The Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) several years ago
identified the mismanagement of hazardous chemicals in the Pacific Island Countries as a
serious environmental concern, and hence the Persistent Organic Pollutants in Pacific
Island Countries (POPs in PICs) project was developed as an AusAID funded initiative,
to be carried out by SPREP. POPs are a group of twelve particularly hazardous
chemicals that have been singled out by the recent Stockholm Convention for urgent
The East-West Center is an education and research organization established by the US. Congress in 1960 to strengthen relations and understanding among the peoples and nations of Asia, the Pacific, and the United States. The Center contributes to a peaceful, prosperous, and just Asia Pacific community by serving as a vigorous hub for cooperative research, education, and dialogue on critical issues of common concern to the Asia Pacific region and the United States. Funding for the Center comes from the U.S.
This report is based on information gathered by a PIREP team consisting of Makereta Sauturaga, Luis Vega, John Vos, Peter Johnston and Herbert Wade