11 February 2014: The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) and the EU have announced a partnership to assist Belarus in the disposal of obsolete pesticides and used pesticide containers. The partnership is part of four-year project involving Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova and Ukraine.

The EU is providing €6 million to the initiative, with FAO is providing a further €1 million. The project aims to remove over 1,000 tons of obsolete pesticide stocks.

The FAO says it will work with the Government of Belarus to identify the most highly contaminated sites, aiming to mobilize resources for risk reduction and minimize threats to human health and the environment. The partnership also will: promote alternatives to highly hazardous pesticides, strengthen legislation, and build capacity for pesticide container management.

FAO estimates that approximately 200,000 tons of obsolete pesticides, around 40% of the world’s total stockpiles, are located in 12 former Soviet Union republics: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, the Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. These stocks are currently stored at unprotected sites, posing serious threats to peoples’ health and the environment. [UN Press Release] [FAO Press Release] [FAO-EU Partnership Press Release]