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By: Anton Sri Probiyantono
E‐mail: antsprobi@yahoo.com
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are intentionally or unintentionally produced chemical substances
that persist in the environment. The main elements that describe POPs are (a) persistence, (b)
bioaccumulation, (c) long‐range environmental transport and (d) adverse effects. These articifial
substances are persistent because their compounds are extremely difficult to break down or
“undestructible”.
These substances remain intact for exceptionally long periods of time (many years). These are
bioaccumulative in living organisms, including human and animal tissue and through food web (food
chain). They pose a risk of causing adverse effects (toxic) to human health and the environment
(wildlife). They are carbon‐based. These substances are resistant to environmental degradation through
chemical, biological and photolytic processes. They become widely distributed throughout the
environment as a result of natural processes involving soil, water and air. Many of these substances are
being found in the pesticides. Others are usually found in industrial processes, products and
waste/emissions.
Specific impacts of POPs are cancer, allegies and hypersensitivity, damage to the central and peripheral
nervous systems, reproductive disorders, and disruption of the immune system. The impacts can go
beyond administrative boundaries of any countries.
Recognizing the dangers of POPs, many countries began limiting their production, use and release of
POPs. First individually, then regionally, and finally through a global agreement. The efforts were
culminated in the Stockholm Convention on Persisten Organic Pollutants (POPs) on 22 May 2001. The
convention was adopted in 2001 and entered into force 2004. It requires Parties (Member States)
involved in the convention to take measures to eliminate or reduce the release of POPs into the
environment. Up to number of Signatories are 152 and Parties are 168.
As agreed in the Stockholm Convention, the initial POPs under the convention are these 12 substances,
i.e. (1) aldrin, (2) chlordane, (3) dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), (4) dieldrin, (5) endrin, (6)
heptachlor, (7) hexachlorobenzene, (8) mirex, (9) toxaphene, (10) polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), (11)
polychlorinated dibenzo‐p‐dioxins, and (12) polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/PCDF. These are
known as the “dirty dozen”.
Later on, based on the 4th meeting held from 4‐8 May 2009, the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the
Stockholm Convention, by decisions SC‐4/10 to SC‐4/18, adopted amendments to Annexes A
(elimination), B (restriction) and C (unintentional production) to list 9 (nine) additonal chemicals as
POPs. These are (1) alpha hexachlorocyclohexane, (2) beta hexachlorocyclohexane, (3) chlordecone, (4)
hexabromobiphenyl, (5) hexabromodiphenyl ether and heptabromodiphenyl ether, (6) lindane, (7)
pentachlorobenzene, (8) perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, its salts and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride,
(9) tetrabromodiphenyl ether and pentabromodiphenyl ether.
Challenges of POPs in Indonesia: 1
In the meantime, to minimize the impacts of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in Indonesia, the
Government of Indonesia established some regulations at various levels. Some of them are:
• Law No 12/1992 on the System of Agriculture.
• Regulation of Government of Indonesia (GOI) No. 7/1973 on the Control of Distribution, Storage and
Consumption of Pesticides.
• Regulation of GOI No. 74/2001 on the Management of Hazardous and Toxic Substances.
• Regulation of GOI No. 18/1999 jo Regulation No. 85/1999 on the Management of Hazardous and
Toxic Substances.
• Regulation of GOI No. 28/2004 on the Food Quality Safety and Nutrition.
• Regulation No. 82/2001 on the Control of Water and Water Quality Contamination.
• Regulation/Decree of the Minister of Agriculture No. 7/Permentan/SR140/2/2007 on the Pre‐
requisites and Mechanism of Pesticide Registration.
• Regulation/Decree of the Minister of Agriculture No. 42/Permentan/SR140/5/2007 on Pesticide
Control.
• Regulation of Head of BAPEDAL No. Kep‐03/BAPEDAL/09/1995 on Technical Pre‐requisites of
Hazardous and Toxic Waste Management.
• Regulation of Head of BAPEDAL No. Kep‐04/BAPEDAL/09/1995 on the Mechanism of Storage Pre‐
requisite on the Results of Processing, Pre‐requisites on the Ex‐Location of Waste Processing and Ex‐
Location of Hazardous and Toxic Waste Stockpiling.
However, there are remaining challenges or concerns that Indonesia needs to anticipate or address.
When above regulations were established and enforced, does it mean that Indonesia 100% free from
the impacts of POPs? When the Government of Indonesia released the Law and regulations from 1995
up to 2007, did they include POPs adopted later in 2009? It seems that, in general, people still have
limited understanding on POPs and UPOPs, updated data and information on the progress of POPs and
UPOPs are unavailable, activities to control and measure POPs and UPOPs are limited, activities to
monitor and evaluate the progress of POPs and UPOPs reduction and/or elimination are limited,
insufficient capacity of established institutions (including laboratories), abatement cost is considered by
industries “unworthy” in making profits, etc.
Accordingly, the Government of Indonesia and relevant stakeholders should establish a commitment in
taking serious actions addressing the remaining challenges. Data and information should be made
available, and clearly defined programme to reduce and phase‐out such substances involving various
institutions at different levels.
Challenges of POPs in Indonesia: 2