OSPAR strategy

Another piece of legislative action to be considered is the OSPAR strategy regarding hazardous substances, known as the Convention for the protection of the marine environment of North-Atlantic . Among the OSPAR list of chemicals of priority action, surfactants NPEOs and so-called related substances, such as NP, are included among other persistent organic pollutants (POPs) like PCBs, PAHs and Hg, indicating that these compounds show a risk to the marine environment. 

Source From OSPAR (1998). OSPAR Agreement 1998-18. OSPAR Strategy to Combat Eutrophication. The OSPAR Commission comprises countries bordering the northeastern Atlantic Ocean. 

OSPAR strategy with regard to hazardous substances (Reference Nr. 1998-16)... 

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), Pentachlorophenol m(PCP, mercury and organic mercury compounds, cadmium, lead and organic lead compounds, brominated flame retardants), nonylphenol/ethoxylates (NP, NPEs) amongst others in the OSPAR Strategy with regard to Hazardous Substances... 

The Substitution Principle is one of the guiding principles of the OSPAR Strategy. In this function, the Substitution Principle continues to play an important role with regard to the implementation of the Strategy (Paragraph 5.5) where the application of the principle as a means of implementation requires the substitution of hazardous substances. Preferably non-hazardous substances should be selected over less-hazardous when replacing a substance. 

A None <0.3 The level of imposex in the most sensitive gastropod species is close to zero (0 30% of females have imposex) indicating exposure to TBT concentrations close to zero, which is the objective in the OSPAR strategy of hazardous substances. 

OSPAR strategy to reduce discharges, emissions and losses of haz-... 

OSPAR 1998. OSPAR strategy to combat eutrophication—Reference Number 1998-18. (http //www. ospar.org/eng/html/sap/eutstrat.htm). 

To stick widi die example of hazardous substances (OSPAR, 2003c), the OSPAR strategy can easily be translated into die following questions ... 

SCCPs and MCCPs are a priority for risk assessment under the Council Regulation EEC 793/93 of 23 March 1993. CPs are candidates for selection, assessment and prioritisation under the OSPAR strategy and priority chemicals under the European Water Eramework Directive (WED). 

The ambition of the OSPAR Commission, moreover, as manifested in the Objective of the Strategy aims at continuously reducing discharges, emissions and losses of hazardous substances (as defined In Annex 1) with the ultimate aim of achieving concentrations In the marine environment near background values for naturally occurring substances and close to zero for man-made synthetic substances. ... 

For Europe, the situation is such that five international marine conventions or programmes predate tlie WFD, namely AMAP, BSC, HELCOM, MEDPOL and OSPAR. This is illustrated for the major regional seas in Figure 2.4.1. Each of these important conventions will be highlighted in the sections below. Also, the European Marine Strategy Directive (MSD) is expected shortly and some attention will be given to that as well. 

To assess progress towards the objectives of the OSPAR Hazardous Substances Strategy, two assessment tools have been developed Background Concentrations (BCs) and associated Background Assessment Criteria (BACs), and Enviromnental Assessment Criteria (EACs) (OSPAR, 2004). 

OSPAR (2003a) Draft strategy for a Joint Assessment and Monitoring Programme (JAMP), OSPAR Commission, London, MMC 2003/4/2-E. 

OSPAR (2003c) 2003 strategies of the OSPAR Commission for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic, OSPAR Commission, London, 2003-21. 

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