Endorsement of updated National Implementation Plan under Stockholm Convention in the North Macedonia

The technical multistakeholder meeting was organized in the framework of the GEF supported project No. 10785 on Global Development, Review and Update of National Implementation Plans under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) implemented in the period 2023-2025.

The meeting brought together over 50 representatives from government - ministries and agencies, research organizations, industry, civil society organizations, and international partners. Participants were introduced to the progress in implementing the Stockholm Convention by the North Macedonia to date and to updated NIP priorities, action plans, and activities for the effective management of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the North Macedonia over the whole life cycle.

In his opening remarks, the SC National Focal Point, Mr. Alexandar Mickovski, for the MoEPP reaffirmed the North Macedonia’s strong commitment to complying with obligations under the Stockholm Convention on POPs. Ms. Mihaela Claudia Paun from UNEP, joined the meeting online, and congratulated the North Macedonia for a successful implementation of the project and completion of the NIP update, highlighting the depth, scope, and potential for implementability of the proposed prioritized action plans.

Kateřina Šebková, Director of the SCRC, thanked the expert team for their expertise, drive to identify practical solutions and to mine for quantitative information from various sources that lead to significant improvements of the overall knowledge about status quo on POPs management but also increased coverage of actions and paved future steps through action plans that are shared in the meeting today.

The expert team - Aleksandar Mickovski, Emilia Kupeva, Slavjanka Pejčinovska-Andonova, Gordana Popsimonova, Trajče Stafilov, Marjan Michailov, Marina Stefova, Simona Domazetovska and Suzana Andonova presented priority actions to the participants, outlining key priorities covering all 31 chemicals listed under the Convention for which NIP elaboration was mandatory. These proposals combined in 11 action plans were discussed and endorsed by the meeting participants:

• Harmonize legislation about POPs to cover chemicals management and legislation for air, water and waste to prevent further import, use and releases for the banned chemicals and also to ban import of used electric and electronic products and/or equipment (EEE) as well as used/old vehicles with a high risk to contain new POPs
• Ensure training of farmers and agriculture workers in understanding POP pesticides to prevent their use and releases.
• finalize the phase out and environmentally sound disposal of remaining 4000 pieces of small PCB capacitors (expectations to contain about 300 tons of PCB on the basis of the previous experience)
• Continue remediation of the already identified contaminated sites at OHIS, Skopje - both small landfill and large landfill and Pelenica as well as
• Undertake identification of sites with new industrial POPs, in particular from electric and electronic equipment and transport/vehicles. A pilot feasibility study will be part of the action plan to be tested on four sites.
• Make arrangements to identify content of PFAS in 6 sectors where PFAS applications are relevant for the North Macedonia (out of 15 possible applications)
• Manage unintentional POP releases and prepare a practical guidance/methodology for operators and relevant institutions including training
• Increase public awareness on the risks and impacts of POPs and implement regular training to relevant stakeholders
• Establish regular monitoring of POPs in the environment and in human biomonitoring while noting that background monitoring of air restarted in Skopje in 2024 and it will bring the first results about new POPs

Kateřina Šebková added: “The prepared updated NIP and action plans focus in a well organized and practical manner on systematic gathering of information on new POPs and prepare the country for future more precise inventories with not only questionnaires but also real life data. A set of actions targets the improvements in waste management of end-of-life products and equipment containing industrial POPs. It is also encouraging to see that the remaining PCB equipment phase out and disposal as well as remediation of the HCH contaminated sites receive the same importance and demonstrate the continued efforts to fully implement the Convention as outlined in previous NIPs. Finally, I would like to sincerely acknowledge work and dedication from the expert team. It was a great pleasure to working with all of you and we at SCRC Czech Republic are proud of this successful project outcome.”