Banned in at least 52 countries and severely restricted in more than 33 others, the insect-killing chemical lindane is long overdue to be phased out in every country of the world.
The international community is now considering adding lindane to the Stockholm Convention list of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) targeted for global elimination. The Mexican government proposed addition of lindane under the international treaty in 2006. The chemical is now being reviewed by the "POPs Review Committee," an international panel of experts which has agreed that lindane meets the criteria for addition to the treaty. To qualify under the Stockholm Convention, a chemical must meet specific markers of toxicity, persistence, bioaccumulation and transport that make the substance of global concern. PANNA and Alaska Community Action on Toxics participate in the Committee process as observers, and have submitted detailed technical comments supporting Mexico's nomination of lindane. Governments will consider the Committee's recommendation to target lindane for a global ban at the next meeting of the Stockholm Convention in May, 2009.
Lindane is also listed under the Rotterdam Convention on Prior informed Consent (PIC Treaty), and it is targeted under the regional treaty on Long Range Transport Air Pollutants (LRTAP).
In North America, lindane was the focus of a North American Regional Action Plan developed by the governments of Canada, Mexico and the U.S. under the Commission on Environmental Cooperation (CEC). The Action Plan, which was finalized in November 2006, was developed by a trinational Lindane Task Force, with representatives from all three governments, industry, academics, indigenous communities and environmental health groups. Mexico agreed to phase out all uses under the plan, and the U.S. withdrew agricultural uses. Pharmaceutical use continues in the U.S. and Canada, with all countries making a commitment under the Action Plan to focus on developing and promoting safer alternatives for these remaining uses.
The Task Force was working under the CEC's Sound Management of Chemicals working group, which has also commissioned Action Plans for chlordane, DDT, mercury and dioxins. Lindane was the first chemical targeted which was still registered for use in all three North American countries.
Activists from Mexico, Canada and the U.S. served a "lindane lunch" to government representatives. Lindane contaminates traditional foods from the Arctic and common foods such as cookies and nuts.