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GHS in the Context of National Chemical Management Programmes

and Sustainable Development

Peter J. Peterson

Senior Special Fellow UNITAR

Regional Workshop on Chemical Hazard Communication and GHS Implementation for Countries of ASEAN

Manila, Philippines

17-20 October 2005

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GHS Basic Information

• Sectors: Industry, Agriculture, Transport, Consumer Products;

• Actors: Government, Industry, Civil Soc.;• Activities: Legal & institutional structures

Trade, classification/labels, SDS

NGOs, health protection;• Undertakings: transfer verified information

for effective hazard communication

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Use of GHS Information

• Raise awareness/understanding of hazard

• To transfer reliable information to users on evaluated chemicals and mixtures to ensure safe use, transport and disposal;

• Facilitate trade in chemicals whose hazard has been assessed internationally;

• GHS as a component of an integrated national chemical safety programme

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Benefits of GHS

• Provides a framework for countries without chemical hazard communication system;

• Harmonizes national chemical hazard communication systems world-wide;

• Avoids duplication of testing & evaluating chemicals and chemical mixtures;

• Facilitates international trade;

• Protects people and the environment

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GHS: Responsibilities of Countries

• Producing/exporting Countries:

Generation/verification of hazard information on international basis plus SDS development;

Compliance with importing country requests;

• Importing Countries/Users:Regulatory framework for safe use;

Availability of information to all Actors;

Awareness-raising/comprehensibility testing.

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GHS Implementation NationallyCountries with advanced chemical

management: possible actions– Direct implementation by 2008– Perhaps emphasis on civil society/education

Countries with less advanced chemical management: possible actions– Harmonization/development of national

legislation– Emphasis on health protection for target

population– Hazard communication understanding for all

Actors

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GHS and Chemicals Management:Possible National Approaches

GHS implementation plus• Commitments to a national integrated

chemicals management;• Commitments to apply MEAs: (Stockholm,

Rotterdam, Basel Conventions etc.);• Commitments to Regional initiatives:

(Basel Convention Regional Centres);• Commitments to ASEAN consensus

building approaches; e.g. subject areas

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International Agreements on Chemicals Substantive Concepts

Basis for International Environmental Law

• Conventions• Protocols• Amendments

• GHS• PRTR

International Interest Groups

• Codes• Recommendations• Declarations• Guidelines• Principles• Voluntary

Agreements

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Major International Agreements Involve a Mosaic of Chemicals

• Specific categories of chemicals (industrial & consumer chemicals, drugs)

• Specific processes (ozone-depletion)

• Specific actions (illegal trafficking)

• Single environmental milieu (air, marine)

• Destruction of health & environment (chemical weapons of mass destruction)

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International Agreements: Hazardous Chemicals and Waste

• Århus Convention• Basel Convention+++• Chemical Weapons • FAO Code (revised)• GHS• ILO Convention 170+

(Regional Seas Conventions)

• ILO Convention 174+• Rotterdam Convention• Stockholm Convention• Vienna Convention ++• UN Convention Against

Illicit Traffic in Narcotics

(UNECEs LRTAP-POPs Protocol)

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GHS in Relation to International Chemicals Agreements (1)

GHS and IndustryILO Convention 170 and Recomm. 177• Responsibilities of authorities, suppliers,

employees, workers;• Classification systems: labelling, SDS;• Specific measure for hazardous chemicals• Information and training, emergencies;• Monitoring and reporting.

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GHS in Relation to International Chemicals Agreements (2)

GHS and Agriculture

FAO International Code of Conduct on Distribution and Use of Pesticides (1989)

Labelling, packaging, storage, disposal;

Responsibilities of govt., industry, applicators etc

FAO Guidelines on Good Labelling Practice for Pesticides

Development of pictograms, hazard classification

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GHS in Relation to International Chemicals Agreements (3)

GHS & Agriculture (contd.)ILO Convention 184 and Recommendation

192 on Safety & Health in AgricultureClassification, packaging, labelling, information

WHO Recommended Classification of Pesticides by Hazard & Guidelines to ClassificationAcute risk to health/hazard classification/toxicity; transportation rules/competent authorities

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GHS in Relation to International Chemicals Agreements (4)

GHS & Rotterdam Convention

Information exchange characteristics of chemical

Hazard identification/communication/ PIC

Packaging/Labelling refers to Intern. Standards

GHS & Stockholm Convention

Information on hazardous properties of chemical

Public information, awareness & education

SAICM, ISO-standards, Chemical Weapons

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GHS & International Chemicals AgreementsPossible Criteria for Entry Points

A search for common objectives

1. Linkages– Encouraging opportunities for co-operative actions;

2. Clustering– Establishing joint implementations of chemicals and

waste MEAs: increases information flows/visibility;

3. Synergy– Co-operation of two or more initiatives to produce

effects greater than the sum of individual effects: results in enhanced coherence of policies/strategies

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1. Linkages: their Application

• Encouraging GHS linkages consistent with National Action Plans and Priorities derived from the National Profile;

• Awareness of GHS & chemical safety;

• Understanding of GHS issues & chemical safety: train target population on hazards;

• Avoidance of duplication of implementation

e.g. Alignment of actions with trading partners

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2. Clustering: Building-block Approach

Clustering is grouping actions to produce a regime that addresses common concerns

• Clustering by function: integral functions– e.g. Reporting/Compliance assessment for

related Conventions; Clustering of Stockholm/Basel Convention on POPs waste;

• Clustering by issue: thematic area/sectors– e.g. Trade-related GHS sectors & all actors

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3. Synergies at Different Levels

Synergy for chemicals management can take place at different levels: from a low

level to a high level Low

• Information exchange

• Inter-ministerial coordination

• Partial integration

• Complete integration

High

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GHS Within Chemicals Management:Links, Clusters & Synergies

Summary• Linkages of GHS with International Chemicals

Agreements helps build technical, industrial & institutional capacity and capabilities;

• Clusters of actions between GHS and International Chemical Agreements can produce policy coherence;

• Synergies between GHS & International Chemicals Agreements can build an effective national chemicals management programme

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GHS & Sustainable Development

UN Millennium Development Goals Task Force emphasized the process of integrating principles of SD into all policies:

Goal 7, refers: ‘ensure environmental sustainability’; Recommendation 5

• Reduce exposure to toxic chemicals/vulnerable groups stressed, i.e. women, children, the poor;

• Improve frameworks for chemicals management;

Recommendation 9 • Public awareness campaigns

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GHS & Sustainable Development Linkages

• GHS addresses Recommendation 5 and 9 of MDG 7, being a practical inclusive tool mainstreaming commitments to SD;

• GHS is increasingly seen as an essential feature of the development process.

• GHS with its hazard awareness system, communication & educational component is a major driver of chemical safety;

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Conclusions• GHS within an integrated chemicals

management regime can lead to more effective national and global chemicals & waste governance;

• GHS in coordination with International Chemicals Agreements, whether via linkages, clusters or synergies, increases political & civil visibility & is an essential component for achieving MDGs and SD.