1. MANAGEMENT OF OBSOLETE PESTICIDES AND WASTE CONTAINING POPs and PCB IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA Azra Bašić, Federal Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Bosnia and Herzegovina TAIEX Workshop: ESM on Obsolete Pesticides and waste containing POPs and PCB , Bratislava/May 2008

2. Available legal Framework
CURRENT FRAMEWORK FOR PESTICIDE AND WASTE POPs and PCB MANAGEMENT IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA (BiH)
Available legal Framework
Law on Plant Protection Products (2004, at state level)
introduces general stipulations on imports, distribution and use of pesticides
further secondary legislation regulating issues in detail will be required
Law on Plant Protection (1997, applicable only within Republika Srpska - one of the two constitutive entities of BiH)
sets unspecified requirements for plants protection and trade with pesticides
For the time being, no legislation reflecting the pesticides marketing restrictions set by Council Directive 79/117/EEC, no lists of approved pesticides, Stockholm Convention on POPs signed but not ratified 1 1

3. CURRENT FRAMEWORK FOR PESTICIDE AND WASTE POPs and PCB MANAGEMENT IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA (BiH)
Obsolete  waste
Law on Waste Management (in force since 2002 and 2003 in BiH’s constitutive entities)
fully (?) in line with key EU directives (prevention, producer responsibility, selective collection, polluter pays and other key principles)
supplemental secondary legislation required to address management of waste and obsolete pesticides and POPs waste
Environmental Permitting System (implementation in progress) is expected to be one of the crucial instruments in obsolete pesticides phase-out and POPs waste 2

4. 3

5. Administrative Framework State Directorate for Plant Protection
CURRENT FRAMEWORK FOR PESTICIDE AND WASTE POPs and PCB MANAGEMENT IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA (BiH)
Administrative Framework
State Directorate for Plant Protection
in driving force for transposition of EU directives in the sector
however, establishment pending since 2000
Unit for implementation projects (MOFTER)
nominated Focal Point for PoPs
NIP-ongoing activities on tender procedure
ratification of Stockholm Convention at October 2008 4

6. CURRENT SITUATION IN BiH AGRICULTURE SECTOR ON PESTICIDES and POPs and PCB MANAGEMENT
Agriculture subsidies insufficient and non-distinctive with respect to farming approach
No accurate insight in situation in the sector
No inventory of available pesticide stocks
Apparent variety of approaches to pesticide choice and treatment rates, including inappropriate applications
PCB waste
export in according to Basel Convention 5

7. CURRENT SITUATION -PROBLEMS
No local manufacturing, all pesticides imported
Insufficient capacities for consistent and reliable state control over pesticides imports
Some harmful pesticides, banned in most countries, reportedly traced on the black market, as well as at some regular shops of agricultural supplies
Illegal copies of well established brands also observed on the market (uncertain quality, as well as related potential health hazards)
Lack of systematic quality control for crops available in the market place (for content of residual pesticides, heavy metals) 6

8. CURRENT SITUATION-PROBLEMS
No systematic collection and disposal of hazardous wastes in general
No environmentally acceptable HW disposal facilities in BiH
Current options:
long term storage
individual arrangements for proper disposal abroad - subject to permitting
improper disposal! (intentional or not)
export waste 7

9. CURRENT BIH AGRICULTURE SECTOR – POSITIVE CIRCUMSTANCES
“Fortunately”, current level of agricultural activities is modest and yet to be revitalised after the 1990’s sudden decline
GEF/UNIDO support for implementation of Stockholm Convetion on POPs pending
Good farming practices based on environmentally sound principles: individual initiatives – rarely voluntary, mostly stipulated through funding or other support from international development programs (USAID, Sida, WB, GTZ etc.) 8

10. OBSOLETE PESTICIDES MANAGEMENT IN BiH - STEPS TO BE TAKEN
Establishment of database/inventory of pesticide stocks, efficient monitoring and inspection of agrichemicals applications
Introduction of secondary legislation specifying approved/banned pesticides, mandatory withdrawal of obsolete pesticides from market, as well as associated intermediate storage requirements
Development of in-country disposal capacities
Consistent and reliable methods of state control over imports, with periodical and random laboratory quality check-ups for marketed agrichemicals, aimed at preventing distribution and use of banned products
Development of withdrawal and hand-back schemes, collection and disposal system with designated transfer points
Introduction of tailored subsidies, incentives to facilitate phase-out of obsolete pesticides
Public awareness campaign 9

11. FINALISED PROJECTS Solid Waste Management Strategy 2000
EPR – Environmental Performance Review (UNECE)
Development of Instrumental Framework, Implementation Shedule and Guidelines for Environmentally Sound Management of Waste Oils in BiH, March 2008
Project “Environmental Protection Assessment Report for Industrial, Medical and other Hazardous Wastes in Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Federal Environment Protection Strategy (draft) 10

12. FEDERAL MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND TOURISM www.fmoit.gov.ba
Thank you for attention!
FEDERAL MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND TOURISM 11