Disposal of the legacy of obsolete stocks of crop protection products is a long term global issue. Of an estimated 500,000 tonnes globally, much results from local manufacture in Eastern Europe and the Far East. Uncoordinated aid donations, particularly for locust control and poor stock management, have played a significant role in the accumulation of obsolete stocks in Africa. Deterioration of stocks under poor storage conditions continues to the point of presenting a potential danger to nearby communities and to the local environment.  Some obsolete stocks include Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). CropLife leading companies together with Shell, working within the CropLife Obsolete Stocks Programme, have been engaged in the clean up of obsolete pesticide stocks and the prevention of new stockpiles for more than a decade. CropLife is an actively contributing to the Africa Stockpiles Programme.

An estimated 500,000 tonnes of obsolete stocks of pesticides and associated materials have accumulated globally during the last 40+ years. Most of this waste material occurs in Eastern Europe and the Far East, resulting from local manufacture. Uncoordinated aid donations and poor stock management, particularly for locust control, together with product bans, have played a significant role in the accumulation of obsolete stocks in Africa. Obsolete stocks also occur in other regions, including OECD countries.

Many obsolete stocks are stored under poor conditions and have deteriorated, or are in the process of deteriorating, to the point of presenting a potential danger to nearby communities and to the local environment.  Some stockpiles include Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) capable of transcontinental migration when liberated into the atmosphere.

Since 1990, the plant science industry has been working in a variety of countries to facilitate safe disposal projects. Facilitation has variously involved finding additional donor funding, organising projects, supervising operations in the field or, when appropriate, reconditioning useable stocks. Such projects typically last for 2-3 years.

During the last 15 years, industry has participated in over 25 multistakeholder projects in 20 countries, in collaboration with over 30 organisations, leading to the safe disposal of an estimated 10,000 tonnes of obsolete crop protection products. More rapid progress has to date been limited by the availability of counterpart funding. The start of the Africa Stockpiles Programme, which seeks to safely dispose of an estimated 50,000 tonnes of obsolete stocks and associated wastes across the entire continent of Africa in a fifteen year timeframe and to put in place measures to prevent re-accumulation of obsolete stocks, hopefully signals a move to more international approach to addressing the issue.

CropLife leading companies together with Shell, working within the CropLife Obsolete Stocks Programme, have a well-publicised continuing commitment to the clean up of stocks of obsolete pesticides and to the prevention of new stockpiles. Globally the commitment is focussed on the safe destruction of stocks originally supplied by leading companies, through an agreed mechanism which finances the cost of incineration and, where appropriate, project facilitation. In the case of the Africa Stockpiles Programme, industry has made an additional commitment to finance expert Technical Assistance and Safeguarding activities, and is a key partner in the programme.

The CropLife Obsolete Stocks Programme also maintains a unique public reference to past and current projects in which industry has been involved.