Towards an update of the POPs control plan

The Mauritian government is strengthening its efforts to eliminate persistent organic pollutants (POPs), chemicals that are hazardous to the environment and human health.

The Minister of the Environment, Rajesh Bhagwan, announced new measures at the opening of a workshop, held on March 26, 2025, at the Ravenala Attitude Hotel in Balaclava, on the update of the National Implementation Plan (NIP) for the Stockholm Convention on POPs.

This meeting brought together several environmental figures, including the Minister Delegate, Joanna Bérenger, and the Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for Mauritius and the Seychelles, Amanda Serumaga. Minister Bhagwan emphasized that POPs, classified as global environmental threats since the 1990s, continue to pose a danger to Mauritius due to their ability to persist in the environment, accumulate in living organisms, and spread widely.

As a Small Island Developing State, Mauritius has taken significant steps since signing the Stockholm Convention in 2001. In addition to several nationwide POPs bans, the government is implementing strict controls to regulate the import and disposal of these hazardous substances. These actions aim to protect the health of Mauritians, particularly vulnerable populations, and to preserve the local ecosystem.