Fiji is taking steps to join three major international agreements aimed at improving the country's management of hazardous waste, chemicals and pollutants.
Speaking at the opening of the Validation Workshop for Fiji's Sixth National Report under the Stockholm Convention, Permanent Secretary for Environment and Climate Change Dr Sivendra Michael says Fiji is currently only a party to the Stockholm Convention, which aims to protect people and the environment from harmful chemicals that can remain in the environment for a long time.
Dr Michael says Fiji has started the process of joining the Basel, Rotterdam and Minamata Conventions.
He says Fiji is one of only three countries in the world that has not yet joined the Basel Convention, which controls how hazardous waste is moved and managed between countries.
Dr Michael says the Ministry has already submitted legal analysis on the Basel and Rotterdam Conventions to the Solicitor-General's Office, and Cabinet has approved Fiji's accession to both conventions.
He says work is also underway on the Minamata Convention, which focuses on mercury and products containing mercury. Cabinet approval is still required before the process can move forward.
Dr Michael says once Fiji joins all four conventions, the country will need to improve how it tracks chemicals, manages waste and reports on environmental issues.
He also revealed that the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change has established its own scientific laboratory to test water quality, air quality and chemicals of concern.
Dr Michael says this will allow the Ministry to carry out its own environmental testing and reduce its reliance on other organisations for scientific analysis.
The two day workshop is being held to validate Fiji's Sixth National Report under the Stockholm Convention and review the country's progress in meeting its international environmental obligations.
