PANNA: Four New Chemicals Targeted for Elimination at First
Official Stockholm Convention Meeting See PANUPS updates
service, for complete information. The four chemicals targeted
include the insecticide lindane (hexachlorocyclohexane -
nominated by Mexico), as well as the pesticide chlordecone and
two brominated flame retardants, pentabromodiphenyl ether and
hexabromobiphenyl. Lindane, which has both agricultural and
pharmaceutical uses, is currently undergoing review in the North
America region under the Commission on Environmental
Cooperation. Under current drafts of a North American Regional
Action Plan for the chemical, Mexico has agreed to phase out all
uses, while Canada continues to allow pharmaceutical uses for
lice and scabies control and the U.S. continues to allow both
agricultural and pharmaceutical uses. An estimated 52 countries
have banned all uses of lindane (see
http://www.panna.org/campaigns/lindane.html for more
information). Chlordecone, nominated for inclusion in the treaty
by the Europe