In Central and Eastern Europe many stockpiles are a legacy from a past Soviet era. Decisions on the amount of pesticide to send to each Soviet republic were made centrally and these amounts arrived each year regardless of need, with surpluses never returned. Stockpiles gradually grew with farmers storing them as best they could, sometimes by burial. 

The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) has raised awareness of the problem of obsolete stockpiles and provides guidance on the management of POPs waste. The convention aims to stop the production and use of POPs chemicals but also requires the identification and management of POPs waste1, including the nine pesticides listed2. Countries ratifying the convention are required to develop National Implementation Plans (NIPs) outlining how they will comply with their obligations under the convention. These countries are eligible to receive funding from the Global Environment Facility to develop NIPs. While not all obsolete pesticides are listed under this convention many stockpiles contain a mixture of both POPs and non-POPs pesticides. The African Stockpile Programme has recognized the importance of destroying non-POPs pesticides in stockpiles along with POPs.

Table 1. Estimated pesticide stockpiles is some CEE countries

The 6th International HCH and Pesticides Forum in Poznan, Poland, in 2001 issued the 'Poznan Declaration' outlining the problem and steps required to address it. This recognised that many governments in CEE countries lacked the technical, financial and logistical resources to tackle the problems presented by obsolete pesticides. It also recognised that addressing the situation would require a strategic and systematic approach with one of the first stages being to document the extent and location of stockpiles. The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has established internationally accepted guidelines for generating such 'inventories' based on work in Africa. After identification, stockpiles must be treated appropriately and strategies put in place to prevent future accumulation of stocks.

Representatives at the UN Economic Commission for Europe's 5th Ministerial Conference 'Environment for Europe' in Kiev, 21-23 May 2003, explicitly addressed the problem. They explicitly expressed concern that stocks of obsolete pesticides are widespread and form a severe threat to human health and the environment, as they are often left under poor management and control. The CEE/NIS countries should be assisted technically and financially both through EU and EU member programmes in the execution of nation wide inventories, locating and identifying obsolete stocks, followed by prioritised disposal programmes to eliminate the acute risks for human health and the environment. The participants of the 7th International HCH and Pesticides Forum in Kiev, Ukraine (2003) recommended that an active Working Group be established to develop a Programme of Action, to enable concerted actions in collaboration with governments, appropriate international organisations, international and regional development banks, and other stakeholders, including professional and public interest organisations and industry.

This Programme of Action should serve as a catalyst for the establishment and implementation of Programmes by the Governments of the region.