Ottawa, Canada on April 25 2024- Solomon Islands during the Fourth Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-4) meeting to develop an international legally binding instrument (ILBI) on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment supported the provision to regulate “Product Design, Composition and Performance” and “Extended Producer Responsibility” in the new instrument.
Principal Legal Counsel in the Office of the Attorney General, Ms. Freliz Fakarii stated that “Solomon Islands is supportive of the inclusion of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) into the instrument. EPR is about extending the environmental/financial responsibility of the producer of the product in this case plastic or plastic products downstream. As Pacific Small Island Developing States, a national EPR alone will not work effectively without a link to a mandatory international/global EPR.
On Product Design, Composition and Performance Provisions, Ms Debra Kereseka, Deputy Director Environment stated that “It is important to have generic design criteria in the text of the agreement.” Therefore, Solomon Islands support provisions that “Each party shall ensure that alternative plastics and plastic products which include bio-based, biodegradable and compostable plastics are safe, environmentally sound and sustainable in accordance with standards and criteria to be decided by the governing body of the treaty based on recommendation from Scientific Assessment.
Solomon Islands Delegation to the INC 4 meeting in Ottawa, Canada from 23rd -29th November is represented by Deputy Director Environment, Ministry of Environment, Ms. Debra Kereseka, Second Secretary, Permanent Mission of Solomon Islands to the United Nations, Mr. Undi Pelobule Jnr, Principal Crown Counsel, Office of the Attorney Generals, Ms. Freliz Fakarii and supported by Technical Advisors from SPREP; Ms. Anastacia Amoa- Stowers, Multilateral Environment Agreement (MEAs) Advisor and Mr. Andrea Volentras, Manager , Pacific Ocean Litter Project.
MECDM PRESS