SUMMARY
Though most of the chemicals in Annex A, B are banned in Mongolia since 1997, there have been few
complete and reliable statistics on chemicals and chemical management available in the country. There are few
documented statistics on persistent organic pollutants too.
Political Act
The Government of Mongolia revised the Law on Protection from Toxic Chemicals, which was approved by
Mongolian Parliament in 1995, with the purpose of regulating the production, export, import, storage, trade,
transportation, use and disposal of toxic chemicals. The Parliament approved the revised version of the law,
namely, Law on Toxic and Hazardous Chemicals, on 25 May 2006.
Law on Toxic and Hazardous Chemicals
Old version of this law is the result of serious waste disposal problems experienced in Mongolia. Until
the approval of the old version, there was no specific law regulating toxic chemicals or hazardous
wastes. The newly approved Law on Toxic and Hazardous Chemicals of Mongolia regulates the
production, export, import, storage, trade, transport, use and disposal of toxic chemicals. However,
this law covers not only toxic and hazardous chemicals, but also all the chemical substances, including
pesticides and consumer chemicals. It is divided into three charters covering general provisions,
requirements for protection and administrative penalties. There are several advantages in the new
version of the chemicals law, including more control over chemical substances, with special emphasis
on their import. As provided by the new law, chemicals shall be imported only through a few
designated border ports and strict control and monitoring will be started from this point. In addition,
classification of chemicals will be done in accordance with international standards such as the GHS.
Risk assessment issues also reflected in the law.
Chemicals under review for preparation of risk management evaluation
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The chemicals are:
α-Hexachlorocyclohexane
β-Hexachlorocyclohexane
Lindane (γ-Hexachlorocyclohexane)
Commercial octabromodiphenyl ether
Pentachlorobenzene
Short-chained chlorinated paraffins
Perfluorooctane sulfonete (PFOS)
Data on HCH in Mongolia:
According to the information and data collected during the inventory process for preparation of National
Implementation Plan, the pesticide, commonly known as “dust” (as mongolian spelling), was 12%
hexachlorocyclohexanes imported from the former Soviet Union. Moreover, the samples taken from old
pesticides storages and farms were analyzed at the Korean National Institute of Agriculture. The results proved
that the samples contained hexachlorocyclohexanes α-, β-, δ-, γ- isomers. According to the inventory results,
hexachlorocyclohexane was widely used for veterinary and plant protection to combat animal parasites,
disinfect livestock shelters and control grasshoppers in pastureland. During the years of 1958-2003, a total of
1985.24 tons of hexachlorocyclohexane were used.
No
Prefecture
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
Arkhangai
Bayan-Ulgii
Bayankhongor
Gobi-Altai
Dornod
Dornogobi
Dundgobi
Darkhan-Uul
Zavkhan
Uvurkhangai
Umnugobi
Tuv
Selenge
Sukhbaatar
Khovd
Khentii
Khuvsgul
Uvs
Orkhon
Total
Used period
1958-2000
1960-2000
1960-1990
1960-1993
-1999
1958-1997
1960-1999
1978-1986
1959-1999
1960-2002
1950-1990
1960-2000
1960-2000
1959-2003
1958-1996
1985-1990
1960-1990
1965-1985
1978-1993
Amount
(tons)
21.00
65.10
0.45
5.33
2.90
44.55
28.25
0.23
51.92
906.43
31.00
38.46
97.62
13.46
596.90
0.05
64.70
15.00
1.90
1985.24
Data on others in Mongolia:
There is almost no data on other chemicals which are newly proposed to be listed to the Stockholm
Convention.
Comment:
In according to the documents from POPRC, seven chemicals seem to have own profiles for listing to
Stockholm convention. If six chemicals excepting Lindane have their alternatives, they should be listed to
Annex A. Pentachlorobenzene should be listed to Annex C also. It might be a potential source of the Annex
C chemicals. Lindane, which is used for second-line treatment of scabies and lice, should be listed to Annex
B. Alternative treatments of those disease and insect have not found yet [Draft risk management evaluation
for lindane, p10].