India should support listing of both the chemicals in UN list
May 6, 2015: In a statement
addressed to the Conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and
Stockholm Conventions, UN Special Rapporteur on the implications for human
rights of the environmentally sound management and disposal of hazardous substances
and wastes, Baskut Tuncak expressed his dismay at "the erection of
obstacles to the listing of asbestos and paraquat under the Rotterdam
Convention during previous Conferences of the Parties."
Asbestos producers like Russia
& Kazakhstan are opposing listing of white chrysotile asbestos under UN
list of hazardous substances (Annex III of the Rotterdam Convention). World
Health Organization (WHO) and International Labour Organization (ILO) have
underlined the hazardous nature of this substance. White chrysotile asbestos is
banned in over 50 countries because its safe and controlled use is impossible.
In countries like India there is
almost no health infrastructure to even diagnose the incurable diseases caused
by exposure to its fibers. There is lack of lab facilities which can detect its
presence in buildings and products in a situation where there is not a single
building India which can claim to be asbestos free. Its listing in the UN list
merely a preliminary preventive step. India should re-adopt its 2011 position
on white chrysotile asbestos when Mira Mehrshi led the Indian delegation and
resisted the influence and presence of asbestos industry lobby amidst standing
ovation. It is hoped that Shashi Shekhar, the head of Hazardous Substances
Management Division, Government of India will restore India's prestige by
re-adopting a scientifically and legally defensible position.
Notably, India's National Human
Rights Commission is deeply concerned about the issue and is seized with case
dealing with deaths and diseases caused by exposure asbestos fibers.
As to the listing of of Paraquat,
as a severely hazardous pesticide formulation in Annex III of the Rotterdam
Convention, Guatemala and India blocked its listing at the last Conference of
Parties in 2013. This substance herbicide is prohibited in more than 40
countries including the home country of Syngenta, the main manufacturer. A
teaspoon of paraquat is enough to kill a person and there is no antidote.
Farmers suffer from skin burns, blindness, and respiratory damage as a result
of using paraquat. India should resist lobbying by business interests to
protect public health.
Tuncak concluded saying, "It
is both legally and morally unjustifiable for countries to continue to obstruct
the listing of asbestos and paraquat under the Rotterdam Convention and
derogates from their obligation to realize the right to access information.
I encourage all Parties to
protect and respect human rights by listing asbestos, paraquat and other
chemicals proposed for listing under the Rotterdam Convention."
Chemical Review Committee (CRC)
of the Rotterdam Convention has recommended their listing in the UN list.There
is compelling scientific and medical evidence for India to support the listing
of both these substances in the list of hazardous substances.
For Details: Gopal Krishna, Ban
Asbestos Network of India-ToxicsWatch Alliance (TWA), Mb: 08227816731,
09818089660, E-mail-1715krishna@gmail.com, Web: www.toxicswatch.orgFor Details:
Gopal Krishna, Ban Asbestos Network of India-ToxicsWatch Alliance (TWA), Mb:
08227816731, 09818089660, E-mail-1715krishna@gmail.com, Web:
www.toxicswatch.org
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