.
- Obsolete pesticides at privet sector must be collected for safe disposal.
- The use of cement furnace for disposal must be revised.
- The burning of rice straw must be revised because burning results may contain dioxin and furan.
- The recycling of plastic residues must be followed up for the emission of dioxin and furan during this process.
- Fertilizers from recycling of municipal wastes must be checked against dioxin and furan.
- Asking Kafr El Zayatt company about the quantity of DDT presented when the exporting of it was prohibited during 1999, for safe disposal.
- Asking about the quantity of Hexachlorobenzene exported during 1999 for atomic energy authority, for safe handling.
- Controlling of oils at petroleum companies that may contain PCBs.

Training:

- A training for analysts at different laboratories.
- A training for EEAA branches and governorate environmental department for how to fulfill the questionnaire of inventories.
- Holding awareness workshop in cooperation with regional Research Centers - Scientific Research Academy.

Raising capabilities:

- Raising laboratory capabilities,(financial) and improving it's analytical instruments.
- Raising capabilities of universities and research centers for making the economical and environmental studies about POPs alternatives, and cleaner production.

Health effects and Social, Economical and Environmental Implications:

- Raising awareness about health effect of using POPs.
- Adding other chemicals which have the same health effects as POPs to the convention.
- Raising awareness about social, economical and environmental implications.

Women and Children:

- Raising the role of national women council and national womanhood and childhood council in raising awareness about health effect of POPs.
- Activating the role of Ministry of Education for raising awareness of children about dangerous effect of using POPs.
- Holding workshops for raising awareness of children about health effects of POPs.

National and Business Associations:

- Activating the role of national and business associations in raising the awareness about dangerous effect of using POPs and it's economical implications.
- Exchange information and expertise about POPs alternatives.

Inventory:

- Actual inventory must be made without depending on tool kits and using it as a guide only.
- A regional map must be made for more polluted regions and industrial hot spots.

Coordination and integration with other projects dealing with hazardous substances management:

- At EEAA-MSEA: