BALTIC SEAENVIRONMENT PROCEEDINGS No. 59 - Helcom

Swedish Environmental Protection Agency
Margareta Stackerud
Principal Technical Officer
Working Group on Reduction of Inputs from Diffuse Sources
( TC Diff )
Task
The establishment of TC Diff reflects the importance of the impact on the
environment from diffuse sources. The first meeting with this Group was held in
Estonia in 1991. In the Terms of Reference, the work of the Group has been
identified and the Group should report to the Technical Committee.
The Group should base its work on a step-wise approach including selection of
sectors and products, identification of harmful substances and other pollutants of
concern. This information would than form the basis for recommendations .
The work includes very different sources of emissions from very complex and large
sources within the agriculture area to very limited product groups as electric
equipments and batteries.
Another important task for the Group is to promote the use of best available
technology and best environmental practice related to emissions from diffuse sources.
Specific problem-oriented recommendations should, whenever possible, include
recommendations and practical examples of BAT and BEP.
Moreover, questions about priority setting of chemicals for further deliberations as
well as certain work within the pesticide area are also part of the work of this Group.
Working methods
The work of TC Diff could be initiated either by
- demands or requests of Ministerial meetings, the Helcom Commission or the
Technical Committee,
- observed effects in the environment
- priorities forwarded by different Contracting Parties
The work can also be initiated by the knowledge about on-going work in other
international fora such as, Parcom Diffchem, OECD, EEC, and ECE. It might be very
cost-effective to utilize results already achieved and relevant to the Helcom work.
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