| Montreal, 5/10/2005 – The Commission for Environmental
Cooperation (CEC) today released for public comment a draft action
plan to reduce or eliminate the use of lindane in North America within
10 years.
Lindane is a toxic chemical used as an agricultural and veterinary
insecticide and also used as a pharmaceutical for treatment of lice
and scabies in humans. This wide-ranging, persistent, organic
pollutant which accumulates in living organisms has been widely used
for decades and is associated with skin irritation and nausea. It can
even cause convulsions and death with high levels of acute exposure.
The draft
North American Regional Action Plan (NARAP) on Lindane and other
Hexachlorocyclohexane Isomers addresses exposure risks through
a variety of national regulatory and management actions, outreach and
education efforts, science and research, capacity building, and
collaborative cross-border activities.
Specifically, Canada agrees to assess and manage the risks from its
sole remaining use of lindane as a pharmaceutical drug. Mexico agrees
to eliminate all agricultural, veterinary, and pharmaceutical uses of
lindane through a prioritized, phase-out approach. The United States
is reviewing the six remaining agricultural seed treatment uses to
ensure they meet today's stringent safety standards. The United States
will complete this re-evaluation by August 2006 and will also work
with pharmaceutical companies to develop alternatives for lice and
scabies use.
The three countries are also supporting a CEC-led, public workshop
on alternatives to lindane began yesterday in Mexico City.
Representatives from federal government departments, nongovernmental
organizations and international experts will discuss the potential
impacts and suitability of various alternatives to lindane.
The public comment period for the draft NARAP ends 4 November 2005.
The full text of the document is available at:
http://www.cec.org/pubs_docs/documents/index.cfm?varlan=english&ID=1821
Written comments should be sent to Luke Trip at the address below
or by email at ltrip@cec.org.
http://www.cec.org/news/details/index.cfm?varlan=english&ID=2682
Commission for Environmental Cooperation
393, rue Saint-Jacques Ouest, Bureau 200
Montréal (Québec) Canada H2Y 1N9
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